What Does a Full Stack Web Developer Do?

Full stack web development is the combination of both front end and back end web development; that means it deals with both the user-facing elements of a website plus all the technological components behind the scenes that users don’t have access to. A successful Full Stack Developer needs to have wide-ranging skills including:

• Proficiency in HTML and JavaScript plus at least two or three back end languages such as Python, PHP, Ruby, or Java
• Familiarity with a variety of web development tools such as libraries, frameworks, version control systems, and content management systems (CMS)
• A talent for writing high-quality code plus the ability to detect errors, eliminate bugs. and track changes to the code
• The ability to build and manage web applications
• The capability to create a website that’s aesthetically pleasing, responsive, functional, and user-friendly
• A general understanding of user experience (UX) principles and SEO (search engine optimization) best practices
• Soft skills like flexibility, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and time management
• Insight into how databases, hosting environments, APIs (application programming interfaces), operating systems, and servers function
• Knowledge of web accessibility and cybersecurity best practices

What Responsibilities Do Full Stack Web Developers Have?

Full Stack Web Developers are responsible for taking care of both the front and back end of a website; they must be able to set up all the behind-the-scenes technology that users don’t typically see such as servers, databases, and applications in addition to creating functional websites that are aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. To accomplish this, Full Stack Web Developers are often responsible for the following tasks:

• Working with stakeholders to determine the purpose of the website and how it should look
• Creating and maintaining servers, databases, APIs (application programming interfaces), and overall website architecture
• Developing website design on the front end
• Coding the front and back ends of the website and debugging any errors that may arise
• Utilizing user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles
• Creating and maintaining user interfaces and navigation menus plus modifying them when necessary
• Incorporating multimedia content such as graphics, audio, video, etc. onto websites
• Ensuring that websites can be accessed on a variety of platforms and devices including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones
• Implementing protocols to secure data
• Testing websites for speed, performance, usability, etc. and making changes to optimize performance
• Writing technical documentation for the site
• Providing website maintenance and making enhancements when required

This isn’t a comprehensive list of full stack job duties; it just reflects some of the most commonly assigned tasks. When working as a Full Stack Web Developer, you may be asked to take on additional responsibilities based on the needs of the stakeholder, project, and employer.

Where Do Full Stack Web Developers Work?

If you pursue a career in full stack web development, you’ll be surprised at how many opportunities open up to you; just about any company that needs to have a website built or maintained would be happy to have you on staff. That means you can work in practically any industry including government, education, tech, retail, media, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and finance. A lot of Full Stack Web Developers also end up working for marketing companies or offering their services as a freelancer where they can build websites for clients from start to finish.

How Much Do Full Stack Web Developers Make?

If you’re looking for a job that will earn you a high salary and offer stability, then full stack web development is a great choice; for Full Stack Web Developers working in the United States, the average salary is $106,000 per year. Of course, the salary you earn will vary based on a variety of factors including what state you live in, how much experience you have, and the size and age of the company you work for. Let’s look at how each of these can affect the amount you earn.

How long you’ve been working in web development is a major factor determining your annual salary. If you’ve just completed a bootcamp and are looking for your first job, you’ll likely earn far less than the average salary for Full Stack Web Developers; those with less than a year of experience in the industry tend to earn $87,000 on average. Of course, once you have several years of experience under your belt, your pay rate will go up; with just five years of experience, the average salary increases to $128,000 per year.

Where you live will also play a part in determining your salary. If you reside in a state or city with a high cost of living, your salary will be bumped up to compensate for the additional cost. For example, Full Stack Web Developers in California earn an average of $122,000 per year, which is significantly higher than the national average of $106,000. Living in a state with a low cost of living will also result in a lower salary; in Arkansas, Full Stack Web Developers earn an annual salary of just $85,000. In a state like Texas, where the cost of living is close to the national average, the average yearly wage is right around $106,000.

The age and size of the company you work for will also affect how much you earn. If you take a job at a startup that hasn’t had a chance to establish itself yet, you’ll likely earn less than the average salary. The same goes for smaller businesses. A small, local business doesn’t have nearly the resources that a large multinational corporation does; you’ll earn significantly less working for a small business compared to taking a job at a large company.

What’s the Job Outlook for Full Stack Web Developers?

There’s never been a better time to start working as a Full Stack Web Developer — the industry is flourishing and is only expected to continue growing at an unprecedented rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 17,900 web development jobs are expected to open up each year between now and 2030. That equals a growth rate of 13%, which is much higher than the 8% growth rate that’s projected for all occupations in the United States.

How Do I Become a Full Stack Web Developer?

The fastest and most efficient way to become a Full Stack Web Developer is to complete a bootcamp. Bootcamps offer intensive training on an abbreviated schedule which means you’ll be ready to start your new career in just a few short months. And with their focus on skills acquisition and career-readiness, bootcamps are often viewed as a viable alternative to a university education.

Depending upon where you’re located, you may be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area. Options offered locally may be lacking, however, so you might be better off enrolling in an online web development bootcamp. With online training, you get the same hands-on experience and immediate feedback as face-to-face classes with the added convenience of learning from home. Online bootcamps also offer more flexible scheduling options compared to in-person instruction.

If you want to start learning web development basics but you’re not ready to commit to a comprehensive bootcamp, you might consider enrolling in an individual class or two. There is a wide range of web development classes available online and in person. By taking beginning web development classes, you can start learning fundamental concepts and programming languages while testing your interest in pursuing full stack web development as a career.