Table of Contents
Last updated August 22, 2024
A Full Stack Web Developer is a software engineer who builds both the front end and the back end of a website. The front end is the visible part of the application that users interact with. The back end includes the server, database, and applications that power the application. If you consider “stacks” as the layers of technology, a full stack developer utilizes all the stacks to create a complete application.
A coding bootcamp is the fastest and most streamlined way to learn the full-stack skills. Bootcamp students learn technical skills and soft skills which help more than 79% of graduates land jobs after graduation. To get ready for the bootcamp, it’s important to prepare for the admissions process by taking a prep course, doing some studying on your own, and considering the interview questions you might encounter. There’s also the time and cost commitment to consider, as most bootcamps run anywhere from 8-16 weeks and on average cost $14,214. However, many bootcamps offer deferred tuition, income share agreements (ISA), and other financing options to help you pay for the course.
The demand for Full Stack Web Developers remains high and is widely considered a solid career path. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers is expected to grow by 17%, “much faster than average” by 2024, which is about 200,000 more roles. Full Stack Web Developers are highly sought after by employers because they’re “two-in-one” employees, as they can perform both front and back end development of a website or app, and usually can work independently. The most in-demand Full Stack Web Developers also have a wide range of soft skills such as adaptability, inquisitiveness, the ability to solve problems, attention to detail, and strong communication skills.
In a nutshell, Full Stack Web Developers are generalists, or a “jack of all trades” in the tech world: high-level software engineers who plan, design, analyze, and execute a range of software applications and web services. They create software, applications, and scalable web services. Full Stack Web Developers usually have a wide range of skills and are engaged in every stage of software development, including code review, updates, test-driven development, data structure completion, architecture design, and performance analysis.
On the front end, Full Stack Web Developers handle everything that the website user can see and click on. They create user interfaces (UI) to enhance and perfect the visible parts of an application for both web browsers and mobile devices such as phones and tablets.
Back end work includes everything the user doesn’t see, such as server-side development, Application Programming Interfaces (API) development, database management, performance optimization, and security. They write and maintain the code that makes those processes happen to ensure that everything on the app or website runs smoothly.
Since Full Stack Web Developers handle all aspects of web/app design, implementation, and maintenance, they need a wide range of skills. Full Stack Web Developers need to be able to see what makes both the front and back end work, and how to connect both these sides to create a unified product. They also need to have a deep awareness of all the tools and best practices that meet the needs of their specific project.
Full Stack Web Developers need a wide range of technical skills in a variety of languages, depending on what a project requires. Full stack developers need strong tech skills to do their job successfully, but since they’re working on all aspects of a project, they need to have a variety of “soft skills” as well.
Successful full stack developers should have the following soft and hard skills:
Soft Skills |
Hard Skills |
Communication |
Programming languages and frameworks, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, SQL, and NoSQL. |
Team Player |
|
Problem-solving |
System architecture |
Time-management |
Version control systems |
Flexibility and adaptability |
Knowledge of cloud services |
Critical thinking |
Automated Testing and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) |
Creativity and innovation |
Security best practices |
The job market for Full Stack Web Developers is bright. With the continued growth of e-commerce, job demand is expected to grow 16% over the next decade, with 19,000 new job openings each year, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. The pay is substantial as well, with the estimated salary for a Full Stack Web Developer coming in at $121,000 per year (with a median of $89,841).
Despite the proliferation of remote work, your location will be a significant factor in determining your yearly salary, with positions located in tech hubs such as New York, San Francisco, and London generally paying more (of course, the cost of living is much higher there.) Larger companies tend to pay more than smaller businesses, and how much you earn is also dependent on your specific skill set.
Here is a list of the most frequent full stack development job titles for bootcampers:
Absolutely. Full Stack Web Developers are in high demand, as companies from all industries have an online presence, and they need highly skilled experts to manage and maintain their websites from start to finish. There is flexibility in job location and growth opportunities, and the median yearly salary in the US is $89,841, depending on location and level of experience.
The three most popular ways of becoming a Full Stack Developer are attending a coding bootcamp, self-study, and earning a computer science degree. You’ll also need to build a portfolio and network to find that first job in tech.
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Fortray is a United Kingdom-based recruitment agency and tech training provider offering online, full-time or part-time programs in full stack MERN development (26 weeks), data science (26 weeks), cybersecurity (12 or 22 weeks), digital marketing (26 weeks), project management (17 weeks) and more. The Career Path programs include live online lectures, mentorship, and support. Students will complete real world projects to give them practical experience in the topics they cover.
LaunchIT, a partnership of BAC and Codecraft Works, combines Codecraft Work’s STEM-based, blended learning approach with BAC’s experience in serving people with disabilities to provide solutions to two workplace challenges: filling entry-level Information Technology (IT) positions and increasing employment of people with disabilities. By completing this comprehensive, 24-week virtual program, people of varying abilities from all over the nation earn internationally-recognized certifications with the guidance of specialized mentors. Learning to be experts in their field, LaunchIT graduates enter the workplace with independence and confidence. Participants will choose between LaunchIT’s two tracks: Adult IT Support Professional Track or Adult Web Accessibility Professional Track.
NewForce is a tuition-free, full-time 6-month software development program in Huntington, West Virginia. Teaching C# and .NET, the school was created by employers, community colleges, and nonprofits to ensure West Virginians have the required tech skills for companies in the Mountain State. Courses are taught by experienced software development professionals with extensive teaching backgrounds, using curriculum developed in partnership with Nashville Software School.
IMMUNE Technology Institute is a technological center in Madrid, Spain that offers a three-year Computer Entrepreneurship Program, and 12- and 18-week intensive bootcamps in programming and web development, data science, cybersecurity, DevOps & cloud computing, and UX/UI design. The programs can be completed online or in-person at IMMUNE's campus in the tech and financial hub of Madrid. IMMUNE students will receive hands-on training and collaboration with corporate partners. IMMUNE also offers masters and executive management programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Architecture & DevOps Management.
Moat Academy offers 11-week full-time, and 16-week part-time software engineering courses in Lagos, Nigeria. The curriculum for both programs covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, MySQL, PHP or Python, and version control. Students will learn how to build websites and web applications, how to authenticate users, manage sessions, manage emails, manipulate files, validate forms, develop APIs, connect to web services and other advanced topics in PHP or Python. Courses are taught by experienced local programmers and entrepreneurs. Students will have the opportunity to work on real client projects through Moat Academy’s DEVStudio.
Untapped Code Academy is an intensive, 14-week web development coding bootcamp in downtown Cincinnati. Students in this program get to learn how to work with full-stack Javascript, MySQL, Ajax, Postgres, ReactJS, Redux, object-relational mappers, and more. Founded in 2018, Untapped Code Academy aims to provide students with the professional skills employers are looking for, along with the technological knowledge and skills required for career success. Each project is designed to help students provide proof of their skills to potential employers. The web development coding bootcamp ends with job search preparation, interviewing practice, and on-site interviews with potential employers at the Untapped Code campus.
The Valley Business & Tech School is a training provider offering online and in person, part-time Master programs in Full Stack Web Development (30 weeks), UI/UX Design (24 weeks), Digital Project Management (16 weeks), and Data Science, AI, & Big Data Analytics (40 weeks) to students in Spain, Chile, Colombia, and the Canary Islands. Students will complete real world projects to give them hands-on experience in the topics they cover. The Valley Business & Tech School also offers specialization programs and online microlearning programs for people who are looking to upskill.
Vanilla Coding is an 18-week, full stack software development bootcamp in Seoul, South Korea. Programs cover object-oriented programming, functional programming, asynchronous programming, recursion, and design patterns. Students will learn MVC pattern, Modern Frameworks, HTML5, and CSS3. They will also be taught JavaScript, Node.js & Express, and databases. Vanilla Coding is designed to create software developers who know how to use the evolving tools of framework software, not developers who depend on those tools.
Tortuga Coders is a 7-week intensive web development bootcamp set amongst the beautiful background of Thailand’s sandy beaches. Tortuga Coders teaches students everything they need to know to become entry-level programmers: web building blocks, web development tools, HTML & CSS, Javascript, Git, Github, web frameworks such as Angular, React, VueJS, NodeJS, and more. Tortuga centers their classes around project management methodologies which prepares students with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage their own web development projects. The program is intense with 8-hour school days, but students will have the opportunity to participate in weekend activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, and zip-lining.
Elevate Academy of Technology & Innovation is a full-time, 12-week full stack web development bootcamp in Sabah, Malaysia. Students will learn HTML, CSS, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, SQL, Git, along with data structures and algorithms. Students will work and collaborate in an agile software development team and learn the Lean Startup methodology. Industry professionals mentor students as they participate in hands-on coding. Elevate Academy of Technology & Innovation is open to coders and aspiring coders of all skill levels. Their mission is to provide tech skills to those who want to succeed in the tech industry.
Modern Labor is an online 6-month full stack web development bootcamp. Students will learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, front end frameworks like React and Redux, and back end Python. Modern Labor was created to provide comprehensive skills to those who want to enter the tech industry, no matter their how much money they have. To help students overcome any financial barriers, Modern Labor pays each student a $2000 month stipend. The pay is meant to help students concentrate on learning the skills needed to advance their career, rather than worrying about living costs. Those interested in joining Modern Labor must first contact the staff via email. A staff member will then respond with an application and the steps an applicant needs to follow. Students will be contacted if accepted into the program. The only barrier to Modern Labor is that applicants must be legally able to work in the United States. Once admitted, students are expected to work full-time for 30 hours per week.
Summer of Code is a 6-week, full-time, software development bootcamp offered in San Francisco for undergraduates at Davidson, Scripps, Dension, MountHolyoke, Colorado College, and the University of Washington. The program covers the fundamentals of computational thinking and problem solving using software, with the aim of teaching students to build proofs of concept, and blend their liberal arts education with tech skills. The program is taught by experienced technologists and educators, and students will interact with mentors and industry professionals. Students will visit Silicon Valley organizations to learn how technology is used in the workplace. Housing, meals, and activities are all included in the tuition cost.
Source Code Developer Academy offers a 10-week, full stack web development bootcamp in Bridgetown, Barbados, along with a number of shorter courses. The school was formed in a partnership with TEN Habitat with curriculum licensed from Code Fellows in Seattle, and students who take the 10-week 401 course can choose to study full stack JavaScript, Python or ASP.NET. The modular style of the Code Fellows program allows students to test into the course level that is most appropriate for their current skill level, and students can choose the schedule and timing that meets their needs. Students get hands-on development experience, work in teams to apply their training and build apps to practice their skills. Source Code Developer Academy envisions a Caribbean where trained technologists are able to contribute to the innovation and transformation of the regional startup ecosystem.
Digital Science Academy is a part-time game design bootcamp in Fort Worth, Texas. The year-long program is designed with working people in mind and teaches students to build game engines and interactive media using languages and tools like C++, Microsoft’s Visual Studio, Open Graphics Library (OpenGL), Blender 3-D, Lua, GLM, and Git version-control. Digital Science Academy was established in 2012 and uses a “flipped classroom” approach to teach game development.
DEVrepublik is an online, 15-week, full-time immersive coding bootcamp, with additional educational events and workshops. The languages taught include Python, SQL, CSS, JSON, and HTML/XML, as well as Data Science, Machine Learning, and A.I. The 15 weeks of this online bootcamp aims to be equivalent to two years of university training, with students participating in classes from Monday through Saturday, in the form of lectures, additional material recommendations, and practical project development. All students have access to an online learning management platform through which to study all materials and scores. The instructors at DEVrepublik are university degreed and experienced in research and practical application. They are recognized experts in their field, passionate, and flexible in their jobs. DEVrepublik's school philosophy includes putting theory into practice, improving the way young people are educated in the tech industry, and helping students meet the requirements of future employers.
sourceU is an accredited, full-time bootcamp in Portland, Oregon that teaches Cybersecurity and offers multiple pathways for students to choose the best fit. sourceU is affiliated with Warner Pacific University. sourceU mixes elements of a tech bootcamp with a traditional higher education curriculum in an accelerated format, so students graduate with a certificate, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s degree in 12-32 months. The sourceU curriculum emphasizes job-readiness through active, on-site learning in order to get students into the work-force.
LakeHub Academy is a self-paced, 5-month software development bootcamp in Kisumu, Kenya. The LakeHub Fellowship includes 3 months of immersive learning, 2 months of mentorship, and 2 years of paid job placement. The curriculum covers full-stack JavaScript and is delivered through a combination of instructor-led, self-paced, and peer learning experiences. Students also use supplemental video training courses.
CodingU is a coding bootcamp at Washington Technology University’s School of Continuing Education in partnership with Code Fellows. The CodingU bootcamp is aimed at students living in Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, and the greater Eastside of Washington. Bootcamp classes are in-person, with the option to take night classes. CodingU offers four types of classes based on experience. Code 101 is an eight-hour course where beginners explore software development. Code 102 is a week-long course (30 hours of instruction) that goes beyond Code 101 and provides information about the tools and techniques of modern developers. Code 201 is a four-week course that teaches students how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Code 301 is a four-week long intermediate course where students learn to use MVC architecture to build apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Code 400 is the advanced software development course. It is nine-weeks long and teaches students software development in full stack JavaScript.
Code Maine is a 36-week, free software developer bootcamp for Maine high school graduates located in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. Bootcamp students will learn in-person through coursework, projects and field trips from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday for the program’s duration. Class size is limited to 15 to 20 students. Students of the Code Maine bootcamp will learn programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and Java. Bootcamp students will learn the basic building blocks of cloud computing such as virtualization, load balancing, scalability and elasticity, troubleshooting and security. Students will also explore cloud applications and development using Amazon Web Services. Students will learn the building blocks for computing storage and content delivery through hands-on experience with core services. Students will be introduced to the software development life cycle, development methodologies and team based production concepts.
WP Code Camp is a 24-week, full stack WordPress-based coding bootcamp offered through remote learning or in-person at California State University’s Fullerton campus. In-person learning is intended to fit around work or school obligations with two evening classes per week and one full day of class on weekends. WP Code Camp blends instructor-led discussions with lab work and real-world portfolio projects. WP Code Camp curriculum incorporates elements of Computer Science, Digital Arts, Marketing/Communications, and Cyber Security. This curriculum is designed to equip students to build, maintain, and customize WordPress web products.
Estrella Mountain Community College offers an 18-week, Back End Software Developer bootcamp in Avondale, Arizona. Classes meet every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. In addition to the weekly class meeting, students meet once a week for a remote, 30 minute one-on-one session with a mentor. Students should plan to devote 15 to 20 hours per week on course work. The bootcamp is led by experienced software engineers who have teaching and training experience.
Scottsdale Community College offers an 18-week Back End Software Developer bootcamp in Scottsdale, Arizona. Classes meet every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. In addition to the weekly class meeting, students meet once a week for a remote, 30 minute one-on-one session with a mentor. Students should plan to devote 15 to 20 hours per week on course work. The Software Developer bootcamp is led by experienced software engineers who have teaching and training experience.
GateWay Community College offers an 18-week online or in person Back End Software Developer bootcamp. In-person classes are available on campuses in Phoenix and Avondale, Arizona. Classes meet either online or in-person once per week. In addition to the weekly class meeting, all students meet once a week for a remote, 30 minute one-on-one session with a mentor.
Southeast Community College offers an 18-week, online Back End Software Developer bootcamp. Classes meet online once per week. In addition to the weekly class meeting, students meet once a week for a remote, 30 minute one-on-one session with a mentor.
CodeGym Vietname offers Java, PHP, and .Net bootcamps in multiple cities in Vietnam. CodeGym bootcamps and course materials are fully in Vietnamese. The bootcamps are held in-person, and can be completed in full-time or part-time formats. All CodeGym bootcamp students will receive career path advice and learn resume-writing and job interview skills. Students will learn efficient time management and online profile development.
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