Discover the growing demand for front end developers and the key skills needed to excel in this field. Learn about the lucrative career prospects of this profession, the industries employing these specialists, and how companies like Noble Desktop can equip you with the necessary skillset.

Key Insights

  • Job prospects for web developers, including front end developers, are expected to increase until 2031 due to technology's steady expansion and the impending retirement or career shifts of current employees.
  • A front end developer requires expertise in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other coding languages to create the user interface for websites. Formal education, like a four-year computer science degree, can be beneficial but is not mandatory as long as the developer has sufficient experience and skills.
  • Front end development is a multifaceted field, encompassing roles such as UI Designer, Mobile Developer, Software Engineer as well as Web Developer and Web Designer. These professionals contribute to enhancing the visual appeal and performance of a website or mobile application.
  • The demand for front end developers extends beyond tech companies to include various sectors such as ecommerce, financial services, food services, and even small businesses in large and small cities alike. Freelancing and remote working options are also abundant in this field.
  • The average salary of a front end developer in the United States is approximately $103,000 per year, with higher figures in tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle. Similar positions, such as web developers and web designers, earn around $67,000 and $52,000 respectively.
  • Training programs, bootcamps, and certification courses through providers like Noble Desktop can provide the comprehensive training needed to become a proficient front end developer. They offer various live online web development courses and certificates that cater to different levels of coding experience.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for Web Developers should increase from now until 2031 as employees at specific companies may either transfer to other places to work, move on to other areas related to technology, or simply retire. As society’s dependence on technology continues to expand with increased use of smartphones, digital streaming, and ecommerce, skills in web development are projected to grow as companies will be looking for Front End Developers, Back End Developers, and Digital Designers to create visually appealing and solidly functioning websites and apps that can work on any screen size to perform needed functions. 

Front End Developers must possess skills with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other coding and programming languages in order to build the user-side for websites. Many Front End Developers have four-year computer science degrees, but people with knowledge in computer programming acquired through other means are able to gain work at the position without needing to have a college degree. Basically, possessing experience can qualify an individual to work as a Front End Developer. Gaining the right certifications or building a portfolio that exhibits your work as evidence of the skills and capability that you possess with front end web development could also help with gaining employment as a Front End Developer. Noble Desktop offers a variety of courses, bootcamps, and certification programs that provide training in web development.

What is a Front End Developer?

Becoming a Front End Developer involves building websites and applications using common front end web development languages. The front end of a website is what users see on their web browsers and is built using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other coding languages. 

Web development includes creating websites and apps from scratch. This means applying front end, back end, and full stack web development procedures. Front end development focuses on how a user interacts with a website while back end development concerns the functionality of that website within browsers like Chrome and Safari, for example. Full stack development combines both those functions.

Skills needed for becoming a Front End Developer can also qualify you for working as a Web Developer or Web Designer.

Read more about what a Front End Developer does.

What is the Job Outlook for Graphic Design?

Front end web development emphasizes how websites look within a web browser. Becoming a Front End Developer means having skills for being able to work as a UI Designer, Mobile Developer, or Software Engineer, which each focus on graphic design and user interaction. With today’s increasing dependence on smartphone technology, web development geared towards mobile devices has generated a higher demand for Front End Developers and Back End Developers for creating websites that can interface on various screen sizes.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for Front End Developers should continue growing between now and 2031. Many openings in the area are expected due to organizations needing to replace employees who have either retired or found work elsewhere.

Future Growth

With the growth of ecommerce for making purchases, finding work with skills in web development and digital design will increase as there are more companies that focus strictly on selling products and services through the internet or by using online sales as an option. Providing a web presence that allows potential customers to effortlessly navigate a website is essential for outpacing competitors. Therefore, employing Front End Developers who can facilitate customers easily finding and purchasing what they’re looking for is and will continue to be a crucial element for any successful business. Front End Developers, Back End Developers, and Digital Designers are responsible for creating visually appealing websites and applications that have to be able to function on any screen size.

Industries

Businesses looking for Front End Developers include companies that handle their own online visibility along with major corporations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and government agencies. The types of companies looking for Front End Developers include ecommerce giants like Amazon, financial-related companies like Wells Fargo, or a food servicing company like Instacart that are looking for help with enhancing their online visibility.

Similarly, small businesses in larger cities like Miami, Charlotte, or Boston hire Front End Developers as full-time employees or contractors through IT staffing companies. Businesses in smaller cities like Rome, Georgia, for example, also hire Front End Developers to expand their visibility with potential customers located in nearby larger surrounding cities to find clients who might not otherwise have been aware of that business’s products or services.

Ambitious Front End Developers can also find opportunities with startups. There are plenty of young, dynamic entrepreneurs looking for the right talent to help their new enterprise shock the world. A Front End Developer can help a startup establish its own unique and appealing brand.

Front End Developers may also find work at web development companies that can benefit from someone who can create appealing web designs for websites or mobile apps. Working as a Front End Developer also provides plenty of options as a freelance independent contractor as the profession lends itself to a flexible work schedule, including working remotely.

While Front End Developers focus on creating a visually appealing interaction for users, Back End Developers are responsible for building and maintaining how a website performs. With the obligation of making sure that websites and software work the way they should, Back End Developers can find work with engineering firms, ecommerce companies, the financial services industry, and healthcare in both the private and public sectors.

By nature, Front End Developers must be problem-solvers who focus on making user interaction effortless. As an area that is constantly evolving to incorporate new technology, front end web development can reward anyone who likes learning new things or taking on challenges.

Salary

There are plenty of options for anyone who has skills in front end web development. Front End Developers can make an average salary of around $103,000 a year in the United States. The position can earn a qualifying professional as much as $118,000 in a place like San Francisco, which, of course, is one of the largest cities located near Silicon Valley, the hub of the tech industry. Front End Developers can also earn salaries of around $117,000 in Seattle or $108,000 in Atlanta.

Occupations similar to Front End Developer include Web Developer, which averages about $67,000 nationally, and Web Designer, which earns around $52,000.

How Do I Find a Front End Developer Job?

There are options available if you’re looking for work as a Front End Developer. Corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and small businesses seek out Front End Developers to create dynamic, user-friendly websites. Work as a Front End Developer requires having an aptitude for time management, communication, and business. There are also plenty of opportunities for a Front End Developer working as an independent contractor or freelancer, which provides flexibility with scheduling and location. 

You can find Front End Developer jobs on several websites and platforms. You can search for Front End Developer opportunities on Indeed, LinkedIn, or Glassdoor.

Learn the Skills to Become a Front End Developer at Noble Desktop

People have several options for learning to become a Front End Developer, which include in-person and live online training courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs that provide real-time hands-on instruction. Noble Desktop offers several live online Web Development courses.

For example, with hardly any prior coding experience, an individual could complete the Front End Web Development Certificate and get headed in the right direction for their new career with training in how to build the user side of a responsive website. This course aims to keep class sizes small so that students can receive tailored advice and guidance from their instructors.

If you would like to learn about designing websites or email programs from coding with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, you can train for the Web Design Certificate. In addition, this course will teach you how to build websites using WordPress.

If you would like to learn about more options for building websites or apps from scratch through skills in front end web development, Noble Desktop provides information on their Learn Front End Web Development page, which can guide you through learning about several options for becoming a Front End Developer, including what free resources are available and career advice.