Thursday, September 4, 2014

RHT: Mystery Unraveled: The .NET Developer Defined

by Robert Half Technology
August 25, 2014


Having .NET development skills can provide an additional 9 percent spike in starting salary, based on national averages.
.NET developers are on many employers’ “most wanted” lists for hiring these days. But what exactly is a .NET developer? Is this professional a web developer, software developer or a mobile applications developer? Is he or she someone who programs using C#, Visual Basic, F# or JScript? Does this person work with WinForms, WPF or ASP.NET?
The answer: A .NET developer can be or do any combination of the above — and more.

Eric Younkin, branch manager at Robert Half Technology’s Cleveland, Ohio, location, defines a .NET developer this way: “A .NET developer uses Microsoft’s .NET framework to build applications using common languages such as C#, and can be used for both client-server applications as well as web applications using ASP.NET.”
.NET developer salary increases in 2014
Robert Half Technology’s 2014 Salary Guide reports that all developer salaries — ranging from $70,000 to $137,750 — are on the rise in 2014, from a lead application developer’s projected 6 percent starting salary increase to the 7.8 percent boost for mobile application developers.

Regardless of the development path though, having .NET development skills can provide an additional 9 percent spike in starting salary, based on national averages.* (You can use the Robert Half Technology Salary Calculator to find salary information specific to your city.)
What it takes to be a .NET developer
Every .NET developer should possess certain skills and abilities, including:
  • In-depth, working knowledge of one or more .NET development languages
  • Familiarity with one or more of the .NET stacks
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently or in a team environment
  • Attention to detail with excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities
  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field
  • Varying amounts of programming experience
.NET developers are also expected to program, test, debug, document and monitor their code. Typically, these professionals are also expected to collaborate with other developers, as well as with other colleagues in other technology roles like hardware engineers, designers, project managers and quality assurance (QA) testers.

.NET developers at work

As with most technology positions, a .NET developer requires more than just “book smarts.” Experience and solid people skills are also highly valued. Younkin says, “Organizations are looking for social .NET developers who not only are excellent programmers, but who also have the ability to communicate easily with users and business leaders.”

It is also imperative for any .NET developer to stay on top of current development trends. But if you’re active in the .NET community, that shouldn’t be difficult, Younkin explains: “The .NET community is strong and vast. NET developers can engage in an array of forums and groups that will help them gain key insights on trends and learn tips for troubleshooting their work.”

Want to improve your .NET developer resume? Check out this post. And look to Robert Half Technology’s latest Salary Guide for job descriptions and starting compensation trends for a wide range of in-demand developer positions.

*Developer salaries in Canada are expected to increase 6 to 7.6 percent in 2014, with starting compensation ranging from $66,750 to $127,500. .NET development skills can provide an additional 8 percent boost in salary. Figures are in Canadian dollars.



— Robert Half Technology

With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Visit our website at www.rht.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment