What is a Full Stack Developer?
A full stack developer is responsible for building, testing, maintaining and managing a web platform in all its aspects, this means both the Front End and the Back End. The Front End is all the content that can be seen on the screen, that is, texts, photos, forms, videos, colors and everything that has direct interaction with the user, on the other hand, the Back End is the part of the platform that is behind, that is, the management of the databases that this page stores, authentication system, password management, data saving, etc.
Although they are different areas, generally performed by people with different backgrounds using different technological tools, and different techniques, with the great growth that the web world has had in the last 15 years began this career of Full Stack, an expert developer in both areas.
The full stack developer is the person in charge of build, develop, maintain and manage the whole stuff, the Front End, with all the design of the website in charge of been friendly, attractive and cool, and the other side, the Back End.
Even though they are different disciplines from each other and therefore it can be thought that developer profiles are different from each other, with the growth of digitalization in the last 10 years, the demand for Front End and Back End developers has increased by 135% leaving many companies without enough people to carry out the projects. Due this increase on the demand of Full Stack Developers many bootcamps and universities has launched Full Stack developer courses that can be done online or face to face. Consequently, a new discipline arises that combines both, all developed by a single person, we call it Full Stack developer. With this explanation it is easy to define a Full Stack developer as a developer (or engineer) who can build, maintain and work with both the Front End and the Back End of a website. Since Full Stack developers are involved with all aspects of the development process, they must have expertise in both.
A Full Stack developer can work in-house (remotely) or at a computer development company that engineers websites, software, and other components for other businesses. This is one of the great advantages of this job, the freedom to physically work from wherever you want, often with flexible hours and good salaries.
Full stack developers are very often confused with Software Engineers, if you want to learn more about this you can check this article about the differences between a Full Stack Developer and a Software Engineer.
Skills and Responsibilities of a Full Stack Developer
Because a Full Stack developer works with several disciplines, it is necessary that they have knowledge and know how to work with several programming languages. A very important skill for the Front End is the ability to work in a team, because generally the design of the website that the user sees (also called UI) is not made by a Full Stack developer, but by a UX/UI designer, an expert in aesthetics, user intuition when using the page and the order of the items.
Some of the responsibilities of a full stack developer are:
- Developing and, after that, maintaining the server-side and client-side components of the web site.
- Integrating the server-side and client-side components of a web application: This involves writing code to ensure that the server-side and client-side components communicate effectively with each other.
- Testing and debugging 🐞: Full stack developers are responsible for ensuring that their code works as it is supposed to, detecting bugs, errors and different kinds of problems. Testing pages is a whole area in development so there are very skilled people working on it, but it is important to be able to manage the basic part of it.
- Staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices: Full Stack developers need to keep abreast of the latest technologies, programming languages, frameworks, and tools in order to ensure that they are using the most effective and efficient solutions for their projects. This is important also because the SEO of a web page is much better if it's built with good practices.
Full Stack Developer Salary 💰💰
After learning about the great demand for Full Stack developers around the world, the most obvious question is, how much do companies pay for these services? What is the Full Stack developer salary? How does the Full Stack developer salary vary? Of course, this answer varies a lot from country to country, the level of experience that the developer has, and the company that we are referring to. In any case, there is a consensus that it is one of the best paid careers, with a lot of potential for growth and development, and that it will remain that way for a few more years.
Factors Affecting Full Stack Developer Salaries
The Full Stack Developers salary might vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Experience 🧑🏽💻: Senior developers receive salaries that are frequently higher than those of entry-level (Juniors) developers.
- Capabilities: Full Stack Developers may be more useful to a business and thus be paid more if they have a varied set of abilities and experience with a range of technologies and programming languages.
- Industry: The Full Stack Developer's salary will depend on the industry he or she works in. Developers in the banking, finances and healthcare sectors, for instance, can make more money than those in the retail or entertainment sectors.
- Location 🌎: Salaries can change based on where a job is located. Developers in smaller or less expensive cities may make less that those living in places with greater cost of living, like San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin or Hong Kong.
- Company size 🏢: The size of the business may have an effect on wages. Developers at bigger corporations with more funding and revenue may make more money than those at startups with fewer resources.
- Education 👩🏽🎓: A Full Stack Developer may be able to make more money than someone without a degree if they have a degree in computer science or a closely related profession.
- Job obligations: Like any other job developers who take on additional tasks, including managing a team or a project, may be paid more.
It's critical to remember that these variables might change based on the organization and the person. The pay of a Full Stack developer may also be affected by additional elements like performance and negotiating prowess.
Comparison of Full Stack Developer Salaries in Different Locations
Here is a list of some of the average annual salaries per year for full stack developers in 2021:
| Country | min yearly | max yearly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $110,000 | $150,000 |
| Canada | $70,000 | $120,000 |
| United Kingdom | £35,000 | £55,000 |
| Australia | $70,000 | $110,000 |
| Germany | €60,000 | €60,000 |
| France | €35,000 | €50,000 |
| China | $17,690 | $29,500 |
It is important to emphasize that the full stack developer salary varies depending on the level you have, and these are basically classified into 3; Junior, Semi-Senior and Senior.
To have in mind the huge difference in salaries in different countries, this table shows the registered minimum, maximum and average salary, depending on the experience of the developer:
| Seniority | avg yearly | min yearly | max yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior 👶 | $60,000 | $30,000 | $100,000 |
| Semi-Senior 👨🏼🦰 | $60,000 | $40,000 | $110,000 |
| Senior 🧓🏼 | $100,000 | $70,000 | $170,000 |
Full Stack Developer Jobs
The following are some examples of positions that are frequently held by full-stack developers:
- Full Stack Web Developer
- Web Application Developer
- Software Engineer (Full Stack)
- Full Stack .NET Developer
- Full Stack Python Developer
These jobs can be found in many different sectors, such as technology, finance, health care, and e-commerce. Depending on the particular role and organization, the duties and requirements of the job may change.
Job Descriptions for Full Stack Developer Positions
- Full Stack Web Developer: Utilizes a range of technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, NodeJS, and SQL, to create and maintain web applications *from the Front End to the Back End**.
- Full Stack Engineer: Utilizes a range of programming languages and frameworks, including React, Angular, Python, and Java, to design, develop, and manage software applications from the Front End to the Back End.
- Using frameworks like Spring, Hibernate, and AngularJS, Full Stack Java developers are in charge of creating and maintaining Java-based web applications from the front end to the back end.
- The duties of a Full Stack .NET developer include creating and maintaining .NET-based online applications from the Front End to the Back End utilizing tools like ASP.NET, C#, and SQL Server.
- Full Stack PHP Developer: In charge of creating and maintaining PHP-based web applications employing frameworks from the Front End to the Back End.
How to Become a Full Stack Developer?
The classic way of studying is always an option to become a professional of any kind. You enroll in the university of your choice, pass all the subjects and in about 4 or 5 years you become a web developer with all the integral knowledge that this institution wants to print in you. But today the demand for these types of jobs is so high that certain smaller academies have created quicker, more intense and to the point called online bootcamps.
These courses train from scratch anyone who has no knowledge of programming or web development into a Junior level full stack developer ready to go out and offer their services to companies. This gives you the opportunity to become a freelancer or work full-time for a company.
There are many academies running very good bootcamp programs with very good teachers, assistants, infrastructure and very good planned syllabus, but there are some academies that make a difference by offering some particularities.
An example of these academies is 4Geeks Academy, an academy with face-to-face modality and also online with more than 15 locations in different cities like the bootcamp located in Miami or the coding bootcamp in Berlin, offering 3 specialties on different subjects of technology development including a full stack developer course. It offers mentoring for its students for life with their program named GeekPal, which allow scheduling meetings with very experienced mentors to solve any technical problems you may have as a student or after graduation while working at another company. All this at no additional cost even once the course is finished. It also offers a system that helps recent graduates find a job and position themselves in a company that is looking for full stack developers, and this too for life.
Common Technologies Used by Full Stack Developers
The most used languages for Front End development are HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The latter, unlike the other 2, is a programming language, that is, it can be programmed with, while HTML and CSS are simply code to build something visible, but it does not interact with the user, it does not work. with variables or functions. Within the Javascript world there are many frameworks, or work structures, that using this language facilitate the development of complex platforms in the easiest way possible. Some of these are VueJS, Angular, and React. For the Back End, languages are generally used to manage databases, such as SQL (the most used), and for all the rest Java, PHP, Ruby and Python.
Full stack developers work with a range of technologies across the Front End and Back End of a web application or platform. Here are some common technologies used by full stack developers:
🖥 Front End Technologies:
For creating the structure and visual styling of web pages the most used language is HTML and CSS. They both work together, the first one in the structure and the second one for the design, colors, fonts and the rest of variables.
After that for creating interactive and dynamic web pages JavaScript is the third ingredient, as well as for developing front-end frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, and Vue.
There are also front-end frameworks and libraries, these tools help a lot to get a nice result of the development using popular front-end frameworks and libraries include React, Angular, Vue, and Bootstrap.
🖥 Back End Technologies:
Server-side languages: Common server-side languages used by full stack developers include Java, Python, Ruby, Node.js, and PHP.
Web servers: Common web servers used in full stack development include Apache and Nginx.
Databases: Full stack developers work with a variety of databases, including MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, and PostgreSQL. It is important to mention that there are basically 2 types of databases, relational (SQL) and non-relational (non-SQL).
APIs: Full stack developers often create and work with APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow different software systems to communicate with each other. An API is a little program used as an intermediary between a server and a user. Data and information can be requested and it responds to be able to use that data.
Full Stack Developer Resume and Job Application
- Key Elements of a Strong Full Stack Developer Resume: There are 2 very used tools in the tech industry to show your skills and previous works to a company for a job position. The first one is the classic CV, where the previous companies are mentioned, projects that have been developed, some references and contacts and the skills that you have learned and that you can offer to the company to which you are applying.
- Full Stack Developer Portfolio: The other great tool widely used in these cases is the portfolio. A portfolio is basically a web page where the applicant can physically and specifically demonstrate the projects they have developed by putting links to said pages (if they are not their own), and creating a good experience for the person who will enter said web page. That is where all the creativity of the developer can be embodied. If you want to know more about portfolios and how to build them you can check our article about how to create a Full Stack Developer Portfolio.
- Tips for Crafting an Effective Full Stack Developer Job Application: As an application to any other job it is always important to read the job proposal that is being offered. Understand that a profile is needed with certain skills that I must have in order to contribute. Another good tip is to do a little research on the company you are applying to, understand its market, departments, and basic work system in order to demonstrate professionalism and interest when interviewing. A tip that is typical of job interviews for technology development companies is to be logically trained to solve tests that possibly make you solve as a filter. Possibly a problem will arise and a code must be written that solves said problem in a certain time, and for this it is good to have been training the days before the interview. There are many pages with exercises to solve in many different languages for different areas.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Full Stack Developer Jobs:
Here are some common errors to avoid when submitting applications for positions as Full Stack Developers:
- Applying for jobs that don't fit your skill set: Before applying, thoroughly read the job description. By applying for positions you are not qualified for, you are wasting both your time and the recruiter's time.
- Not personalizing your cover letter and resume: Make sure to match your application materials to the employer and job description. In your resume, emphasize your pertinent experience and talents and give reasons why you'd be a good fit for the job.
- Omitting to present your work: Give links to your Github, portfolio, or any pertinent works. Your future employer is interested in learning more about your skills and approach to problem-solving.
- Adding unnecessary complexity to your application: Keep it brief and to the point. Avoid overwhelming the recruiter with a lengthy cover letter or a résumé that is too complicated.
- Neglecting soft skills: Full Stack Developers require outstanding communication skills in addition to their technical expertise.
Conclusion
Today there is a great opportunity to enter the world of technology, not only it is cheaper than before, but there are more possibilities for academies, modalities and opportunities. To enter alone, it is enough to dedicate yourself for about 6 months to learn the basics and then go out and offer your services as a Junior developer to contracting companies.
For this we must always rely on our CV, application letter and portfolio, they are our strongest tools, in addition to a good performance during the interview itself, making it natural, simple and being well trained for a possible technical test.
Salaries in the world (in general) are very good and you can participate in development in any country in the world, so you just have to search and apply. Always keep in mind that this is a changing, complex world, that is always in constant reinvention and that you always have to be aware of what is new that is coming out so as not to be left behind in development.
So what are you waiting for? You already know everything you have to do, the opportunities ahead of you, salaries, growth opportunities, flexibility and the opportunity to enter this revolutionary world that we did not have a few years ago, and today it is available to anyone who commits to study 6 intense months and enter this huge industry that permeates practically all types of people and places today.