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What is a contract developer and how to become one
A contract developer is someone who develops applications for a client on a short-term contract. Unlike a regular developer, they usually are not employed full-time at a company but sign on for a temporary contract, as long as it takes to finish a project. This offers them more flexibility with their work and the ability to take on new challenges.
Contract developers do the same tasks that regular developers do, which are designing, developing, and testing web applications. They need to be highly proficient in multiple coding languages, from alpha source code to HTML. Besides their technical skills, they also need to have good communication skills to make sure that they are on the same page with the rest of the company's team.
Some contract developers have only a high school diploma and are self-taught coders. However, a bachelor's in computer science will make it easier to stand out in this highly competitive field. Contract developers also need some experience as a developer or software engineer before striking out on their own. It takes several years to become a contract developer, but it's worth it in the end--they earn an average salary of $102,243 a year.
What general advice would you give to a Contract Developer?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $91,433
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 21%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 27.78%
Black or African American 4.39%
Hispanic or Latino 8.12%
Unknown 4.79%
White 54.76%
Genderfemale 28.53%
male 71.47%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Contract Developer career paths
Key steps to become a contract developer
Explore contract developer education requirements
Start to develop specific contract developer skills
Skills Percentages C++ 7.41% JavaScript 6.82% Java 5.47% Python 4.30% Html Css 4.18% Complete relevant contract developer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contract developers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a contract developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contract developer resumes.Research contract developer duties and responsibilities
- Port existing native UI to use new manage web services layer.
- Design and develop a website using alpha source code, MySQL and HTML for creating and managing user accounts.
- Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
- Support internal team on client projects updating HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP as necessary.
Prepare your contract developer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contract developer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a contract developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Contract Developer Resume templates
Build a professional Contract Developer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Contract Developer resume.
Apply for contract developer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a contract developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Contract Developer Job
Are you a Contract Developer?
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Average contract developer salary
The average Contract Developer salary in the United States is $91,433 per year or $44 per hour. Contract developer salaries range between $67,000 and $123,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do contract developers rate their job?
Contract Developer reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Designing a new system or making changes to an old one.
Compensation. Pay and Benefits do not match the time spent on a project. Alabama is the Worst state to live in for SOFTWARE ENGINEER Salaries. 40 to 50 percent less than our peer States.
Updated January 8, 2025
