How to Become a Full Stack Developer in Alabama

Someone who is interested in a career building websites may want to consider the specialization of working as a full stack developer. As websites and the Internet have changed and evolved, specialization of skills has become valuable.

Previously, hiring managers or private clients may have looked for a front-end developer who worked on the parts of a website that the visitor can see, such as the design of the page, or a back-end developer who worked on behind-the-scenes aspects such as website infrastructure. Now, the position of a full stack developer works on both the front-end and back-end aspects of a website. This position may also work on applications for computers and devices. In Alabama and the rest of the country, full stack developers are increasingly in demand.

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Requirements for Becoming a Full Stack Developer in Alabama

A full stack developer does not necessarily need to follow a specific educational path or receive degrees or certification to become a full stack developer in Alabama. Instead, this career involves having the right knowledge and skills, which include an understanding of programming languages and ideally gaining a basic understanding of these skills while mastering one specialization. Nonetheless, a training course can teach these skills and provide proof of knowledge to potential employers or clients.

Training Courses and Educational Programs in Alabama

You might not always find a full stack developer training course in your area, but you can take courses in the necessary programming languages such as HTML and JavaScript. Nonetheless, Alabama does offer specific full stack development courses. Some of these include:

  • Innovate Birmingham: This 14-week bootcamp program provides a fast track to learning full stack software engineering. It is available to residents of Central Alabama in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, Chilton and Walker counties. No experience is necessary, and the program teaches basics, front-end development, back-end development and database administration.
  • University of South Alabama (USA): USA offers a virtual full stack software developer course that teaches front-end development, back-end development, development of an interactive data visualization dashboard and other skills. There are no prerequisites.
  • Jefferson State Community College: This 15-week course takes place at the Shelby-Hoover campus in Birmingham. It teaches various skills including HTML, CSS and MySQL.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

Because this is a fairly new career specialization, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t yet provide salary information. Nonetheless, as of July 2020, Salary.com estimates that an entry-level web software developer, which lists similar skills to a full stack developer, can make a median income of $57,719 per year in Birmingham, Alabama. Someone with an intermediate or senior level of experience could expect to earn more.

The BLS states that the general career of software developers is projected to have growth of 21 percent from 2018 to 2028. The specialization of full stack development falls into this growing industry.

Working as a Full Stack Developer in Alabama

Every industry has the need for software developers, as businesses across a range of industries are expected to have high-quality websites. Full stack developers could potentially work directly for a company, for an agency that creates websites for many companies or for oneself providing these services to clients as a freelancer. According to the BLS, top industries that hire software developers include computer systems design services, finance and insurance, and manufacturing.

After gaining knowledge and skills in programming languages for the front and back ends of a website, you can offer your services to businesses locally in Alabama or through the Internet. Working in this field could provide you with steady work and a good income.