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Careers›Roles›Front End Developer
Mid-Level

Front End Developer

Everything a user clicks, scrolls, and types into lives in code you write — turning designs into responsive, working interfaces that behave everywhere. Where design becomes something people use.

Front End Developer pay typically runs $64K–$133K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to grow 7% through 2034.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
C
A
E
R
S
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Front End Developers
Professional Services · 44%Technology & Information · 15%Education · 8%Administrative Services · 6%Financial Services · 5%Wholesale & Distribution · 4%
Job markets for Front End Developers
Where Front End Developer jobs concentrate · ~360 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Front End Developer role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Front End Developer

The work blends coding interfaces, styling, and cross-device testing — translating designs into working components, then debugging why something looks right on one screen and broken on another. You work with designers and back-end engineers, and the details users feel but never name — speed, spacing, smoothness — are the craft. Tool churn means you're always learning a new framework.

Where it gets frustrating is the sheer number of edge cases — browsers, devices, accessibility, and screen sizes all behaving differently. The ecosystem changes constantly, so today's best practice ages fast. The role ranges from pure markup-and-style to heavy JavaScript engineering, depending on the team and stack you land in, which shapes the work.

It tends to fit someone detail-oriented, visually attentive, and patient with constant change. If you want stable tools or deep backend logic, the churn and fiddliness can wear. But if you like turning a design into something polished that works for everyone — and the immediate feedback of seeing your work on screen — the work tends to be satisfying.

What people in this role value
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Front End Developers (SOC 15-1254.00, 15-1255.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Front End DeveloperFront End Software EngineerFront End EngineerUser Experience Designer (UX Designer)Website ManagerContent ManagerBack-End Web DeveloperMultimedia DeveloperWeb Applications DeveloperWeb ConsultantWebmaster AnalystDigital DesignerWeb DesignerWeb ProgrammerWordPress DeveloperUX Researcher (User Experience Researcher)Web Application DeveloperWeb Site DeveloperReact.js DeveloperWebmasterWeb ProducerUsability SpecialistSalesforce DeveloperWeb Site SpecialistInternet Application Developer+1 more

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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$48K–$192K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
190K
U.S. Employment
+7.25%
10yr Growth
15K
Annual Openings

How Front End Developer pay & employment are changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

ProgrammingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingOperations AnalysisReading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingSystems Analysis
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
15-1254.0015-1255.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midFront End Software Engineer$91KmidFront End Engineer$91KmidUser Experience Designer (UX Designer)$100KmidWebsite Manager$99KmidContent Manager$98KseniorSenior Salesforce Developer$91K
View all Technology roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Front End Developer

What does a Front End Developer do?

Everything a user clicks, scrolls, and types into lives in code you write — turning designs into responsive, working interfaces that behave everywhere. Where design becomes something people use.

How much does a Front End Developer make?

Median pay for a Front End Developer is about $95K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $48K to $192K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Front End Developer need?

Core skills for this role include Programming, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Analysis, and Reading Comprehension.

What education do you need to be a Front End Developer?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Front End Developer in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 7.25% through 2034, with roughly 190,260 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Front End Developer?

Closely related roles include Front End Software Engineer, Front End Engineer, and User Experience Designer (UX Designer).

Career advice

Front End Developer career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • Quick moveCut the updates nobody reads, and make the ones that matter land.Ask which updates your manager actually reads
  • ConversationStarting a new collaboration on the same page, while it's still easy.Agree how you'll work together
  • Simple exerciseLook at the steps up and sideways from your job, and find one you'd be excited to do.Walk the roles next to yours
  • Simple exerciseHelp someone new find their feet, and start a good working relationship from the first week.Welcome a new teammate

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Tell your new team how you'll ramp up
  • Share how you work with your team
  • Repeat the ask back before you start
  • Notice what drains and energizes you
  • Lead with the bottom line
  • End your workday on purpose
  • Be reachable when your role needs it
  • Ask for a raise with your case in hand

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

It's your career.
Take the wheel.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

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