JavaScript Developer Salary:

When considering launching a new career as a JavaScript Developer, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the salary range associated with the occupation, which varies dramatically based on the seniority and location of the position. By knowing the average salary, individuals can set realistic expectations for their future earnings. According to Indeed, most JavaScript Developers' wages fall between $110,000 and $120,000. However, entry-level developers can expect closer to $70,000, while senior developers’ salaries can be $170,000 or more. 

Knowing the factors that can affect your pay will help you make informed decisions about your education, specialization, and other elements of your career path to maximize your potential future income. As you progress in your professional journey, staying up-to-date with the latest JavaScript technologies, expanding your skill set, and gaining experience in high-demand areas can create opportunities to optimize your salary and advance to higher-paying positions within the field. 

What is a JavaScript Developer?

A JavaScript Developer is a skilled professional who specializes in creating dynamic and interactive web applications using the JavaScript programming language. These experts are at the forefront of modern web development, crafting intricate code that powers user interfaces and enhances user experiences across various digital platforms. Some JavaScript Developers are responsible for building and maintaining entire websites, while others focus on front end visual elements and ensuring their connection with back end services. Their role extends beyond mere coding, as their responsibilities often include the problem-solving required to translate beautiful design concepts into responsive and user-friendly websites.

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, JavaScript Developers must stay abreast of the latest frameworks, libraries, and best practices. They often collaborate with cross-functional teams, translating complex technical concepts into practical solutions that meet business objectives. JavaScript Developers are in high demand across industries, thanks to the ubiquity of web-based applications and the growing importance of user-centric design in nearly every sector of the economy. Whether working on client-side interactivity or server-side logic with Node.js, these developers play a crucial role in shaping the digital experiences that users interact with daily, from ecommerce platforms to social media applications and beyond.

What Affects Your Pay as a JavaScript Developer

Several factors affect the salaries that JavaScript Developers may expect throughout their careers. The level of an individual’s experience is a major determinant of pay, but the quality of a JavaScript Developer’s education, the industry in which they work, and their location will also impact the size of their paychecks.

Education

A JavaScript Developer’s level of education can significantly influence their earning potential. While it is possible to enter the field with a high school diploma, many developers find that specialized training through a JavaScript Development Certificate program or bootcamp provides a competitive edge when negotiating a higher salary. These intensive programs offer a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to traditional four-year degrees, equipping students with practical, industry-relevant skills in just a few months. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees can also help individuals command higher salaries. However, experience and other factors tend to outweigh the benefits of degrees in the tech field—with the exception of some leadership, research, and educational positions. Ultimately, the specificity and relevance of an individual’s training and skill set, whether in the form of a non-degree certificate or a college degree, is the most significant factor in achieving a desirable salary when it comes to a JavaScript Developer’s education.

Experience

Experience is one of the most critical factors affecting a JavaScript Developer’s salary. Entry-level developers’ salaries are typically closer to $70,000—though they may be higher for those working in higher-cost-of-living cities like NYC and San Francisco. Meanwhile, mid-level developers with approximately three to five years of experience may be able to achieve a low six-figure salary. Senior JavaScript Developers with more than six years of experience can easily command wages between $100,000 and $150,000 in most cities or even higher in major metropolitan cities with a high demand for development professionals. While most people think of on-the-job experience as the primary factor in determining their value in the job market, relevant freelance and volunteer work can also be included in a portfolio and impact their earning potential significantly.

Industry

The industry in which a JavaScript Developer works can also affect their salary. Major corporations, particularly in the tech sector, tend to offer higher wages than small businesses or nonprofits. For instance, developers working in software publishing or finance typically earn significantly more than those in education, museums, or arts institutions. Freelancers have the flexibility to set their own rates, but they often work with small or medium-sized businesses and must consider their clients' budgets.

Location

Location is yet another factor that plays a crucial role in determining a JavaScript Developer’s salary. Developers in major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, New York City, or Seattle typically earn higher wages to offset the higher cost of living in these regions. However, the increased salary may be balanced out by the higher expenses associated with living in these cities. Conversely, JavaScript Developers in smaller cities or regions with a lower cost of living may earn less, but their overall purchasing power could be higher.

Specialization

Specialization in high-demand areas can significantly boost a JavaScript Developer’s salary. Developers with expertise in specific frameworks like React, Angular, or Node.js or who have skills in full stack development can command higher wages due to the specialized knowledge they bring to their roles. Additionally, JavaScript Developers with experience in emerging technologies such as machine learning or artificial intelligence may find themselves in even higher demand, resulting in increased earning potential.

Pay Range for JavaScript Developers

According to Indeed, the nationwide average base salary for JavaScript Developers working in the United States falls between $110,000 and $120,000. Glassdoor’s numbers for base salaries are similar, although when they include additional pay, their full range of reported salaries is $115,000 to $212,000. Base salaries on Indeed can be as low as $76,000 for entry-level positions and as high as $170,000 for highly experienced senior developers.

Unsurprisingly, JavaScript Developers in metropolitan tech hubs like New York City or San Francisco often earn higher salaries than those in smaller cities. For example, the average base salary reported by users in San Francisco is $143,000, $28,000 higher than $115,000, the average base salary of Memphis, Tennessee, which also has a notably lower cost of living. Meanwhile, compare the median $55 per hour reported to Glassdoor by JavaScript Developers working in the Research Foundation of CUNY to the $70 per hour reported by JavaScript Developers employed at the NYC-based innovation hub Accenture.

Highest-Earning Job Titles for JavaScript Developers

Certain job titles within the JavaScript development field tend to offer higher salaries due to the specialized skills and responsibilities associated with these roles. According to data from Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn, some of the highest-earning job titles for JavaScript Developers include:

• Full Stack Developer: Highly versatile professionals with expertise in both front end and back end development, Full Stack Developers often earn higher salaries due to their comprehensive skill set. Like most web development professionals today, salaries range in the lower six figures after a few years of experience.

• Front End Developer: Front End Developers specialize in creating user interfaces and experiences with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They often make comparable salaries to Full Stack Developers, though specific positions may vary considerably.

• Back End Developer: Back End Developers focus on server-side logic and integration, often using JavaScript in the runtime environment Node.js. Traditionally, Back End Developers have commanded higher salaries—sometimes tens of thousands of dollars higher—than Front End Developers and Full Stack Developers. However, that gap is slowly narrowing as front end skills are gaining more respect in the industry.

• Software Engineer: Software Engineers build web applications, browser games, and desktop applications using JavaScript and other technologies. They tend to have more extensive educational requirements than web development jobs and a reputation for somewhat higher salaries. However, wages vary significantly from position to position, and many web development positions pay more than Software Engineer jobs.

Learn the Skills to Become a JavaScript Developer at Noble Desktop

Design and coding school Noble Desktop offers several JavaScript classes and other coding courses led by live expert instructors. Whether you attend in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere in the world, their flexible scheduling options allow you to participate as a full-time or part-time student so you can meet your learning goals no matter your current calendar. Noble Desktop provides classes that cover JavaScript and related skills to various depths, from beginner-friendly short courses to comprehensive career-focused certificate programs across multiple developer specializations. Noble keeps their class size small to ensure all learners can receive personalized guidance and immediate feedback from their expert instructors, all of whom are experienced industry professionals invested in the success of their students. Noble Desktop’s dedication to helping their students achieve their goals is evident in its many perks, including verified digital certificates of completion, free retakes of all their courses within one year, and one-on-one mentorship in all career-focused certificate classes.

Noble Desktop’s JavaScript Development Certificate program offers all the practical training, mentorship, and career support you need to land your first JavaScript Developer job. This comprehensive program is ideal for you if you already have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS and are ready to dive straight into advanced JavaScript concepts and frameworks. The curriculum covers everything from core JavaScript fundamentals to advanced topics like Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB, providing a well-rounded education in both front end and back end web development. In addition to all this training, you’ll enjoy one-on-one mentorship with Noble’s highly experienced instructors, dedicated career support, and assistance assembling an impressive portfolio. When you graduate from the program, you’ll receive a verified certificate of completion and be ready to showcase your versatile development skills wherever you choose to apply for a JavaScript Developer position.

If you’re interested in launching a career as a Front End Developer, Noble Desktop’s Front-End Web Development Certificate program will provide the training and career support you need to succeed. As a student in this certificate program, you will learn JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and other necessary front end tools like CSS Flexbox, CSS Grid, Bootstrap, and Git. Through hands-on projects and the guidance of live expert instructors, you will develop professional expertise in these languages and technologies, as well as in the content management system WordPress and creating effective HTML emails. You will be job-ready by the end of the certificate program and ready to showcase your skills with the professional portfolio you develop throughout the course. With this portfolio, the career support you receive, and your verified certificate of completion listed on your LinkedIn and resume, you’ll be ready to impress hiring managers and land your dream job by the end of the program.

Noble Desktop’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate program will arm you with both front end and back end expertise, allowing you to break into the web development field with an impressively versatile skill set. In addition to JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and other front end technologies, you’ll also master JavaScript for back end, using Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, and React. The course curriculum also includes self-paced web development labs, a module focused on the web development industry and developing your own portfolio, and your choice of an SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp as a bonus module. By the end of the program, you’ll also be adept at working with Git to track changes in your code and collaborate with your development team. As with all of Noble Desktop’s certificate programs, you’ll receive ample career support, the mentorship of a live expert instructor, and a verified certificate of completion upon graduating from the program.

If you already have knowledge equivalent to Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS and would like to add JavaScript to your development tool kit, Noble’s JavaScript Programming Bootcamp may be the next step in your learning journey. This 120-hour bootcamp will provide you with a thorough foundation in the essentials of JavaScript in hands-on classes led by a live expert instructor. You’ll learn all about variables, conditional logic, arrays, objects, and loops, as well as functions, parameters-arguments, and return values. The curriculum also covers APIs, parsing and working with JSON, object-oriented programming, and libraries. By the end of the bootcamp, you’ll have a clear understanding of all this and other fundamentals of JavaScript and the beginnings of a portfolio featuring projects you create throughout the class.