Careers in Technology
One of the most common questions: "Should I be backend or frontend?" Let's understand all the options!
Frontend Developer
What they do: Creates everything the user SEES and interacts with.
- Website and app interfaces
- Buttons, forms, animations
- Responsive design (adapts to mobile)
Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Vue
Profile: Likes visual things, design, user experience.
Backend Developer
What they do: Creates what the user DOESN'T see.
- Servers and databases
- Business rules
- APIs (connections between systems)
- Security
Technologies: Node.js, Python, Java, databases
Profile: Likes logic, systems, solving complex problems.
Fullstack Developer
What they do: Both frontend AND backend!
Advantages:
- Greater employability
- Complete understanding
- Can create entire projects alone
Disadvantage: Need to learn more.
Mobile Developer
What they do: Apps for phones.
- iOS: Swift (iPhone)
- Android: Kotlin
- Both: React Native, Flutter
Profile: Likes thinking about mobile experience.
DevOps / SRE
What they do: Makes code reach the user.
- Servers and infrastructure
- Automation
- Monitoring
- Cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
Profile: Likes automation, systems, infrastructure.
Data Scientist
What they do: Extracts insights from data.
- Statistical analysis
- Graphs and reports
- Machine Learning
Technologies: Python, R, SQL, statistics
Profile: Likes math, statistics, patterns.
Designer (UI/UX)
Although not "programmer", works alongside:
- UI: Visual interface (colors, fonts, layouts)
- UX: User experience (navigation flows, usability)
Tools: Figma, Adobe XD
Which to Choose?
Here's a suggestion:
- Start with the basics (this course!)
- Try both frontend and backend
- See what you enjoy most
- Specialize later
Signs you might like Frontend:
- Likes to see visual results quickly
- Cares about details and aesthetics
- Enjoys polishing interactions
Signs you might like Backend:
- Likes puzzles and logic
- Prefers working with data
- Doesn't worry much about appearance
Realistic Salaries (2026)
| Role | Junior | Full | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontend | $40-55k | $55-80k | $80-120k+ |
| Backend | $45-60k | $60-90k | $90-130k+ |
| Fullstack | $45-60k | $60-85k | $85-125k+ |
| Mobile | $45-60k | $60-90k | $90-130k+ |
| Data | $50-65k | $65-100k | $100-150k+ |
*Values vary by region and company
Summary
- Frontend: visual, user interaction
- Backend: logic, servers, databases
- Fullstack: both!
- Mobile: phone apps
- DevOps: infrastructure and automation
- Data: analysis and insights
You don't need to decide now. Keep studying and test different areas!
In the next lesson, we'll set up your development environment! 🚀