The Day-to-Day as a Ruby Developer
Ruby Developers write server-side web application logic, usually around the framework, Rails. They also connect the applications they work on with other web services and integrate the Front End Developers’ work. They usually work on a team with Front End Developers, Quality Assurance Engineers, Back End Developers, a Project Manager, and the occasional Scrum Master. They work for: tech companies, web services, media companies, retailers, and more, to create high-traffic, functional web applications and services.
Ruby Developers can work onsite, freelance, or remotely, and can find both full-time and part-time positions. Each Ruby Developer role will vary, but you’ll probably find them: attending team meetings, coding, answering emails, working through bug reports or quality assurance feedback, amending or submitting pull requests, creating small features, or testing their code.
What Skills Should Ruby Developers Have?
Ruby Developers should, of course, be proficient in Ruby and the Rails framework. A Ruby Developer must be able to write efficient, reusable, reliable, and scalable Ruby code. They’ll also need to understand how to: manage data storage solutions and SQL, integrate multiple data sources and databases into one system, integrate front-end elements, troubleshoot and solve bugs, and implement automated testing platforms. They should also have a high-level understanding of other popular coding languages that their teammates will be working with, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Most employers will also use template engines, like ERB and erubi, HAML, Slim, Liquid, or something similar. Familiarity and the ability to quickly adapt to these technologies is expected. Ruby Developers might also want to become familiar with CSS preprocessors, such as Sass, the RESTful API process, the MVC framework, and version control programs, such as Git.
Ruby Developers usually work on a team and should be able to communicate their ideas and collaboratively solve problems with their teammates. Ruby Developers will usually be required to learn the technologies in their employer’s tech stack that they are not yet familiar with. Being adaptable to new technologies and updates to the tools that they already know is imperative.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Ruby Developer
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Coding
Coding is another way to say computer programming. It is how humans "instruct" computers through the process of designing and building a functioning computer program. Computer and web programs are built using coding languages like C, Python, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and more. Coding can be used to create desktop, mobile, or web applications.
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Web Development
Web development is the practice of building, creating, and maintaining websites. Web development uses coding languages to build a website for the internet.
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Ruby
Ruby is a dynamic, interpreted, high-level, open-source programming language which emphasizes simplicity and productivity. The syntax is designed to be natural to read and easy to write. It is used to build web applications. The development framework, Ruby on Rails, is the most popular implementation of Ruby.
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Developer Tools
Developer tools are tools typically created by developers to do tasks like debug code, edit code more efficiently, test code, test interface, and more efficiently build websites and applications.
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Git
Git is a distributed version control system that is standard in software and web development. Git allows multiple developers to work on the same project at once or a single developer to keep track of changes. It also creates a simple environment to conduct A/B testing. Git is designed to optimize speed, data integrity, as well as distributed and non-linear workflows.
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Dev Bootcamp
Ruby Developer Salaries
A Ruby Developer in the United States makes, on average, $123,030 annually, according to Indeed.com.
Salaries for Ruby Developers vary by region within the the United States. Listed below are some Ruby Developer salaries for specific areas with the United States compared with the average national salary:
- U.S. Average $123K source n/a
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Los Angeles, CA
$160K
source
+30.33%
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Alexandria, VA
$153K
source
+24.81%
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Fairfax, VA
$153K
source
+24.5%
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Washington, D.C.
$150K
source
+22.17%
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Chicago, IL
$148K
source
+20.95%
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Dallas, TX
$140K
source
+14.3%
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Orange County, CA
$138K
source
+12.63%
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New York City
$133K
source
+8.22%
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Miami, FL
$131K
source
+7.29%
- U.S. Average $123K source n/a
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Houston, TX
$84K
source
-30.92%
Typical Qualifications to Become a Ruby Developer
Some companies will prefer a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering but usually will not require this because Ruby is a newer programming language that is often not taught in computer science programs. Proven work experience in software development, specifically with Ruby, is what most employers are looking for. There are no certifications required for a Ruby Developer position, but the Ruby Association does offer various Ruby certifications.
Searching for Ruby Developer Jobs
Ruby Developers are in demand in many industries. They work for tech companies, web services, media companies, retailers, and more, to create high-traffic, functional web applications and services. They can work onsite, freelance, or remotely and can find both full-time and part-time positions. There are many Ruby specific job boards, but Developers can also find open positions on general and tech industry job boards.
Ruby Developers can look for jobs on these sites:
- Dice
- Indeed
- SimplyHired
- Ziprecruiter
- Authentic Jobs
- Glassdoor
- GitHub Jobs
- The Muse
- Crunchboard
- Startupers
- Modis
- Career Builder
- Monster
- The Ladders
- Krop
- Mashable
- Smashing
- RubyNow
- ROR Jobs
- Ruby Jobs
Ruby Developers can find remote and freelance opportunities on these sites:
What Job Titles Would a Ruby Developer Hold?
Ruby Developers can find jobs specific to Ruby, Ruby on Rails, or back end development. The responsibilities for this position vary at each company, but the core skills are typically the same across the board.
Ruby Developers can look for these job titles:
- Ruby Developer
- Junior Ruby Developer
- Ruby on Rails Developer
- Back End Software Engineer –Ruby
Related Careers
Ruby Developers usually work in back end development and could easily pivot to the more general Back End Developer role without learning any new skills. If a Ruby Developer wanted to dive deeper into the back end they could learn Java and become a Java Developer. If they enjoy integrating front end technologies, they should consider pivoting to a Software Engineer or Full Stack Developer role. Software Engineers and Full Stack Developers work on both the front end and back end code. They create the parts of a website or application that a user interacts with and the logic that powers it. These jobs both work more with the front end, but sometimes Software Engineers are also focusing on lower-level programming as well.
If they wanted to completely change their career to only work on the front end, a Java Developer could master JavaScript and become a JavaScript Developer. They could even learn JavaScript frameworks to truly move into a Full Stack Developer role, which is higher paying than a JavaScript Developer job. Ruby Developers will likely see that all of these roles have similar salaries to their own, except perhaps JavaScript Developers.
Salary Comparison to Ruby Developer
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Back End Developer
$158K
+28.69%
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Full Stack Developer
$127K
+3.55%
- Ruby Developer $123K n/a
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Software Engineer
$105K
-14.54%
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Web Developer
$81K
-34.11%
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Software Engineer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$105K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$117K / year
Software engineers use their extensive knowledge of user experience design, operating systems, and programming languages to develop software. They can create different types of software, from games to operating systems. After analyzing a client's needs, they design, develop, and test software to meet that need. Software engineers can be divided into two distinct career categories: application engineers and systems engineers.
Learn about becoming a Software Engineer -
Web Developer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$81K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$81K / year
Web developers build webpages using coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They program functionality and identify/troubleshoot errors in code. Web developers can work on front-end development (the part of the website you see in a web browser), or on back-end development (the logic and database functionality that runs on the web server). Others work as full-stack developers, providing end-to-end (front to back) expertise.
Learn about becoming a Web Developer -
Full Stack Developer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$127K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$91K / year
Full Stack Developers build web applications for both the visible front end that users see and the back end that powers the applications.
Learn about becoming a Full Stack Developer -
Back End Developer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$158K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$89K / year
A Back End Developer builds the server-side of a web application and integrates front end development components.
Learn about becoming a Back End Developer