Question 1

Is MySQL or PostgreSQL easier to hire for in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Both MySQL and PostgreSQL have active talent pools on Haystack. We see first shortlists for MySQL and PostgreSQL land within 24 hours of kick-off, with the median MySQL hire closing in 14-21 days alongside comparable PostgreSQL roles.

Question 2

What does a MySQL developer cost vs a PostgreSQL developer?

Accepted Answer

Mid-level MySQL engineers anchor around £60k–£80k UK base, with seniors reaching £85k–£125k. PostgreSQL engineers sit around £70k–£90k mid and £95k–£135k senior. German bands run 5-20% higher in EUR and US bands 40-50% higher in USD.

Question 3

Which ecosystem libraries should I screen for - MySQL or PostgreSQL?

Accepted Answer

For MySQL we look for working experience with MySQL, MariaDB, Aurora. For PostgreSQL the equivalents are SQL, pgvector, TimescaleDB. Both ecosystems get surfaced on every Haystack profile so you can filter on exact tooling.

Question 4

Can the same engineer cover both MySQL and PostgreSQL?

Accepted Answer

Often yes - particularly when both stacks live in the same category (Backend vs Backend). On Haystack we let you require both as primary or secondary skills; senior generalists typically carry one as their main stack and one as supporting.

Question 5

Should I bet on MySQL or PostgreSQL for a greenfield project?

Accepted Answer

Pick on hiring depth, your team's current strengths and the ecosystem fit. MySQL suits schemas and indexes that hold up at 100m+ rows; PostgreSQL suits high-write oltp schemas with partitioning, brin indexes and careful vacuum tuning. We can shortlist both in parallel so you can interview against the same brief.

Question 6

Do you cover senior and staff MySQL and PostgreSQL engineers?

Accepted Answer

Yes - the full ladder from junior through staff/principal in both MySQL and PostgreSQL. The kick-off call captures the level and shipped-work bar you need, and shortlists are filtered accordingly.

Dimension	MySQL	PostgreSQL
Category	Backend	Backend
Mid-level UK base	£60k–£80k	£70k–£90k
Senior UK base	£85k–£125k	£95k–£135k
Best for	Schemas and indexes that hold up at 100M+ rows	High-write OLTP schemas with partitioning, BRIN indexes and careful vacuum tuning
Core ecosystem	MySQL, MariaDB, Aurora, ProxySQL	SQL, pgvector, TimescaleDB, Citus
First shortlist	24 hours	24 hours

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MySQL vs PostgreSQL - common hiring questions

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