Back End Developers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of back end developers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for back end developers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of back end developers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for back end developers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Back End Developers?
Do back end developers need a degree? What kind of experience do back end developers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for back end developers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Back End Developers
Jobs Postings for Back End Developers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 37,755 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 35,388 (41%)
- Master's degree: 9,918 (12%)
- High School or GED: 1,644 (2%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,470 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of back end developers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 41% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Back End Developers
Jobs Postings for Back End Developers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,729 (5%)
- 2-3 Years: 13,644 (27%)
- 4-6 Years: 22,259 (45%)
- 7-9 Years: 7,848 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 3,288 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for back end developers. In 45% of job postings for Back End Developers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for back end developers.
What Kind of Degree Do Back End Developers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for back end developers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective back end developers, and in 2023 a total of 176,076 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective back end developers.
Top Degree Programs for Back End Developers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Back End Developers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. | 10,759 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 9,615 |
| Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design. | 5,171 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. | 10,759 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 9,615 |
| Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design. | 5,171 |
| Computer Software Engineering. | 5,017 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Applications. | 2,399 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other. | 816 |
| Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. | 682 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 347 |
| Computer Software Technology/Technician. | 249 |
| Computer Programming, Other. | 161 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Back End Developers
Franklin’s transfer-friendly online B.S. Graphic Design & UX provides a comprehensive understanding of user needs that enables you to create seamless human-centered experiences for individuals interacting with products and services.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Back End Developers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by back end developers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for back end developers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Back End Developers
Based on 75,187 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Back End Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 39,275 | 52% |
| Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | 27,633 | 37% |
| Computer Science | 25,664 | 34% |
| React.js (Javascript Library) | 24,329 | 32% |
| Front End (Software Engineering) | 23,949 | 32% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Back End Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 24,626 | 33% |
| Problem Solving | 14,500 | 19% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 12,927 | 17% |
| Management | 11,116 | 15% |
| Writing | 8,513 | 11% |
Based on 75,187 job postings related to back end developers, javascript (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 52% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for cascading style sheets (css), computer science, react.js (javascript library), front end (software engineering) and agile methodology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for back end developers, followed by problem solving, troubleshooting (problem solving), management, writing and leadership.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 39,275 | 52% |
| Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | 27,633 | 37% |
| Computer Science | 25,664 | 34% |
| React.js (Javascript Library) | 24,329 | 32% |
| Front End (Software Engineering) | 23,949 | 32% |
| Agile Methodology | 23,196 | 31% |
| HyperText Markup Language (HTML) | 22,434 | 30% |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | 21,271 | 28% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 19,330 | 26% |
| Software Engineering | 19,291 | 26% |
| Amazon Web Services | 18,358 | 24% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 17,528 | 23% |
| Software Development | 16,841 | 22% |
| Angular (Web Framework) | 15,231 | 20% |
| Git (Version Control System) | 14,913 | 20% |
| Node.js (Javascript Library) | 14,687 | 20% |
| RESTful API | 14,233 | 19% |
| Back End (Software Engineering) | 13,373 | 18% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 13,286 | 18% |
| Scalability | 13,074 | 17% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 24,626 | 33% |
| Problem Solving | 14,500 | 19% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 12,927 | 17% |
| Management | 11,116 | 15% |
| Writing | 8,513 | 11% |
| Leadership | 7,671 | 10% |
| Mentorship | 7,425 | 10% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,197 | 10% |
| Innovation | 7,068 | 9% |
| Research | 6,892 | 9% |
| Operations | 6,720 | 9% |
| Self-Motivation | 6,354 | 8% |
| Planning | 6,006 | 8% |
| Information Technology | 5,431 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 5,393 | 7% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,627 | 6% |
| Safety Assurance | 4,090 | 5% |
| Teamwork | 3,808 | 5% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,688 | 5% |
| Mathematics | 3,529 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about back end developers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for back end developers.
What do back end developers do?
How much do back end developers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.