Exploring a new career? Want to see how your salary stacks up? Look no further…
In this post, we’re covering everything from the requirements for Node.js developers to what you could be earning.
What Do Node.js Developers Do?
Node.js developers have a unique set of responsibilities and skills. As a more complex job requiring you to know various technologies, it’s more challenging to learn the skills necessary, but it also pays better.
Below, we’ve listed the main Node.js developer requirements. You’ll need to know Node.js (and, by extension, JavaScript), but there’s a little more to it if you want to get hired. Look into these skills if you’re going to land a job as a Node.js developer:
- Mastery of JavaScript and the Node.js technology, as well as a working knowledge of popular frameworks and other extensions
- Understanding of backend technologies and the ability to build server-side applications with Node.js
- The ability to work with a database
- Skills with front-end technologies (such as HTML and CSS ) and using JavaScript on the client-side
- Secure programming standards
- Communication and organizational skills and the ability to collaborate with other developers
You may also need a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a computer science field, though not all jobs require this if you have hands-on experience to make up for it.
As a Node.js developer, you’ll usually work on the server-side of things, but you’ll likely collaborate with frontend developers. In this way, Node.js development is very much like a more specialized form of full-stack development.
You likely won’t be working just with Node.js but with the entire server. So if backend or full-stack development interests you along with JavaScript, this may be the right job for you.
You can also use Node.js to develop frontend applications; it’s just a less common use of the program. You can still find a job if you find that idea more intriguing.
Is Node.js High in Demand?
Node.js has always been popular, but you may have heard more about it in recent years.
JavaScript itself is a scripting language with plenty of potential. It consistently ranks in the top 10 of the TIOBE Index, so it’s a good choice if you want to pick a language with job prospects.
Node.js took the top spot as the most-used framework spot in 2019 and 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, used by over 50% of its respondents. Popularity fell somewhat in 2021, but it remained the sixth-most popular technology, and job searches for Node.js grew by 57%.
Despite this, employers looking for Node.js developers often find that they can’t hire enough developers to meet their needs. The high demand and low supply here can lead to a higher than average salary and easier obtaining a job.
What Is the Average Node.js Developer Salary?
The salary for a Node.js developer runs on the higher end. It’s due to the gap in skilled Node.js developers and those looking to hire them. See for yourself:
- Talent: $117k/year, with a low of $100k and a high of $146k.
- Glassdoor: $88k/year, with a low of $68k and a high of $114k.
- ZipRecruiter: $114k/year, with a low of $73k and a high of $155k.
- Payscale: $105k/year, with a low of $67k and a high of $113k.
Put these together, and you get an average estimated salary of $106k/year. All but one source lists the salary as over $100k/year, which is a good sign.
This salary is a little higher than similar development jobs in the industry, and it’s a lot higher than popular positions oversaturated with job seekers like PHP developers or WordPress developers.
Node.js Developer Salary vs. JavaScript Developer Salary
If you’re already planning on learning JavaScript, you might wonder how the salary of a JavaScript developer compares to a Node.js developer. Specialized jobs tend to pay better than generic jobs, and the numbers support this.
Here are the stats:
- Indeed: $110k/year, based on 400+ reported salaries
- Glassdoor: $91k/year, with a low of $54k and a high of $152k
- ZipRecruiter: $71k/year, with a low of $24k and a high of $134k
- Payscale: $82k/year, with a low of $54k and a high of $127k
The average salary is $89k/year, compared to the Node.js average salary of $106k/year In this case, specialization = a higher salary.
Node.js Developer Salaries by Experience
Experience level can have a significant impact on your final salary. Employers are willing to pay top dollar for developers with decades of experience, and you can always expect your salary to increase as you spend more years practicing your skills of choice.
According to data from FullStack Labs, junior Node.js developers earn an average of $86k/year; mid-range developers with 4–6 years of experience earn $99k/year, and senior developers earn $117k/year.
Throughout your career, from junior to senior, your salary may jump by up to $30k/year. Even a junior developer’s salary pays a bit better than many similar development jobs, but remember that Node.js is a specialized career that requires a lot of technical skill and is thus much more challenging for a beginner to pick up.
Node.js Salaries by Location
If there’s one thing that can have a huge effect on your salary, it’s where you live in the world. Many salary statistics can be very US-centric, so if you live outside the United States, take a look at this list of Node.js salaries by location:
- Switzerland: $97k/year (90k Fr./year)
- United States: $92k/year
- Norway: $63k/year (549k kr/year)
- Germany: $63k/year (€54k/year)
- Canada: $58k/year (C$73k/year)
- Australia: $58k/year (AU$79k/year)
- Sweden: $57k/year (498k kr/year)
- Netherlands: $56k/year (€48k/year)
- Austria: $56k/year (€48k/year)
- United Kingdom: $54k/year (£39k/year)
- Finland: $52k/year (€44k/year)
- Ireland: $52k/year (€44k/year)
- Belgium: $49k/year (€42k/year)
- France: $47k/year (€40k/year)
- China: $44k/year (¥282k/year)
- Singapore: $43k/year (S$59k/year)
- Denmark: $42k/year (368k Kr./year)
- Italy: $35k/year (€30k/year)
- Spain: $35k/year (€30k/year)
- Bulgaria: $23k/year (BGN 38k/year)
- Portugal: $23k/year (€20k/year)
- Mexico: $15k/year ($306k/year)
- Russia: $14k/year (1m₽/year)
- India: $9k/year (₹665k/year)
- Indonesia: $6k/year (Rp 92m/year)
- Romania: $5k/year (RON 19k/year)
- Ukraine: $1k/year (₴28k/year)
Freelance Node.js Developer Salaries
According to ZipRecruiter, freelance Node.js developers make $113k/year or $54/hour. CodeMentor’s estimate is even more generous: It lists an average hourly rate of $81–100 ($168k–208k/year, assuming a 40-hour workweek) and a median hourly rate of $61–80 ($127k–166k/year).
Average hourly rate for Node.js developers.
These estimates are much higher than the average Node.js salary, even for senior Node.js developers. It can be challenging to get off the ground as a freelancer, but if you have the means and are willing to try it, it could end up leading to a lucrative career.
Not sure where to start?
You can always check out the Node.js documentation or perhaps pursue the Node.js certification provided by OpenJS. Or, if you haven’t even started learning JavaScript yet, check out our massive guide to JavaScript to get oriented.
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