Snag These 9 Lucrative Junior Developer Roles That Are Yours for the Taking

Snag These 9 Lucrative Junior Developer Roles That Are Yours for the Taking

Overview: Junior Developer Jobs Offer Great Pay Right Out the Gate

Starting a career in tech seems daunting. Between learning complex skills and navigating a competitive job market, breaking into the industry appears overwhelming.

However, there are more opportunities now than ever for aspiring developers. As technology continues rapidly evolving, demand for talent far exceeds supply. This creates prime conditions for beginners to launch high-paying careers.

This guide explores 9 junior developer roles with strong compensation. We’ll overview position responsibilities, required abilities, average salaries, and current openings for each.

Whether you’re considering a career pivot or upskilling for advancement, these roles demonstrate that lucrative tech jobs await at all experience levels. Let’s get started!

Front-End Developer: $64,000 Average Starting Salary

A front-end developer architects what users see and interact with on websites and applications. They concentrate on the presentation side rather than behind-the-scenes server and database work.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Design site layouts and interfaces
• Build features with HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Translate mockups into responsive pages
• Optimize performance and accessibility

Must-Have Skills

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• Consuming/interacting with APIs

Why Consider Front-End Development?

• Create visually appealing deliverables users directly engage with
• Constantly evolve capabilities as new frameworks/libraries emerge
• Strong remote work options once established

Current Openings

Junior Front-End Developer(opens in a new tab), CoEnterprise

JavaScript Developer: $82,000 Average Starting Salary

While sharing common skills with front-end developers, JavaScript developers specifically concentrate on JavaScript itself and associated libraries/frameworks (like React or Node).

They build the interactive features that front-end code then implements visually, while also occasionally working on back-end services.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate reusable JS components
• Design data structures and interfaces
• Write clean, performant code
• Troubleshoot issues

Must-Have Skills

• JavaScript fundamentals
• Node.js
• Web application architecture
• Source control with Git
• Debugging methodology

Why Consider JavaScript Development?

• Utilize flexible language powering web interactivity
• Work on engaging front-end experiences and back-end infrastructure
• Collaborate with designers and other developers
• Constant innovation in tools and capabilities

Current Openings

Junior Responsive Web Developer(opens in a new tab), Perficient

WordPress Developer: $68,000 Average Starting Salary

WordPress dominates content management systems. The platform relies on PHP and MySQL to dynamically serve over 60 million websites.

As adoption grows, developers who customize sites via WordPress themes/plugins are in high demand. These professionals require both web development and WordPress-specific abilities.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Build custom plugins and themes
• Develop secure content admin dashboards
• Integrate third-party APIs like payment gateways
• Optimize site speed and SEO

Must-Have Skills

• PHP
• JavaScript
• WordPress architecture
• Web standards including HTML and CSS
• MySQL

Why Consider WordPress Development?

• Utilize globally popular CMS for all types of sites
• Mix creative and technical disciplines
• Remote positions readily available
• Opportunity to learn other web languages

Current Openings

Junior Web Developer / Full-stack Software Engineer(opens in a new tab), BetterHelp

Ruby / Ruby on Rails Developer: $97,000 Average Starting Salary

The Ruby programming language and Ruby on Rails web framework create versatile backend infrastructures. Designed for programmer happiness with an expressive syntax, Ruby displaces languages like PHP for building robust custom web apps.

Junior developers who master Ruby fundamentals and basic Rails components find many possibilities.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Build APIs handling app data flows
• Implement new features like accounts and payments
• Perform debugging, troubleshooting, and maintenance
• Ensure quality code through testing

Must-Have Skills

• Ruby language syntax and constructs
• Object-oriented programming principles
• Web development basics like HTML and CSS
• Relational databases such as PostgreSQL

Why Consider Ruby / Ruby on Rails?

• Utilize developer friendly technologies
• Work remotely with globally dispersed teams
• Build and iterate web apps fast
• Opportunity to innovate as early adopter

Current Openings

Ruby Engineers (all levels), WinterWyman

QA Tester: $57,000 Average Starting Salary

Quality assurance (QA) testers act as an application’s first line of defense before reaching users. They identify defects that developers then diagnose and resolve.

Strong QA skills combined with programming fundamentals signal upside for those new to tech. Testers often transition over time into developer roles.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Design and execute exploratory test cases
• Document software issues accurately
• Utilize automation to bolster coverage
• Retest fixes before deployment

Must-Have Skills

• Methodical evaluation abilities
• Attention to detail
• Technical documentation skills
• Web application familiarity

Why Consider QA Testing?

• Gain working coding knowledge without needing expert mastery yet
• Build other digital abilities like analytics alongside testing
• Flexible remote options once established
• Opportunity to advance into development later

Current Openings

Junior Software Test Engineer, Pizza Hut

Mobile Developer: $86,000 Average Starting Salary

Mobile developers bring websites and applications to smartphones and devices. They require an expansive technical skillset spanning design, development, debugging, implementation, and publishing.

Junior roles focus mostly on application coding versus lower-level operating system components. Swift, React Native, and hybrid HTML5 technologies provide common starting points.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Build responsive cross-device app experiences
• Implement pixel-perfect UI/UX components
• Ensure functionality across different versions
• Publish apps to marketplaces like Apple App Store

Must-Have Skills

• Programming fundamentals
• iOS and/or Android platforms
• Consuming third-party APIs
• Agile software methodologies

Why Consider Mobile Development?

• Help shape the future of ubiquitous technology reliant on mobiles
• Work on products literally handheld by users
• Opportunities spanning industries and use cases
• Swift language growing rapidly in popularity

Current Openings

Entry-Level Innovation Application Developer, HP

Web Designer: $71,000 Average Starting Salary

Web designers fuse creativity and technology to conceive stunning websites. They identify layouts, graphics, content, and features that bring client goals to life visually.

Success requires balancing user needs with aesthetic vision. Designers must also regularly learn new techniques as expectations and capabilities evolve.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Communicate with clients and stakeholders
• Research target users and market competitors
• Design and prototype page layouts/navigations
• Produce polished visual assets

Must-Have Skills

• Visual communication ability
• Layout composition skills
• Proficiency with design tools like Figma/Sketch
• HTML/CSS fundamentals

Why Consider Web Design?

• Mix creative outlet with digital skills
• Contribute to products identifiable by your designs
• Constantly expand abilities amid rapidly changing media
• Potential to transition into development roles

Current Openings

Junior Web Designer, FCB Global

User Interface (UI) Designer: $87,000 Average Starting Salary

User interface designers explore how products feel visually. This impacts aesthetics alongside ergonomics—maximizing ease-of-use.

They iterate designs fueled by research to build intuitive, consistent experiences. UI designers work closely across product teams, especially developers implementing the resulting vision.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Conceptualize design system components like buttons
• Design application/website layouts and screens
• Create style guides and polished assets
• Validate usability through testing

Must-Have Skills

• Visual design principles
• Tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite
• Information architecture foundations
• HTML/CSS prototyping ability

Why Consider UI Design?

• Find the overlap between visuals and functionality
• See your designs directly used by customers
• Collaborate closely with developers and stakeholders
• Apply creativity through an array of projects

Current Openings

Junior UI Web Designer, Mouser Electronics

User Experience (UX) Designer: $92,000 Average Starting Salary

User experience designers identify how to improve products for target users. UX combines research, testing, and analysis to provide recommendations—yielding more usable and accessible experiences.

Juniors handle tactical assignments while working towards high-level strategic insight over time. This role mixes psychology, analytics, creativity, and project management.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Interview users about difficulties and pain points
• Review data like conversion rates to estimate impact
• Design and test potential improvements
• Create journeys mapping out experiences

Must-Have Skills

• User psychology foundations
• Analytical interpretation skills
• Visual prototyping tools knowledge
• Written/verbal communication abilities

Why Consider UX Design?

• Apply analytics and empathy together via research
• Make data-backed cases for better design decisions
• See recommended changes substantively improve products
• Utilize a balanced left-brain/right-brain skillset

Current Openings

Junior Experience Designer, Genuine Interactive

Start Crafting Your Lucrative Junior Developer Career

Junior developer salaries span a wide range, but often surpass non-tech roles. While mastering new expertise takes dedication, fundamentals can unlock six-figure potential relatively quickly.

If these paths have sparked your interest but you need guidance on how to start, explore our Beginner’s Guide to Landing a Junior Developer Job. It details what preparing for a junior role entails, plus expert strategies to launch your job search.

The tech industry promises both financial upside and passion potential. These developer jobs show that for motivated newcomers, outstanding opportunities already exist—no matter your current experience level.