Choosing the career path in the IT industry is one of the most common dilemmas many new developers face. The tech world is a diverse industry with an array of specializations. Much like doctors, web developers can take on different specialty roles and job titles.
Two of the most popular roles are that of front-end and back-end developer. Although both areas fall under the broad term IT programmer, choosing either of these specialties might exclude you from qualifying and working on other roles – not unless you go full-stack development.
So, which path should you choose?
There’s no definite answer to this question, but we’ll try to give you some guidance on this topic. Hopefully, this post can give you some pointers to think about.
The main difference between front-end and back-end development is the specific area of focus. Front-end development focuses on the appearance of a program. Meanwhile, back-end development is concerned with its functionality, architecture, and security.
Job Titles
The front end involves visual aesthetics, graphic design, and content. It is known as the “client-side” software and is all about what the users see, click, and interact with. You need to master a specific coding language focused on software graphics. Front-end job titles include CSS/HTML developer, UI developer, front-end web designer, and front-end SEO specialist. Take note, however, that skills may overlap between different job positions, and the titles and job roles may differ for each organization.
Back-end developer jobs require a strong background in software engineering and programming as they create the “server-side” software. Depending on the specific job roles, the company may require in-depth skills in a specific programming language or multiple languages, and across different legacy technologies. Some job titles for back-end developers include software engineer, Java developer, iOS developer, and DevOps Engineer. Although the role of back-end developers is rarely seen by clients, it remains vital to the application.
Which title do intend or wish to be called? Which position is closest to your heart?
Job Satisfaction
Job satisfaction is a crucial consideration when choosing a career path. However, for a complete outsider, the only way to know which field will be most fulfilling is through experience. Try to dabble into both ecosystems to experience their perks and downsides. Entrance, Houston software development experts emphasized that while this may take time and effort, it is worthwhile to understand both worlds.
Whether you choose front-end or back-end roles, you’ll find that are still numerous job titles and sub-specializations that you can do. Experiencing the basics of both ecosystems and not just depending on third-party information is vital in making a decision. After all, your entire career (and even your life) would be greatly affected by this major decision, so don’t hurry in making a decision. Get a feel of each role and see which one you work on in the future. However, always remember that starting will be tough. Consider working across both fields for a year or two. This should give you enough time to assess which part of the development process you’ll enjoy working with.
Alternatively, you may discover that you excel in both areas and are capable of becoming a full-stack engineer. When it comes to job satisfaction, has a unique taste – follow your gut feel.
Job Stability
Another consideration is the stability that the development career offers. You should consider the existing salary range and the employment trends.
In terms of salary, back-end developers tend to get paid more at around $116,000 per year as compared to front-end developers at $102,000 per year. Entry-level salary may also differ depending on the skills you mastered, such as the languages you work on. Furthermore, your location and the company you work for can also impact the salary.
In general, the demand for these job positions remains the same. Since the scarcity of qualified developers is still persistent, the demand for both types of developers is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the choice of specialization depends on your priorities. If you are looking at earnings potential, then the back-end developer role is the right path. However, if you enjoy aesthetics than complicated algorithms and systems, then you should consider the front-end ecosystem.
Hopefully, you have found some ideas from this post that can help you discern between front-end and back-end development.
Hello, My name is Shari & I am a writer for the ‘Outlook AppIns’ blog. I’m a CSIT graduate & I’ve been working in the IT industry for 3 years.