Career Snapshot: Back-End Developer / Engineer
- Median Salary (Role Page): $171,776 per year (Coursera Career Academy, 2025)
- Jobs Available (Role Page): 22,418 active U.S. listings (Coursera Career Academy, 2025)
- Job Growth (Software Developers, 2023–2033): +17% projected, much faster than average (BLS, 2024)
- Alternate Salary Benchmarks: U.S. BLS median for software developers: $131,450 (May 2024); Glassdoor reports backend engineers averaging ~$148,000 (2025).
Key Insight: Back-end developers earn high salaries because they design the architecture that supports modern digital systems, from e-commerce platforms to global cloud services.
Essential Skills for Success
- Server-side programming languages (Java, Python, Node.js, C#)
- API development: REST, GraphQL, authentication, security
- Database management: relational (SQL) and non-relational (NoSQL)
- System design and microservices architecture
- Performance tuning, caching, and scalability
- Version control and collaborative workflows (Git, GitHub)
- Testing frameworks, debugging, and CI/CD pipelines
- Cloud infrastructure: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
- Containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes)
- Monitoring, logging, and observability
Education Pathways
- Common Route: Bachelor’s in computer science, information systems, or software engineering.
- Alternative Paths: Bootcamps, self-paced online certificates, and project work can lead to entry roles.
- Continuous Learning: Backend technologies evolve quickly; lifelong upskilling is essential.
Credentials & Certifications
All credentials below are offered through SchoolDay Academy, powered by Coursera, and listed on the Back-End Developer / Engineer role page.
Beginner Certificates
- IBM Back-End Development Professional Certificate — 11 courses
- IBM JavaScript Back-End Professional Certificate — 13 courses
- Meta Back-End Developer Professional Certificate — 9 courses
- Microsoft Back-End Developer Professional Certificate — 8 courses
Intermediate Certificate
- Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Engineer Professional Certificate — 5 courses
Provides training in Google Cloud services, infrastructure, networking, security, and preparation for the Cloud Engineer exam.
Related Career Pathways
- Full-Stack Developer
- Front-End Developer
- Cloud Engineer / Solutions Architect
- DevOps Engineer
- Database Engineer / Administrator
- API / Microservices Engineer
How to Get Started
Enroll with SchoolDay Academy
Start with one of the beginner certificates, then add the Google Cloud intermediate credential for advanced specialization.
Build Hands-On Projects
Develop and deploy APIs, database systems, and scalable back-end applications.
Practice Real-World Tools
Use Git, containers, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms in your projects.
Gain Entry Experience
Seek internships, open-source contributions, or junior developer roles to apply your skills.
Advance Toward Leadership
With experience, specialize in cloud systems, microservices, or systems architecture.
Why SchoolDay Academy Recommends This Pathway
SchoolDay Academy recommends the Back-End Developer / Engineer pathway because it combines technical depth with career flexibility—skills every modern organization relies on to keep systems running.
- High Salaries: Coursera lists median pay above $170K for back-end developers.
- Career Growth: +17% growth rate means opportunities will continue to expand (BLS, 2024).
- Stackable Credentials: Four beginner certificates plus the Google Cloud intermediate credential create a complete learning path.
- Cross-Industry Demand: Every sector relies on robust back-end systems.
- Perkins V Alignment: Emphasizes project-based technical skills, credentialing, and career readiness.
Conclusion
The Back-End Developer / Engineer Career Pathway equips learners with the skills to design, build, and maintain the backbone of today’s applications. With strong salaries, rapid job growth, and stackable certifications, it’s a future-proof tech career.
Explore the Back-End Developer / Engineer Career Pathway on SchoolDay Academy and start building your future today.