Career Definition for a Crystal Reports Developer
Crystal Reports Developers use software developed by the SAP software company to design and generate reports that provide insight into a business's performance. Top executives use the interactive information provided by Crystal Reports Developers to make adjustments to their business plans and promote corporate growth. Larger businesses may employ full-time Crystal Reports Developers, while other report developers might hold positions as software engineering consultants or provide services for small businesses.
| Education | Training and experience with Crystal software package; bachelor's degree may be required |
| Job Skills | Attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving ability, strong communication and interpersonal relationship skills |
| Median Salary (2022)* | $71,216 |
| Job Growth (2021-2031)** | 25% (all software developers) |
*Source: Payscale.com
**Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
The most important educational requirement for Crystal Reports Developers is training and experience with the Crystal software package. Many Crystal Reports Developers have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Most employers also seek candidates who have experience with building other database applications, such as SQL. Continuing education is necessary for staying current with new computer languages and technology.
Skills Required
An attention to detail is a must for Crystal Reports Developers, especially when it comes to developing and writing database programs. Analytical and problem-solving abilities are a given; a sense of creativity can be helpful when developing new software. Communication skills are important for helping others understand the results of reports and making any requested adjustments. Crystal Reports Developers should also be customer-oriented and have an understanding of interpersonal relationships.
Career and Salary Outlook
Based upon information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of all software developers, including Crystal Report Developers, is expected to grow by 25% nationwide between 2021 through 2031, or much faster than average when compared to all other occupations. According to 2022 data from PayScale.com, most Crystal Reports Developers earned a median salary of $71,216 (www.payscale.com).
Alternate Career Options
Computer Network Support Specialists
Computer network support specialists work under the supervision of network and computer systems administrators, and their responsibilities generally include evaluating and testing Internet, LANS (local area networks) and WANS (wide area networks). They can usually be found in a company's information technology department, and hiring requirements include an associate or a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field of study. Between 2021 and 2031, all computer support specialist occupations, which include computer network support specialists, will see an 7%, or faster than average, increase in job openings nationwide, as reported by the BLS. In May 2021, computer network support specialists had a median annual salary of $62,760 (www.bls.gov).
Web Developers
Web developers design, code and debug commercial and corporate websites, as well as oversee factors related to performance, speed and traffic. Knowledge of computer programming languages and graphic design is key, which may be obtained through an associate or bachelor's degree program in Web design or another technical field of study. According to the BLS, growth in e-commerce and an increased use of mobile devices will have a positive impact of employment, with opportunities for Web developers expected to increase by a much-faster-than-average rate of 23% through 2031. As of May 2021, Web developers earned median annual salaries of $77,030, with those in the top 10% range earning in excess of $129,760 a year (www.bls.gov).
