Advance Your Back-End Developer Career

Approximately 377,500 jobs will be created in computer and information technology annually from 2022-2032*. Whether you want to increase your salary or pursue a specialization, discover the resources you need to advance your back-end development career.

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What Is a Business Intelligence Developer? And How to Become One

Understand the role of a business intelligence developer and how you can get into this line of work.

March 19, 2024

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[Featured Image] An application developer is at a computer showing his project to a co-worker.

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What Does an Application Developer Do?

An application developer designs, creates, deploys, and updates mobile or web apps. Learn what a career in application development might look like, the average salary, and the skills and education you’ll need to land a job.

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How to Become a Game Developer

Game development is a growing career field that uses programming languages to code video games. Learn how to become a game developer, the average game developer salary in the US, and the skills and education you’ll need to be successful.

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10 Software Engineer Interview Questions + Example Answers

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August 17, 2023

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Software Engineer Resume: Examples, Tips, and More for 2025

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Build advanced development skills and earn credentials from industry leaders

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IBM

Python for Data Science, AI & Development

Skills you'll gain: Jupyter, Web Scraping, Python Programming, Data Collection, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Pandas (Python Package), Programming Principles, Data Structures, NumPy, Data Processing, Data Manipulation, Application Programming Interface (API), Data Import/Export, Computer Programming, Data Analysis

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Advanced Programming in Kotlin

Skills you'll gain: Test Driven Development (TDD), Kotlin, Android Development, Unit Testing, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Program Development, Mobile Development, Application Development, Software Design Patterns, Functional Design

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University of Michigan

Python for Everybody

Skills you'll gain: Database Design, JSON, Data Processing, SQL, Web Scraping, Relational Databases, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Databases, Database Management, Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Data Cleansing, Web Services, Data Collection, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Software Installation, File Management

[Feature Image] Two entry-level computer professionals research DevOps engineer salary details as they plan their career paths.

DevOps Engineer Salary 2025: How Much Can You Make?

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July 22, 2022

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[Featured Image] A woman with long dark hair in a gray striped shirt works in front of her computer screen in a shared office with lots of windows.

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May 18, 2022

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[Feature Image] Two solidity developers create smart contracts on computers while working for a blockchain company.

Solidity Developer: Careers in Blockchain Technology

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[Featured image] A programmer working on a project

Ruby vs. Python: Which Should You Choose?

Ruby and Python are open-source, high-level languages used in back-end web development. This guide compares their features, uses, benefits, and offers learning paths to help aspiring developers choose the right language for their goals.

April 5, 2022

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What Is a Machine Learning Engineer? (+ How to Get Started)

Machine learning engineers work with algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence. Learn about salary potential, job outlook, and steps to becoming a machine learning engineer.

February 22, 2022

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Preparing for a Career Change: a Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

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February 2, 2022

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[Featured Image] A DevOps engineer types on their computer and looks at their dual monitors as they update software coding.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

A DevOps engineer is responsible for optimizing an organization's software, including software maintenance and server administration. Learn how to get the skills you need to be a DevOps engineer.

December 15, 2021

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[Featured image] A full-stack developer wearing a blue and red-striped sweater sits at a wooden desk in a home office working on a desktop computer.

What Is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 8, 2021

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[Featured image] A security engineer stands in front of a desk with a light, laptop, and desktop computer in an open office with lots of windows.

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July 20, 2021

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December 15, 2021

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A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 8, 2021

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What Is a Security Engineer? 2025 Career Guide

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Ready to take the next step in your back-end development career? Roles in computer and information technology earn more than twice the average salary for all occupations, so you have plenty of high-paying career paths to choose from*. As a mid-level or advanced back-end developer, you may begin to apply for leadership positions such as a lead software engineer, director of engineering, or senior product manager. You could also focus on an industry niche such as blockchain development or obtain the front-end development skill set to become a well-rounded full-stack developer. Learn more about how to prepare for more advanced development roles and how Coursera can help:

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

There are several job opportunities that can be pursued with server-side skills. Eight common job roles include:

Web developer. Web developers utilize server-side skills to create and manage the back-end infrastructure of websites.
Software engineer. Server-side skills are highly valued in software engineering roles. They develop server-side applications and systems, optimize performance, and handle data storage and retrieval.
Database administrator. Database administrators specialize in managing databases, ensuring efficient data storage, retrieval, and security. They also handle database performance optimization and troubleshooting.
Full-stack developer. Full-stack developers leverage server-side skills along with front-end expertise to work on both the client-side and server-side of applications, providing end-to-end development solutions.
Systems administrator. Systems administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining server infrastructure, ensuring smooth operation, and addressing any technical issues.
Network administrator. Server-side skills are valuable in network administration roles. They configure, monitor, and maintain servers, ensuring networks are secure and efficient.
DevOps engineer. DevOps engineers utilize server-side skills to automate and streamline the software development process. They focus on improving collaboration between development and operations teams, deploying and managing applications on servers.
Cloud Engineer. Server-side skills are crucial for cloud engineers who manage cloud-based platforms, applications, and infrastructure. They work with technologies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform to build and deploy scalable solutions.‎

Some of the skills and experience you may need to have to learn full-stack web development include a general understanding of the front-end development and back-end development that goes into building a website. Important skills include coding and Linux. It will also be helpful if you have some prior working knowledge of technologies such as HTML, CSS, and the scripting language of JavaScript, as well as frameworks like Angular, React, and Node.js.‎

Whether you're just starting in software development or looking to advance within the field, you'll find plenty of resources to fuel your learning. Here are seven ways to build your software development skills:

Consume more software development content.
Engage with open-source projects.
Seek out a mentor.
Attend conferences.
Learn a popular programming language.
Build more technical skills.
Sharpen your workplace skills.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

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*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer and Information Technology Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm.” Accessed February 6, 2024.