Frontend developers earn quite different amounts. In addition to qualifications, the salary also depends on the size and location of the company.
A professional internet presence is essential for a successful company today in order to win customers for products or services. Software developers who specialize in web technologies are therefore still urgently needed. The field of work has changed significantly over the years. The formerly static pages, which were mainly used to display images and text, have now become extensive and sometimes highly complex applications. As a result, the demands on the developers have increased enormously. As a rule, frontend developers today also have to master various disciplines from the range of software development. The visual elements of a software, application or website are referred to as “frontend” (front end) – i.e. the area of an Internet that is visible to the user page or a program, the so-called user interface. In contrast, the area of software closer to the system is referred to as the "backend". The functions of the program are programmed and defined in this data access level, which is invisible to the user. The frontend thus closes the gap between the user interface and the actions that take place in the background.
Tasks of a frontend developer
Frontend developers are responsible for the creation and programming of the visible components. This profession thus occupies a kind of interface between a web designer and a "pure" programmer. As a translator of the design on the Internet, frontend developers have a comprehensive area of responsibility. You must be able to design interfaces with HTML, CSS and JavaScript as well as create and edit graphics in Photoshop, for example.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript: Are you fit for it?
A front-end developer processes the specifications from the graphic or web designer using the HTML description language, for example, and translates them for the browser so that the user can see or click on this information on the relevant company website. This includes the entire visible layout of a website or application such as images, text, colors, menus, buttons, tables, links and more. A front-end developer must be able to create and assemble all of these elements using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the programming language JavaScript or the style sheet language CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
What else should a frontend developer be able to do?
Depending on the company, it can happen that you also have to take on tasks from related areas in the job. The other basic technical knowledge that every frontend developer should have, in addition to experience in dealing with graphic design, also includes the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) and basic knowledge of web design and responsive design. As a specialist, you should also be able to work with database systems, server-side programming languages such as PHP and client-side frameworks such as AngularJS, ReactJS, UIkit.
Frontend designer: mediator between worlds
The frontend developer ensures that the elements work properly and the interface is equally visible on all devices and browsers. Above all, the aesthetics of the layout plays an important role so that a company can optimally advertise its products or services in web offers. Since frontend developers are, so to speak, mediators between backend developers, graphic designers and other areas, they not only have to mediate in an interdisciplinary manner, but also have to work. The ability to work in a team, a good grasp of things and the ability to clearly communicate complex technical contexts are therefore just as important.» IT jobs: What does a SAP consultant actually do?» IT jobs: What does a system administrator actually do?» IT Jobs: What Does a Java Developer Actually Do?
What does a frontend developer earn?
It is not possible to give a general answer as to what exactly one earns in the profession, since front-end developers take on a wide variety of tasks in different companies and projects. These can differ greatly in terms of responsibility and the required expertise. Depending on the company and the federal state, beginners can expect a starting salary of EUR 2,400 to EUR 3,000 per month. According to a study presented in November 2016 by the wage and salary platform Compensation Partners, experienced frontend developers earn an average annual gross salary of just under 43,000 euros and thus earn significantly less than their colleagues from IT security or project management, who earn an average of 70,000 euros go home a year. According to an earlier study by Compensation Partners from March 2016, leading front-end developers already collect a whopping annual salary of around 97,500 euros. But the size of the company and the location also play a role: the larger the company, the higher the salary. And in cities like Frankfurt or Munich, the relevant IT specialists earn the most, while front-end developers have it the hardest in Berlin.” More advice on jobs and careers
How to become a frontend developer?
There is no special training for the job. In principle, anyone can acquire the necessary knowledge themselves and, thanks to the tools of large hosting providers that work according to the modular principle, can produce simple websites themselves. In order to work as a professional frontend developer, however, you should already have in-depth knowledge of the areas mentioned above. Basic technical training is a solid basis for this. Many frontend developers are career changers from other departments who have learned how to create websites through professional experience or their own interest in their free time. In general, starting a job is particularly suitable for computer scientists and media designers, and training in software engineering or as an information technology assistant is also a good start. Basically, the experience gained as a frontend developer is more important than the degree you have achieved. However, a relevant degree will become more and more important in the future, especially when it comes to senior positions with responsibility.
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