Back End Software Engineers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of back end software engineers 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 software engineers 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 software engineers 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 software engineers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Back End Software Engineers?
Do back end software engineers need a degree? What kind of experience do back end software engineers 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 software engineers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Back End Software Engineers
Jobs Postings for Back End Software Engineers 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 software engineers. 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 Software Engineers
Jobs Postings for Back End Software Engineers 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 software engineers. In 45% of job postings for Back End Software Engineers, 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 software engineers.
What Kind of Degree Do Back End Software Engineers 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 software engineers, 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 software engineers, 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 software engineers.
Top Degree Programs for Back End Software Engineers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Back End Software Engineers (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 |
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Degree Options for Back End Software Engineers
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What Skills Do Back End Software Engineers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by back end software engineers 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 software engineers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Back End Software Engineers
Based on 75,187 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Back End Software Engineers
| 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 Software Engineers
| 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 software engineers, 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 software engineers, 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 software engineers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for back end software engineers.
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