Who Is a Java Developer? Is This Career In Demand Right Now?

Java has so many advantages that it's pretty hard to put them all together. Despite its 25+ years of existence, it remains one of the world's most extensively used programming languages for a good reason. Java-based software, computer games, and apps are known for their excellent speed and scalability. In addition, Java is a statically typed language, ensuring better safety and stability than other programming languages. On top of that, you can run Java code on all platforms without recompiling it. So, it's easy to see why more than 9 million developers use Java regularly, and there is still a global shortage of good Java specialists (currently, there are more than 100,000 job openings). It's also easy to conclude that Java developers are in high demand. If you have good Java development skills, a very appealing career outlook is waiting for you ahead. So, let's dive into the basics of a Java developer role.

What does a Java Developer do?

A Java developer is responsible for developing and testing software or apps using Java. It's a type of jack-of-all-trades that creates, adapts, and maintains software across different platforms. Java developers also often co-operate with web developers and software engineers to help seamlessly integrate Java into mobile and business apps, software, and websites. And the scope of the application is awe-inspiring — the Java EE platform can help developers create large-scale, multi-tiered, scalable, and secure network applications for large enterprises (JavaEE is also the basis of numerous banking applications). Java is the backbone of Big Data technologies as well. Thanks to the most potent 3D-Engine (the jMonkeyEngine), Java is also widely used for games. Java is the weapon of choice for scientific applications. And this list can go on and on… Java developers are typically involved throughout the entire life cycle of these products. Their "extra" duties may include documenting user requirements, analyzing data, and performing quality assurance testing.

In Brief: what are a Java developer's primary responsibilities?

Naturally, the roles and duties of a Java dev vary greatly depending on the organizations and positions. Yet, there are some typical responsibilities for all of them:

• Designing, implementing, controlling, and maintaining Java-based products throughout all phases
• Writing a well-designed, efficient, and testable code
• Delivering high availability and performance
• Taking part in software and architectural development
• Performing software analysis, testing, and debugging
• Developing tech designs for app development
• Finding and solving production and non-production issues
• Developing application code for Java programs
• Transforming requirements into stipulations

Essential skills for a Junior Java developer:

• From 0 to 2 years of experience in the Java industry
• Solid knowledge of object-oriented programming and design
• Ability to work with at least one of the Java frameworks
• Understanding of databases, SQL, and ORM
• Knowledge of Javascript, HTML, CSS, and jQuery
• Proficiency in Java Applets, Java Servlets, and Java Beans
• Good communication skills

And you can get all of the skills a Java Junior developer needs by completing the CodeGym course. Plus, CodeGym helps you prepare for your first interviews so that you can land a job faster.

Essential skills for an experienced Java developer:

• All of the abovementioned skills for an entry-level Java developer
• Minimum 2-5 years of experience in the Java industry
• Highly efficient and proficient knowledge of object-oriented programming
• Strong knowledge of different designs and patterns in Java
• Ability to work with reusable Java libraries
• Familiarity with such concepts as SOAP, MVC, JDBC, JSP, and RESTful
• Ability to use Java applets and frameworks like Swing, SWT & AWT
• Proficiency with testing tools like JUnit, Spock, TestNG, Mockito, etc.
• Ability to work with external/embedded databases
• Taking part in software development lifecycles (SDLCs)
• The desire to improve the overall product quality
• Excellent soft skills (communication, team leading, problem-solving, and customer service)

These skills are basic, and they may vary from company to company. Speaking of organizations, we would like to stress that people need Java everywhere: from laptops to datacenters, tablets to scientific supercomputers, game consoles to mobile phones, and the Internet. That's why many companies, including Google, Uber, Pinterest, Instagram, Spotify, Netflix, Airbnb, and more, use Java in their tech stack.

How much does an average Java Developer make?

Let's talk about the numbers, shall we? According to the recent surveys of Indeed, the average salary for a Java developer in the USA is $112,181. Glassdoor's numbers are slightly lower at $107,945 per year, which is still not bad, right? And this is about mid-level Java devs. Whereas Juniors earn 15-20% less, and a Senior Java developer can have an additional $25-30k to the annual wage. Regarding titles, Android Developers’ jobs are the most rewarding, followed by Project Developers, App Developers, and Front-end Developers. As for companies, according to the most recent salary estimates by Zippia, Meta is the highest paying company for Java Developers, with more than 3000 job openings right now. Among the other, we can highlight eBay, Bank of the West, Zscaler, and Salesforce, with average salaries going higher than $125,000.

How long does it take to grow from a Junior to a Senior?

Here comes the sought-after question, "how long does it take to become a Senior Java developer?". Again, there is no single answer, but on average, it can take from 3 to 7 years. What plays an essential role in your progress is the type of company you work for, job market conditions, motivation, improvement, and the relationship with the team. Many seasoned developers note that it also depends on what you mean by "Senior developer" — just having a position of a Senior and the corresponding salary or practical skills and competency that Senior developers typically have due to years of hard work. Also, note that the title varies from place to place, and whereas some companies over-promote, others need more time to let you climb up the career ladder.

Where Do Java Developers work?

So, what companies need Java developers? According to new statistics, over 10,000 companies use Java in their tech stacks. The most well-known ones include Microsoft, Uber, LinkedIn, PayPal, Netflix, NASA Word Wind, Airbnb, Google, eBay, Intel, TripAdvisor, Spotify, Pinterest, Groupon, Slack, Flipkart, and many more. As you see, Java is "the air" since it's everywhere, and its scope of application is impressive. Tons of websites, software programs, and apps won't work without Java. And not only that. Governmental services and investment banking systems intensively use Java since it's secure and reliable. And with every update, Java only gets better. Besides the mentioned companies, Java is also increasingly used in modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and even blockchain. Lastly, we must mention Android. As the core of Android OS, Java makes Android apps run. Moreover, many big companies are now dependent on their mobile apps, so the high demand for Java developers doesn't seem to decrease anytime soon. In a nutshell, Java developers can choose a niche they find the most attractive and earn good money.

Conclusion

In all, Java will remain one of the most popular and widely-used programming languages by companies with any commercial needs. And the proof is that TIOBE Index ranks Java as the 3rd most-usable language this year, and PYPL Index is even more optimistic, with Java being the 2nd most-used language. It's easy to conclude that Java developers will stay in high demand for many years. And what is excellent, you'll be able to choose not only the industry you'd like to work in but also the way you'd like to work - as an independent contractor, freelancer, or an in-house specialist. It doesn't matter what path you choose. Your career as a Java specialist is likely to be very rewarding. But only if you invest time and efforts. And as your skills grow, your wage will increase too. So, if you're looking for countless career opportunities and non-boring tasks, Java development is a win-win choice for you.