Thinking about pursuing a career as a full-stack developer — and wondering just how much money you’ll bring home? You can expect to earn a competitive salary, whether you work at a small business or a major corporation.
According to Glassdoor, the average full-stack developer salary comes in at $87,000 annually. This amount nearly doubles the median annual wage for all occupations, which stands at around $45,760, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Becoming a full-stack developer can lead to a lucrative salary right out of the gate. And like many professions, the more experience you accrue, the more money you can earn.
If you find yourself asking, “How much does a full-stack developer make?” you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’re laying out all the details on what you can expect to earn, whether you want to work as a web designer, web developer, backend developer, or in another top career for full-stack developers.
What is a Full-Stack Developer?
Before you can earn that full-stack developer salary, you first need to know what exactly a full-stack developer does. Basically, a full-stack developer is someone who works on the backend and frontend of web development, thus the name “full stack.”
While full-stack developers don’t need to be experts in every single technology, they should know how to work independently or with little assistance to create fully functional web applications. (Check out our post for a deeper dive into full-stack development.)
To succeed in this role, you should possess a few important qualities, including creativity, curiosity, and attention to detail. You should also have patience. Becoming a full-stack developer takes time and commitment, but it’s worth it.
As a full-stack developer, you can learn many kinds of full stacks, like
- LAMP
- LEMP
- MEAN
- MERN
You should also be familiar with:
- CSS
- JavaScript
- HTML
- At least one backend language like Ruby on Rails
Each programming language has its distinct advantages and functions, so be sure to learn many. This can make your portfolio more robust and make you stand out to employers.
Not sure where to start? A Coding Dojo bootcamp can teach you the skills and coding languages employers want in today’s candidates.
Full-Stack Developer Salary
The allure of a generous full-stack web developer salary attracts many professionals to the role. Full-stack developers often earn six-figure salaries. For example, full-stack software engineers in the United States earn an average of $117,600 annually, according to data from Salary.com. This salary range can vary from $108,000 to $128,000, depending on factors like job sector, employer, and skill level/competency.
Additionally, your geographic location can also impact how much you bring in as a full-stack developer. Some of the highest-paying cities for full-stack developers include San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Like workers in other professions, full-stack developers in larger cities often earn higher salaries to cover their city’s higher cost of living.
Of course, an entry-level full-stack developer salary varies from a full-stack engineer salary of a highly experienced professional. A mid-level salary for these professionals can reach $97,500, while a senior-level salary averages about $116,000.
Entry-Level Full-Stack Developer Salary
If you’re new to your role as a full-stack developer, you can expect to earn an entry-level salary of about $83,293, according to Indeed.
These beginner-level developers may perform tasks like working with other professionals to design, code, test, and refine applications. They may also develop frontend and backend structures. Entry-level full-stack developers typically work under the supervision of senior developers.
Why Become a Full-Stack Developer
There are many reasons you may want to work as a full-stack developer. If you’re into working in flexible environments and you enjoy working on different things, this job is right up your alley.
As a full-stack developer, you might work with graphic designers on web design features. Then, you may collaborate with IT colleagues on front-end website architecture. Every day looks different and gives you opportunities to use your skills in many different arenas.
This flexibility can make you appealing in the job market. Employers want to hire entry-level full-stack developers because these professionals can work in various roles. Plus, you’re also opening up your career path a bit more as you’re not limited to one stack and have more opportunities to learn new tech or languages.
Additionally, if you want to enter an in-demand field with abundant job opportunities, you can do this working as a full-stack developer. Jobs for web developers and digital designers are projected to grow 23 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the BLS, which is much faster than the average occupation.
How to Become a Full-Stack Developer at Coding Dojo
Whether you’re starting as an entry-level developer or you want to expand your tech skills, you can learn the ropes at one of our top full-stack developer bootcamps. When it comes to becoming a full-stack developer:
- You don’t need to have prior coding experience
- You don’t need to be a math whiz
- You can be any age
During our coding bootcamps, every day is a little different. You may listen to lectures from industry experts one day and attend breakout sessions the next. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to learn. Each bootcamp packs in a full curriculum. As far as how much time you’ll put in, plan to invest about 70 hours each week.
While you must put in the effort and dedicate the time to learning, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. With Coding Dojo, you can get help not only during your bootcamp but after you graduate. We can help you with things like resume edits, career guidance, and mock interviews. You can also meet one on one with a coding mentor as frequently as you need.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Full-Stack Developer
Becoming a full-stack developer doesn’t take as long as you might think. Based on our four bootcamps, you can become a full-stack developer in just 14-32 weeks. This means you can build your first website and app in a matter of weeks.
Compared to earning a degree from a traditional college, graduating from a bootcamp gets you into the workforce much quicker — and for a fraction of the cost. So even if you didn’t graduate with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, you can get the education you need from attending a bootcamp.
If you’re ready to take the first step at becoming a full-stack developer, start with Coding Dojo. You’ll be happy you did. Contact us today!