What Do Back End Developers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for back end developers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what back end developers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Back End Developers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about back end developers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Back End Developers develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.
Popular Job Titles For Back End Developers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- UX Designers
- Front End Engineers
- Back End Engineers
- Front End Developers
- Web Developers
- UI/UX Designers
- UX Researchers
- User Experience Designers
- UI Developers
- Front End Software Engineers
- Back End Developers
- Back End Software Engineers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for back end developers can be found.
Best Industries for Back End Developers
Back End Developers Jobs By Industry
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 24.5%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 7.3%
- Software Publishers: 6.9%
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services: 5.7%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 4.5%
- Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services: 4.1%
- Other: 47%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of back end developers can be found working in the Computer Systems Design and Related Services sector. In 2022, about 24.5% of all jobs for back end developers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (7.3%), Software Publishers (6.9%), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5.7%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.5%) and Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services (4.1%).
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 Do Back End Developers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what back end developers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work back end developers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that back end developers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for back end developers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Back End Developers
Based on 225,358 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Back End Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 96,669 | 43% |
| User Experience (UX) | 87,151 | 39% |
| Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | 83,687 | 37% |
| HyperText Markup Language (HTML) | 72,537 | 32% |
| Front End (Software Engineering) | 70,987 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Back End Developers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 84,841 | 38% |
| Research | 49,703 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 38,580 | 17% |
| Writing | 31,667 | 14% |
| Management | 29,393 | 13% |
Based on 225,358 job postings related to back end developers, javascript (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 43% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for user experience (ux), cascading style sheets (css), hypertext markup language (html), front end (software engineering) and user interface (ui) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for back end developers, followed by research, problem solving, writing, management and innovation.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript (Programming Language) | 96,669 | 43% |
| User Experience (UX) | 87,151 | 39% |
| Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | 83,687 | 37% |
| HyperText Markup Language (HTML) | 72,537 | 32% |
| Front End (Software Engineering) | 70,987 | 31% |
| User Interface (UI) | 63,634 | 28% |
| Agile Methodology | 61,263 | 27% |
| Computer Science | 60,640 | 27% |
| React.js (Javascript Library) | 59,434 | 26% |
| User Experience (UX) Design | 46,770 | 21% |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | 46,649 | 21% |
| Angular (Web Framework) | 46,123 | 20% |
| Prototyping | 45,030 | 20% |
| Amazon Web Services | 39,158 | 17% |
| Wireframing | 35,818 | 16% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 35,097 | 16% |
| Web Development | 34,619 | 15% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 34,554 | 15% |
| Git (Version Control System) | 34,517 | 15% |
| Software Engineering | 34,317 | 15% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 84,841 | 38% |
| Research | 49,703 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 38,580 | 17% |
| Writing | 31,667 | 14% |
| Management | 29,393 | 13% |
| Innovation | 27,537 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 27,317 | 12% |
| Leadership | 27,138 | 12% |
| Detail Oriented | 26,483 | 12% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 25,027 | 11% |
| Planning | 20,250 | 9% |
| Self-Motivation | 18,829 | 8% |
| Presentations | 18,106 | 8% |
| Mentorship | 17,074 | 8% |
| Operations | 16,937 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 16,494 | 7% |
| Advocacy | 14,892 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 14,829 | 7% |
| Time Management | 12,332 | 5% |
| Influencing Skills | 11,865 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Back End Developers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| UX Designers | 26,949 | 9.3% |
| Front End Engineers | 30,889 | 10.6% |
| Back End Engineers | 31,128 | 10.7% |
| Front End Developers | 33,216 | 11.4% |
| Web Developers | 25,241 | 8.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was ux designers, with 13,532 unique job postings. Front end engineers were second, with 12,971 postings, followed by back end engineers, front end developers and web developers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to back end developers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| UX Designers | 26,949 | 9.3% |
| Front End Engineers | 30,889 | 10.6% |
| Back End Engineers | 31,128 | 10.7% |
| Front End Developers | 33,216 | 11.4% |
| Web Developers | 25,241 | 8.7% |
| UI/UX Designers | 16,958 | 5.8% |
| UX Researchers | 17,636 | 6.1% |
| User Experience Designers | 12,514 | 4.3% |
| UI Developers | 8,122 | 2.8% |
| Front End Software Engineers | 10,973 | 3.8% |
| Back End Developers | 9,386 | 3.2% |
| Back End Software Engineers | 14,674 | 5% |
| Customer Experience Specialists | 14,288 | 4.9% |
| Full Stack Developers | 5,905 | 2% |
| Web Application Developers | 5,698 | 2% |
| UI Designers | 4,955 | 1.7% |
| Full Stack Web Developers | 5,823 | 2% |
| Lead UX Designers | 4,201 | 1.4% |
| Ruby on Rails Engineers | 7,106 | 2.4% |
| Web Designers | 5,349 | 1.8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for back end developers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for back end developers.
How much do back end developers make?
Back End Developers: How do you become one?
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.