Are you considering working as a Back End Web Developer, but want to learn more about what the position requires? If so, then read on — below is a quick guide that outlines what a career in back end web development entails including the skills required, primary responsibilities, earning potential, and projected job growth.
What Skills Do Back End Web Developers Need?
The primary objective of a back end developer is to create and maintain the server-side technology that adds function and utility to the front end, allowing it to operate smoothly. Being an effective Front End Developer requires the following skills:
- A solid grasp of the most common back end programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools including Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Java, Django, and Node.js
- The ability to build and manage web applications
- An understanding of databases, hosting environments, APIs (application programming interfaces), operating systems, and servers
- A talent for writing high-quality code plus the ability to detect bugs and track changes
- The capability to assess the speed and efficiency of existing applications
- An understanding of web accessibility and cybersecurity best practices
- Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail
- Good communication, organization, time management, and problem-solving skills
What Responsibilities Do Back End Web Developers Have?
Back end development deals with all the behind-the-scenes technology that users don’t typically see, such as servers, databases, and applications. It’s the responsibility of Back End Web Developers to create, test, debug, and maintain all of these components which support the front end of a website and allow it to function. Some of the primary responsibilities that Back End Web Developers are responsible for include:
- Collaborating with Front End Web Developers, Project Managers, User Experience (UX) Designers, and other team members to successfully complete the project
- Creating the overall architecture of the application’s back end
- Developing systems and processes to fulfill the requirements of the application
- Writing back end code using server-side languages and debugging any errors that may arise
- Creating and maintaining databases
- Implementing web server technologies
- Managing APIs used to integrate external and internal applications
- Backing up and restoring website databases and files
- Overseeing the management of cloud computing
- Optimizing back end performance to improve efficiency and user experience on the front end
- Generating and managing code libraries that can be used by other developers in the company
- Monitoring security settings and keeping the application safe from cyberattacks
- Compiling, analyzing, and reporting data to troubleshoot issues and identify areas of improvement
- Using the latest technology to update or replace outdated systems
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the tasks you may be required to do as a Back End Web Developer; responsibilities will vary depending upon the needs of the employer, client, and project.
Where Do Back End Web Developers Work?
Back End Web Developers can choose from a variety of options when it comes to employers — practically any company that needs to have their website created or maintained could stand to have a Web Developer on staff. That means Back End Web Developers can work in just about any industry including government, education, tech, retail, media, marketing, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and finance. Of course, the bigger the company (and their website or web application), the more likely it is they need experienced staff to work on the back end.
How Much Do Back End Web Developers Make?
Back end web development is an excellent option if you’re looking for a job where you can work with technology and earn a good living while doing it. The average salary for Back End Web Developers in the United States is $115,000 per year; that’s more than twice the average annual salary for all workers across the country, which was $56,310 in 2020. Of course, your salary will likely vary depending upon where you live, how much experience you have, and the size of the company you work for, among other factors. Let’s look at how each of these can alter your salary.
The amount of money you earn at a job is largely dependent upon where you live. While the average salary for working in back end web development may hover around $115,000, employees who live in an area with a high cost of living will typically earn more to compensate for their increased monthly expenses. For example, Back End Web Developers in an expensive city like San Francisco will earn closer to $150,000 per year. On the other end of the scale, developers living in an area with a lower than average cost of living will earn less; an example of this can be seen in Cincinnati, Ohio where the average salary for a Back End Web Developer is just $91,000 per year.
Experience also plays a role in how much money you’ll make as a Back End Web Developer. When you first start your career, your salary will likely be lower than the average for your area. Once you have a few years of experience under your belt, you can expect a salary increase to follow. You could eventually work your way up to being a Senior Back End Web Developer with an average salary of $127,000 per year.
The size and type of company you choose to work for will also have a bearing on your income. New startups, even those that are well funded, typically pay less than long-standing companies. Smaller companies are also likely to have lower salaries compared to what you’d earn working at a large, well-established corporation.
What’s the Job Outlook for Back End Web Developers?
Now is an excellent time to start a new career in back end web development. The entire web development field is currently booming and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is expecting more than 17,900 web development jobs to open up each year between now and 2030. That’s equivalent to a 13% growth rate, which is significantly higher than the country’s average job growth rate of 8% for all occupations.
How Do I Become a Back End Web Developer?
The best way to start a career in back end web development is to enroll in bootcamp. Often viewed as a viable alternative to university education, these skills-focused programs operate on an intensive, abbreviated schedule to get you career-ready in less than a year. That’s especially good news when you consider how many open positions there are in the field; you can start to earn back your financial investment shortly after graduation.
Depending upon your location, you might be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area, though local offerings are often limited. If there are none available or you prefer the convenience of learning from home, there are many excellent web development bootcamps available live online. These offer the same live training with expert instructors and hands-on learning as in-person bootcamps, but without the inconvenience of commuting to school.
If you want to explore back end web development but a bootcamp is too big of a commitment right now, you might consider taking web development classes. That way you can start learning the basics of web development while gauging your interest in pursuing a career in the field.