Hi,

I am still in school and will graduate(MIS) in two semesters. My strenghts are sql queries and database designs but just have very basic understanding of programming. I looked for jobs in dice.com for dot nets and there are tons of it(almost 10k), but ETL only yields 1000-4000 total jobs in the entire US market. I am F1 student. In order to enter programming job market, I will have to learn a lot about programming, but with ETL I already know complex sql queries but do not know any vendor specific tools such as Informatica,Cognos etc. Please advise on the growth prospects for either field and your experience.

Thanks in advance.

If you are strong in TSQL then you can be a good SQL Developer. SQL Developer is responsible for developing reports, ETL tools, Data warehousing and query tuning. If you are familiar with SQL server 2005/2008 then you will get all integrated tools for report (SQL reporting Service), ETL( SQL Server integration service) , Data warehouse (SQL server Analysis service). 
Good luck!!!

Cyrus, There is a huge demand for ETL/SQL developer so don't get frustrated with dice number. ETL is one of the highest paid job in IT market.

While saying so, ETL needs some programming knowledge too like script tasks or some ad-hoc dot net CLR functions. Modern ETL tools like SSIS supports both vb.net and c#.net. You will be amazed to see how much MS ETL has grown till now. Good luck

Having strong T-SQL with ETL (SSIS) is a good combination. Just knowing ETL is not a good thing.
SQL server Developer is where you want to focus. If I were you, I would make hands dirty with Reporting Services and if possible Analysis services as well. If you are good with ETL/SSIS learing SSRS and SSAS is not that hard. Get some top level knowledge of Informatica and DataWarehouse.
I work as SQL developer with focus on ETL/SSIS.

Thanks rawbee,Sajhamitra,stupida for your valuable inputs. Some pointed knowing some programming is required, while others mentioned  knowing sql server and then ETL/SSIS,SSRS and SSAS along with an ETL tool.Currently I am taking data warehouse class and have been creating cubes, dimensions..etc..So should i get my hands dirty with some dot nets on side as well?

Thanks.

I think knowing VB and/or C# is always a plus. But I am probably at 1 (out of 10) in this, and I have survived. It also depends on what project or where u land job on. These Days after 2005, u hardly see any VB or C# scripts in SSIS as a script components. I have used few, but then I have always able to find code online whatever I need.
But if you want to talk about or even use in SQL then Learn it and more imporatantly in CLR functions. In work place, u hardly see any place where you will use all of these at one place. In work place it is very specific what you will use on a regular basis.
From interview perpective knowing them and able to talk about them is always a plua and will seperate you from others. So my suggestion- Know the high level stuff, know what they are, how it can be used, and when time comes to actually use it, you k now where to look.
hope that helps..

 Thanks a lot Stupida..