At inTulsa Talent, we’re passionate about helping tech industry professionals make their next career move. Read on to learn more about the benefits of full stack development, and what you need to know to set yourself up to be effective in this role.
In This Article
The Increasing Demand for Highly Skilled Full Stack Developers
Key Skills for Full Stack Developers to Have
Educational and Professional Growth Path for Full Stack Development
Full Stack Developer Job Market Outlook
Interested in pursuing a career as a full stack developer? If so, you’re choosing an excellent area of tech knowledge to engage in. This lucrative tech role is in high demand, giving you great potential to enjoy long-term career success in a wide variety of companies and industries—on-site, at home as a remote full stack developer, and even as the head of your own full stack development business.
At inTulsa Talent, we’re passionate about helping tech industry professionals make their next career move. Read on to learn more about the benefits of full stack development, and what you need to know to set yourself up to be effective in this role.
<h2 id="demand">The Increasing Demand for Highly Skilled Full Stack Developers</h2>
With the world becoming increasingly dependent on software and web applications, the need for digital designers, web developers, and tech experts who can master the “full stack” of elements that go into web applications is only continuing to grow in every industry. All sectors need a reliable web presence these days, one that offers a seamless user experience on the front-end, and smooth database and operating system functions on the back-end. With Tulsa recently designated as a tech hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, our city is an ideal place to enjoy affordable, laidback living while pursuing your tech career.
<h2 id="skills">Key Skills for Full Stack Developers to Have</h2>
Full stack developers must be skilled in working with all the elements that compose web applications—the “full set” of components including front-end UX interfaces, the application’s interaction with the internet, application programming interfaces, web frameworks, databases, and operating systems. To perform this role successfully, you will need to have a robust range of skills:
Big-picture conceptualization
To function across front-end and back-end demands, a full stack developer must have a strong ability to visualize the big picture, seeing how changes in one area will impact others, and anticipate the results of changes on either side of the coin. You’ll do well if you enjoy knowing how everything works together to serve users of the web applications you work on.
A strong understanding of both front-end and back-end development
You’ll need to understand every aspect of website creation and maintenance, with a keen sense of how the front-end and back-end aspects of an application combine to deliver a positive user experience. This includes abilities such as:
- Coding drop-down menus, page layouts, and navigational designs to create a smooth and appealing user experience
- Knowledge of tools such as Photoshop and Figma to create graphics, as well as understanding of fonts, colors, and other user interface (UI) design principles
- Ability to code and manage audio and video elements as well as static visual aspects of a web page
- Ability to design and manage back-end database queries and web storage
- Skilled use of multiple front and back-end programming languages such as Python, PHP, CakePHP, C#, SQL, Angular JS, Apache HTTP Server, AWS, CSS, Ember.js, HTML, jQuery, Laravel, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Nginx, Node.js, Polymer, React, Ruby on Rails, Vue.js, and other programs as they emerge
Desire to expand skills in many areas of web development
Since full stack development requires ongoing expertise in website building and maintenance, you’ll need a passion for learning and becoming proficient in every aspect of this field. And you’ll need to stay updated on the newest aspects of web development, so a love for learning will serve you well.
<h2 id="education">Educational and Professional Growth Path for Full Stack Development</h2>
If you’ve looked at the list of skills expected of a full stack developer and wondered how to gain them—there’s good news. Hiring managers are much more interested in applicants with technical skills and proven results under their belt.
Show a knowledge of multiple coding and programming languages, application building, and web design, and you’ll be a strong candidate for open positions. One way to do this at the entry-level (and even as you grow your career to mid-level and higher positions) is to build and update a portfolio of examples that showcase your abilities to prospective employers.
Training Opportunities for Full Stack Development
You don’t actually need a college degree in order to enter or succeed in this growing, high-paying area of tech. Consider finding an internship where you can learn a lot about the full stack skills you need to build in a practical, real-world setting. Look for a mentor who has the skills you need, such as a stack engineer or senior software engineer, who is willing to guide you as you learn.
The skills you need to thrive can also be learned through online courses, coding, bootcamps, certification programs, and even on-the-job training. Consider what is being offered by industry leaders like Meta, college and university coding programs, and other sources of tech education around web design, programming, coding, database management, and more.
If you decide to go the route of earning a degree, a basic bachelor’s in computer science, computer engineering, or related fields is a good place to start.
<h2 id="market">Full Stack Developer Job Market Outlook</h2>
Because a full stack developer is “doing it all” when it comes to web applications, there’s a strong demand across the economy for those who can excel in this particular tech role. The ability to synthesize front-end and back-end design and programming makes a skilled full stack developer or digital designer a highly desirable employee at just about any organization that uses software.
A Wide Variety of Industries to Explore
Because software and web applications are found in every field, full stack development allows you to explore a vast selection of industries. Healthcare, education, finance, e-commerce and government are just some of the places where you can establish a thriving career in full stack development.
Startups to Large Organizations—the Opportunities Are Vast
The possibilities for full stack developer positions will continue to expand as consumers demand immersive, thorough web experiences for everything they do. You can choose to join a small company or startup, where the tech team may be lean but opportunities to rise in the ranks are high. Or, you can join a larger tech department at a more established organization, where your versatility will make you an all-star on the team.
A good front-and-back-end web developer will do well at smaller companies where a vast skill set will be of great use—and this can appeal to people who want to rise in the ranks and be part of a growing startup.
But you’re certainly not limited to that, because full stack development is beneficial everywhere, including large organizations with sizable teams that appreciate the rich range of skills of a full stack developer. In fact, the knowledge base these tech experts bring to their arena makes them a strong fit for leadership roles and team management, promising promotion opportunities for those who want them.
Superior Long-Term Career Growth for Full Stack and Digital Design Roles
The job outlook for full stack developers is exceptional. It’s been rated as the number-one job on Indeed’s annual 2023 survey, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this career path will grow 16 percent in the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. Full stack development pays very well, with an average mean salary of nearly $130,000 and a base pay that ranges $45 per hour and up. And it offers great flexibility, because a large number of open full stack roles are remote, hybrid, or freelance.
For those with an entrepreneurial bent, full stack development is a burgeoning field that creates space for new businesses that focus on consulting, building, and maintaining web applications. With so many industries desiring tech experts who can provide broad and detailed front-end and back-end advice, it’s possible to move from roles such as a senior full stack developer, stack software engineer, principal software engineer, data engineer, end developer, or even full stack sales jobs into a stack development career into a business of your own.
<h2 id="summing-it-up">Summing It Up: The Benefits of a Full Stack Developer Career</h2>
If you have an aptitude for coding, curiosity about every area of web application design and structure, and an ability to see the big picture as you problem-solve, a career in full stack development is well worth pursuing. There are so many opportunities throughout just about every industry that you’re sure to find a career trajectory that is a good match for your skills and interests
Ready to find an open role in full stack developer jobs, web development, digital design, or other areas of tech? Join our Talent Network to explore available positions and set up job alerts to stay in the know.
