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Junior Database Developer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Tror AI for everyone

Senior AI Developer

Mettawa, IL · On-site

$62.50 - $82.50/hr

... to junior developers. * Innovation & Best Practices: Stay current with the latest advancements in GenAI, graph databases, and MLOps, advocating for and implementing best practices in CI/CD, testing ...

Benchmark Analytics

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

... database, and the only research-driven, evidence-based early intervention system available in ... Providing technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers * Acting as a technical SME in ...

Benchmark Analytics

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

... database, and the only research-driven, evidence-based early intervention system available in ... Providing technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers * Acting as a technical SME in ...

Benchmark Solutions LLC

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$109K - $148K/yr

... database, and the only research-driven, evidence-based early intervention system available in ... Providing technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers * Acting as a technical SME in ...

RXO

Senior GCP Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, conduct code reviews and provide technical guidance on best ... with NoSQL databases such as Capella or MongoDB * 5 years Python experience or similar

campus4tech

SQL Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$46.75 - $64/hr

... SQL database environment, including production, testing, and development. • Analyze complex ... to junior team members. • Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technology ...

Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Senior Data Engineer

Bolingbrook, IL

$102K - $140K/yr

Mentor junior engineers and consultants on data engineering best practices, coding standards, cloud ... Expertise in Java, Python or any scripting language, SQL/NoSQL Database systems. * Experience in ...

Ulta Beauty

Senior Data Engineer

Bolingbrook, IL · On-site

$102K - $140K/yr

Mentor junior engineers and consultants on data engineering best practices, coding standards, cloud ... Expertise in Java, Python or any scripting language, SQL/NoSQL Database systems. * Experience in ...

Scigon Solutions

Java Developer

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$86K - $115K/yr

Work with relational and NoSQL databases to support application data needs. * Collaborate on system ... Provide technical guidance and mentor junior developers as needed. * Maintain clear and ...

Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Senior Data Engineer

Bolingbrook, IL · On-site

$102K - $140K/yr

Mentor junior engineers and consultants on data engineering best practices, coding standards, cloud ... Expertise in Java, Python or any scripting language, SQL/NoSQL Database systems. * Experience in ...

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All JobsDatabase Developer JobsJunior Database Developer JobsJunior Database Developer Jobs in Illinois

Junior Database Developer information

See Illinois salary details

$28.6K

$64.6K

$114.8K

How much do junior database developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior database developer in Illinois is $64,625.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $72,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Junior Database Developer vs Database Administrator?

AspectJunior Database DeveloperDatabase Administrator
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field; some certifications like Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle are commonSimilar educational background; certifications like Oracle DBA, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator are often preferred
Work EnvironmentMostly involved in coding, designing, and developing databases; works closely with developers and analystsFocuses on maintaining, backing up, and securing databases; interacts with IT teams and end-users
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in software development companies, tech firms, and organizations with database needsCommon in large enterprises, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations requiring database management

While both roles require knowledge of database systems and similar certifications, Junior Database Developers primarily focus on creating and optimizing databases, whereas Database Administrators handle ongoing maintenance, security, and performance management.

What are Junior Database Developers?

Junior Database Developers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, and maintaining databases for organizations. They work under the supervision of senior database developers or administrators, helping with tasks such as writing SQL queries, troubleshooting data issues, and supporting database updates. Their role is crucial for ensuring data integrity, optimizing performance, and supporting the data needs of various departments. Junior Database Developers often collaborate with software developers and IT teams to implement database solutions. This position is typically suited for recent graduates or individuals with some programming and database experience.

What are the typical challenges a Junior Database Developer might face when starting out in the role?

As a Junior Database Developer, you may find it challenging to work with unfamiliar database management systems, optimize queries for performance, and understand complex data models. Adapting to a team environment, where you collaborate closely with senior developers, data analysts, and software engineers, is also common. Additionally, learning best practices for data security and consistency can be demanding, but overcoming these challenges provides valuable experience and growth opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Database Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Database Developer, you need a solid understanding of database concepts, SQL programming, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with database management systems like MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle, as well as version control tools such as Git, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you troubleshoot issues and collaborate with team members. These skills and qualifications are crucial for building reliable databases, ensuring data integrity, and supporting organizational data needs.
What are the most commonly searched types of Database Developer jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Database Developer jobs in Illinois are:
Junior Database Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Database Developer job openings in Illinois as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,625 per year, or $31.1 per hour.

Senior AI Developer

Tror AI for everyone

Mettawa, IL • On-site

$62.50 - $82.50/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

Role: Senior AI Developer

Location: Mettawa, IL (Onsite)

Design, build, and deploy cutting-edge AI solutions that leverage the power of knowledge graphs and generative models. You will be instrumental in developing high-impact applications, with a specific focus on implementing Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG) systems to provide accurate, contextually enriched, and trustworthy AI outputs grounded in enterprise data.

This role requires deep expertise in AI/ML, Neo4j, GraphRAG and GenAI.

Key Responsibilities

  • Architect and Implement AI Systems: Lead the design and development of end-to-end GenAI solutions, including RAG pipelines and AI agents, from idea to production deployment.
  • Knowledge Graph Development: Design, develop, and maintain large-scale knowledge graphs using Neo4j to structure complex, multi-source enterprise data (both structured and unstructured).
  • GraphRAG Implementation: Build sophisticated GraphRAG pipelines that integrate vector databases and knowledge graphs to ground AI responses in factual, verifiable information and mitigate hallucinations.
  • Model Integration and Optimization: Collaborate with data scientists and ML engineers to prepare data and infrastructure for fine-tuning open-source or proprietary Large Language Models (LLMs) and optimizing them for performance and efficiency.
  • Data Pipeline Development: Set up scalable data pipelines for data ingestion, embedding generation, preprocessing, and continuous model training/retraining.
  • Technical Leadership & Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., data engineers, product managers, business stakeholders) to translate complex business needs into robust, scalable AI architectures and provide technical guidance to junior developers.
  • Innovation & Best Practices: Stay current with the latest advancements in GenAI, graph databases, and MLOps, advocating for and implementing best practices in CI/CD, testing, and responsible AI. 

Required Skills & Qualifications

  • Experience: 7+ years of experience in software development or AI engineering, with a strong portfolio of production-ready AI projects.
  • Programming Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in Python and related AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LlamaIndex).
  • Graph Database Expertise: Strong hands-on experience with graph databases, especially Neo4j, including data modeling, Cypher query language, and graph algorithms.
  • GenAI & RAG Knowledge: Deep understanding and practical experience with GenAI concepts, LLMs, prompt engineering, embeddings, and building RAG systems.
  • Cloud & Infrastructure: Experience in deploying and optimizing models in cloud environments (GCP) and managing project infrastructure.
  • Problem-Solving: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to tackle complex, novel challenges in AI development.
  • Education: Bachelor's or master’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.