The .Net technology has come a long way since it arrived in 2002. Today, it is still placed high in the overall ranking and continues to power global tech leaders. Such frontrunners as Intel, Siemens, and Microsoft have estimated the flexibility of .NET at its true worth.
Therefore, .NET development has always been considered a career full of opportunities. Besides, the average .net developer salary traditionally stands at five figures, which further attests to its solid status quo.
If you have been considering .NET development as your specialty, this post will point you in the right direction.
What Is Net Development?
NET is a cross-platform software development ecosystem created and supported by Microsoft. The technology allows for dynamic, reliable, and feature-rich engineering. Its popularity is backed by its multi-purpose nature and ubiquity at most software development phases.
Traditionally, .NET is widely used by large businesses that need versatile functionality like web-based solutions, IoT, and cloud infrastructure support.
What Does A .Net Developer Do?
Dot net development is an umbrella term that includes a wide variety of services from web development to gaming. Therefore, job responsibilities vary a lot depending on the focus.
In a wide sense, a .NET developer is engaged in designing, customizing, and building software applications tailored to business needs. Besides, the responsibilities may include:
- Analyzing software requirements
- Collaborating with internal teams to create software design and architecture
- Testing and deploying applications
- Improving operating software
- Creating technical specifications and test plans, etc.
How Much Do .Net Developers Make?
Just like with other dev careers, the average compensation for dot net development varies greatly by country and seniority level. For example, a US-based .Net developer makes from $71,452 to $105,000 per year.
The entry level .Net developer salary is still high and stands at $79,500. Traditionally, the senior net developer salary grows to a six-figure amount and equals $115,000.
In other tech hubs, the junior net developer salary is lower and reaches the maximum of $48,180.
What Skills Do You Need To Become a .Net Coder?
The .NET development technology refers to a large number of techniques and tools. And with frequent updates and high applicability of the ecosystem, it is challenging to pinpoint exact .NET development skills to increase earning potential.
The most important thing to remember for a newcomer is that .Net development comes in different shapes and forms. It can be anything from mobile development to cloud engineering and necessary skills evolve accordingly.
Let’s go over the most marketable ones.
1. Education Level
Today, it’s not a given anymore. However, a Bachelor’s degree or formal training in Computer Science or software engineering can give you additional tailwind.
2. C# Proficiency
Unlike the first one, solid knowledge of C# is a core aspect of building .NET apps. You should develop a clear understanding of async features, LINQ, Object-Oriented Programming concepts, and fundamental coding principles. Microsoft Visual Studio also goes hand in hand with the given programming language.
3. .NET Framework Familiarity
Understandably, next comes in-depth knowledge of the .NET framework. As this technology is known for language independence and interoperability, you can interact with other .NET Framework apps no matter the language.
We recommend starting with basics like the .NET Framework Class Library and the .NET Framework Runtime. If you want to hone up your skills on the way, make sure to keep abreast of the latest .NET Framework.
4. Exposure to MVC and .NET Core
If you opt for web development, the model-view-controller pattern is what will support your journey. MVC allows coders to architect interactive web applications and embrace the latest salient-side web development technologies.
The best way to learn MVC is by following online tutorials or scouring Microsoft Developer Forum for step-by-step tutorials offered by Microsoft employees.
.NET Core is the new reincarnation of the .NET Framework, which is a free, modular framework built by Microsoft. It is a cross-platform framework compatible with a wide range of operating systems. This also makes the .NET Core an ideal alternative for building desktop applications.
Moreover, this framework can be used to build various kinds of applications including mobile, desktop, cloud, IoT, microservices, games, and others.
5. Cloud Engineering
Cloud technologies are all the rage now. Therefore, .Net developers adept in cloud apps are among the most sought-after specialists. To master this skill, you should have experience in cloud-computing platforms such as Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure.
6. Front-End Technologies
You don’t have to obtain a piece of strong knowledge in both the front-end and back-end. However, familiarity with client-side technologies like TypeScript, JavaScript, CSS, Bootstrap, and jQuery will add your resume some more value.
7. Agile Methodologies
Most organizations rely on Agile to organize their processes. Hence, you should also have experience working with Agile methodologies. This might include DevOps tools, TDD, and Behavior-Driven Development.
8. Database Skills
Finally, NET coders must possess good database management skills. The technology itself is quite fit for Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL. When a developer also has an understanding of Oracle and other NoSQLs, it adds value to their portfolio as well.
The Bottom Line
Becoming a self-taught .Net programmer is no mean feat since this technology encompasses a gamut of other frameworks and tools. However, if you narrow down your focus area and choose one direction, like web development, it’ll be easier for you to accumulate knowledge.
Bio
Dariia Herasymova is a Recruitment Team Lead at Devox Software. She hires software development teams for startups, small businesses, and enterprises. She carries out a full cycle of recruitment; creates job descriptions based on talks with clients, searches and interviews candidates, and onboards the newcomers. Dariia knows how to build HR and recruitment processes from scratch. She strives to find a person with appropriate technical and soft skills who will share the company’s values. When she has free time, she writes articles on various outsourcing models for our blog.
