Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for junior .net developers in the United States
Junior .net developer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected junior .net developer job growth rate is 13% from 2018-2028.
About 20,900 new jobs for junior .net developers are projected over the next decade.
Junior .net developer salaries have increased 11% for junior .net developers in the last 5 years.
There are over 119,890 junior .net developers currently employed in the United States.
There are 91,202 active junior .net developer job openings in the US.
The average junior .net developer salary is $87,553.
Are junior .net developer jobs in demand?
Junior .net developer job and salary trends over time
Junior .net developer jobs over time
Junior .net developer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119,890 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 125,370 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 28,473 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,315 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,826 | 0.01% |
Average junior .net developer salary over time
Junior .net developer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,553 | $42.09 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $84,668 | $40.71 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $82,751 | $39.78 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $81,035 | $38.96 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $78,818 | $37.89 | +1.8% |
Junior .net developer jobs by state
Most common states for junior .net developers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 811 | 117% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,323 | 39% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 241 | 39% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 365 | 38% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,927 | 32% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 333 | 31% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,170 | 29% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 911 | 29% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 164 | 28% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,825 | 27% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,379 | 25% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,024 | 25% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 331 | 25% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 246 | 23% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 371 | 22% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 166 | 22% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 154 | 21% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,974 | 20% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 379 | 20% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,729 | 19% |
Most common cities for junior .net developers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpharetta | 8 | 12% | $82,293 |
| 2 | Bethesda | 6 | 10% | $89,288 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 23 | 5% | $82,289 |
| 4 | Lansing | 5 | 4% | $81,363 |
| 5 | Plano | 8 | 3% | $87,646 |
| 6 | Jersey City | 7 | 3% | $91,916 |
| 7 | Washington | 13 | 2% | $90,767 |
| 8 | Raleigh | 11 | 2% | $84,720 |
| 9 | Tampa | 7 | 2% | $81,260 |
| 10 | Houston | 21 | 1% | $88,471 |
| 11 | Phoenix | 11 | 1% | $85,243 |
| 12 | Austin | 9 | 1% | $88,602 |
| 13 | Boston | 7 | 1% | $86,777 |
| 14 | Charlotte | 7 | 1% | $83,774 |
| 15 | Columbus | 7 | 1% | $82,090 |
| 16 | Dallas | 7 | 1% | $87,806 |
| 17 | Denver | 6 | 1% | $84,500 |
| 18 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $89,638 |
| 19 | New York | 19 | 0% | $87,879 |
| 20 | Chicago | 10 | 0% | $84,009 |
Junior .NET Developer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of junior .net developer experts
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Mount St. Joseph University
Wright State University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Keiser University Latin American Campus.
Florida Atlantic University
University of New Haven
University of Central Missouri
Furman University
Murray State University
University of South Alabama
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Pittsburgh - Bradford
Montana State University
North Dakota State University
Indiana University South Bend
Pennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
Illinois Wesleyan University
New Mexico State University
Izzat Alsmadi
Associate ProfessorTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Science
What general advice would you give to a Junior .NET Developer?
Izzat Alsmadi: Computing fields are unique that they have a very large spectrum of possible jobs.
New graduates should be open and flexible to seek opportunities beyond a narrow focus that they may have in mind.
The degree itself is a great start but in most cases will not be enough and you have to seek own training in new software, tools, etc.
Certificates can be also important for some particular sub-disciplines (e.g. cyber security)
Rebecca Allen
Mount St. Joseph University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to a Junior .NET Developer?
Rebecca Allen: AI, for sure. I have heard it said that AI might not replace humans, rather humans who know how to use AI well may replace humans who don't.
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Interim ChairWright State University
Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Department
What skills stand out on Junior .NET Developer resumes?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Web Developer: JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, PHP, Python, APIs, Web user interface design.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Junior .NEt Developers?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Particularly for a web developer, HTML/CSS skills, scripting langue competency.
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.
Professor of Computer ScienceSoutheastern Louisiana University
Department of Computer Science
What skills stand out on Junior .NET Developer resumes?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: Working on Software projects that involve team communication, Agile Process, and working with either the MERN, MEAN, or .Net stacks.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: Analytical and programming skills to solve problems at hand.
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.
Director, Dual-Degree Engineering Program, Assistant Professor of PhysicsXavier University of Louisiana
Department of Physics and Computer Science
What's a good job out of college for Junior .NEt Developers?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: With increasing unemployment rates, it would be challenging for most of the graduates to find suitable and relevant jobs. More precisely, the pandemic has increased the competition by reducing the number of job vacancies. However, the students with prior internships and research experiences have an advantage to be absorbed quickly but the majority would still be on a hunt mode. In this perspective, they may want to be strategic and pursue jobs that are at a junior level but aligned with their strengths and passion. Self-employment could be other means where they could be on the learning curve and hone skills that are desired. Volunteering has always rewarded those who have embraced it. In short, graduates have to digest the current scenario and strategize their skill sets to land in their dream job.
Elio Rivas
Department Chair – Software Engineering & MIS Keiser University Latin American CampusKeiser University Latin American Campus.
Software Engineering and Management Information Systems (MIS) Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Junior .NEt Developers?
Elio Rivas: English is 95% percent required in most of the applications. The new graduates face the challenges to know and have experience in almost all the programming languages and companies ask to be certified in most of the cases.
Companies in Nicaragua don't have a culture for training their workforce. This means that neither new graduates have the budget to get certified nor experienced workforce.
Maria Larrondo Petrie Ph.D.
ProfessorFlorida Atlantic University
Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior .NEt Developers?
Maria Larrondo Petrie Ph.D.: Students graduating during the pandemic are missing career fair and career service events that the universities and professional association offer, which are very important to get an internship and an entry level position. So their entry-level position may be not in their major and not at the salary and responsibilities that they had hoped. This impacts subsequent offers.
What's a good job out of college for Junior .NEt Developers?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: The best job you can have out of college is a job you have passion for and will set you up to advance your career. If you have always wanted to work in aerospace, then you should seek out that field from the start. I hate to see students settle for a job because of pay or because they feel they can move to their dream field later.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior .NET Developer job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: I always tell students to practice for an interview by thinking about how they will answer behavior questions such as how to do your work on a team, how you lead a team, how you learn from a failure, etc. This year I would add a new question to this list, and that is how you work remotely. Students should consider how they work with classmates to find a remote work style that works for them. They should explore how to work with Slack or Microsoft Teams to communicate and organize their team. I think we will see that remote work is a trend that will remain with us for the foreseeable future so students should work to become more comfortable with this new work style.
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin
Professor of Statistics & Mathematics Assistant Chair of Mathematics Programs Actuarial Science and Statistics Program CoordinatorUniversity of Central Missouri
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
What's a good job out of college for Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin: A good job out of college is some sort of entry-level actuarial job as an analyst. Typically, this is the first position in a traditional rotational program for insurance companies. Also, most employers will only expect this candidate to have 0-2 exams with a possible internship.
In general, any job within the field that pays would be good; experience is great, even if it's underwriting. An employee can always jump from job to job within a company. I just need to find a company where this is expected.
To be more specific, students should look for a work team that fits well. Some work teams are very distant, while others spend a lot of time together even outside of work. Also, they should consider the company and its values. They need to make sure that their personal goals fit within the values of the company.
What technical skills for a Junior .NET Developer stand out to employers?
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin: Most employers we work with look for candidates with experience in programmings such as Excel/VBA, Access/SQL, and others such as R and SAS. It is noted that life insurers are more likely to use SQL and SAS since their data is much bigger, while health insurers typically rely mostly on Excel and VBA.
What general advice would you give to a Junior .NET Developer?
Kevin Treu Ph.D.: Be a sponge! Use every resource at your disposal to learn all you can, not only about the tools and techniques for the projects you've been assigned but for everything your new company does. These resources will most likely include in-house training, but don't stop there. Do online research, work through tutorials, pick the brains of your new colleagues. Never stop learning! That is a huge key to success.
Also, start your career with attention to a healthy work-life balance. Most companies explicitly value this concept and provide opportunities for you to tend to your own mental and physical wellness through various programs. Take the time to rest and recharge, and most importantly, enjoy what you're doing!
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Junior .NEt Developers?
Kevin Treu Ph.D.: Seek out courses that have a major project component, ideally with students working together in teams. And as paradoxical as it may sound - the best experiences are those where the teacher is less of a teacher and more of a facilitator. That is, they create an environment where the onus is on you to go and find the tools that you need to produce the required outcome. At Furman, we have several such courses in topics such as Web-Based App Development, Game Design and Development, Systems Analysis, and Human-Computer Interaction. Sometimes it can be disconcerting - for both student and teacher - when a project-based, "just in time" learning paradigm is used. It's so different from what we're used to! But time and time again, our alums have reported to us that these experiences most closely mirror the actual work experience and thus have the greatest impact on job success.
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceMurray State University
Computer Science and Information Systems
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior .NET Developer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: I'm no economist, but based on what I've seen, the job market in the computing industry has stayed relatively strong. There are still lots of software development and IT job openings right now. Since the pandemic has started, the biggest change is the move to working remotely. More people are just working from home now. There are currently way more remote job postings now than I've ever seen, though many of them state that working remotely is only temporary. Since schools have closed, that also means people have to deal with working while also trying to keep their kids on track with their school work. It's a difficult time for everyone right now.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: A bachelor's degree in computer science is extremely valuable. It has been and continues to be one of the most valuable college degrees a student can pursue. I really think all areas of computing are in demand, but web and mobile computing might be one of the strongest. Some employers do like to see extra certifications in addition to the bachelor's degree. There are literally hundreds of certifications available in the computing industry. They all vary in the required amount of time, effort, and money. I think anything that can set a candidate apart from other candidates is valuable, and that includes any certification. I would not recommend investing thousands of dollars into additional certifications after completing a bachelor's degree, but I don't think it's a bad idea for students to pursue one of the free or lower-cost certifications that are available - especially those students who might not have strong internship experience, extracurricular activities, projects, etc. to put on their resumes. I think anything DevOps related or cloud-based like Amazon's AWS or Microsoft's Azure are especially valuable right now.
What's a good job out of college for Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: Any job is a good job out of college! Even if it isn't a perfect fit, that first job can be used to gain experience, and can be used as a stepping stone toward that ideal job. Gaining experience is key. It should really start before graduation. Ideally, a student would have at least one summer internship before graduating. Internships can often lead to permanent job offers after graduation. I've even heard of students, who might struggle to find a permanent job offer after graduation, pursue an internship to not only gain experience but also with the hope that it will lead to a permanent opportunity with that company.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior .NEt Developers?
Bob Sweeney Ph.D.: I don't think so but I can't predict the future. The job market in this area seems to be solidifying and there are numerous local, regional, and national employers participating in our University's career fair this semester.
What's a good job out of college for Junior .NEt Developers?
Bob Sweeney Ph.D.: Very likely there will be more remote workers at least for the near future. Many organizations are hiring and expecting workers in their facilities. Students have been getting more exposure to Zoom, Slack, Discourse, Discord, Git, and other remote collaboration tools during their last semesters which should ease their transition to a workplace using these applications.
What technical skills for a Junior .NET Developer stand out to employers?
Bob Sweeney Ph.D.: Strong database skills including big data and SQL are always valued by local employers hiring our IS majors. While not technical, written and verbal communications skills are always important.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Junior .NET Developer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tao Ju: History has proven that engineers have fared well in the most challenging job markets; the aftermath of this pandemic will be no different. If anything, we may see some industries pull back on hiring while other industries pick up (health care, technology, consumer products, etc.). As the global economy remains a bit turbulent, it's likely that we'll see more just-in-time hiring. Companies may be cautious to hire new grads 6-9 months prior to graduation like we've seen in recent years, but it will only be temporary. Until things stabilize a bit more, companies may turn to hiring more interns or contractors to fill gaps. However, the overall demand for engineers will not slow for a significant period of time. We'll see companies use more virtual recruiting strategies because they have seen the success they can have with multi-school virtual sessions, online job fairs and video interviewing. More and more companies will integrate artificial intelligence to standardize and simplify their recruiting process. We'll also see an upward trend in diversity, equity and inclusive (DEI) hiring practices as more candidates seek out diverse and inclusive employers and more attention is drawn to ongoing challenges.
What general advice would you give to a Junior .NET Developer?
Dr. Tao Ju: They are not in this alone. The opportunities are out there, but it is up to them to be proactive and take ownership of their career. They should become familiar with and use all of the resources available to them-alumni, faculty and career advisors, job search sites, mentoring programs, career fairs, professional associations, and networking events. Take advantage of their existing network and seek out ways to make further connections. Keep an eye on trends, follow news, and research companies. Dream big but be flexible. In this time of constant transition and change, graduates who can shift their plans to the conditions of the job market will have less stress and more success. Talk with companies they've never heard of and explore careers they've never considered. They might be surprised at what they find and where it leads them. Lastly, remain confident and positive. They've worked hard to get to this point and they can be rest assured that their choice to pursue engineering will pay off in the short and long run.
What Junior .NET Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tao Ju: Graduates should research their targeted industries, companies and positions to identify which skills are in highest demand. Every job description has required qualifications and a desired qualifications section. The focus should be on trying to develop those desired qualifications. This could include learning a new programming language or working towards a certification (EIT, LEED, Six Sigma, etc.). Having said that, the specific skills themselves are less important than demonstrating the drive, passion and curiosity to continue developing. Do something. Take a course, volunteer, take on a short-term project, or teach yourself new software. The more graduates have developed their technical and transferable skills (leadership, communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, etc.), the more competitive they will be as they enter the job market, and the quicker they will make a difference in an organization.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Junior .NEt Developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Y. Ken Wang: Other than San Francisco Bay, Seattle, New York, Boston, DC, we found Pittsburgh is a popular place for our students as well.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Junior .NEt Developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Brock LaMeres Ph.D.: The fields that are booming right now are cybersecurity and military/aerospace. These fields tend to be pretty geographically spread out through the US.
What skills stand out on Junior .NET Developer resumes?
Dr. Brock LaMeres Ph.D.: All companies are looking for some experience beyond the classrooms. This can be through internships or doing research at their universities. But students still need to show an acceptable GPA to show employers that they understand the fundamentals of their discipline.
What type of skills will young Junior .NEt Developers need?
Dr. Simone Ludwig: The different roles our students take on once they complete our program are developer, programmer, software engineer, and development analyst positions. All of these positions involve some type of software development, be it on the front end, e.g. application development, or on the back end programming server or database applications. Besides the technical skills, the ability to communicate well and to work individually but also collaborate in a team environment are important.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Simone Ludwig: So far, companies are still employing our students. As far as I have heard most of the students get employed when they finish their degree, which is good. The start is definitely different since most start working remotely usually with a couple of weeks of online training.
What experience really stands out on Junior .NET Developer resumes?
Dr. Simone Ludwig: Capstone experience, Internship or Co-op experience, and working on a research project will stand out on a resume.
What type of skills will young Junior .NEt Developers need?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: In the coming years, when life is still being impacted by the pandemic in some way, graduates who enter the workforce may need skills that help them work efficiently from home. Those skills would include time management, self-motivation, and the ability to use technology. Of course, they still need the skills that are usually needed for their jobs, such as communication skills, teamwork, etc.
What type of skills will young Junior .NEt Developers need?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Our graduates will need the vital skill of "looking stuff up" to find the most reliable and cost-efficient technological tools for a task. They need strong virtual as well as in-person communication skills, and they need experience with careful data and file curation. They need to be good at debugging problems and finding solutions, rather than presuming that the tech a company relies on will "just work." These things will help our students find good jobs and become indispensable employees.
Brian Law
Assistant Professor of Computer ScienceIllinois Wesleyan University
Computer Science Department
What Junior .NET Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Law: There are several areas that are "hot" right now, such as the previously-mentioned data science, artificial intelligence, and systems, but also cybersecurity and databases/data warehousing. That being said, the most important thing for a new graduate seeking employment to do is just to do anything, produce something. Tech employers don't and have never trusted computer science credentialing; that mistrust is the origin of the infamous "tech interview," used to verify whether a candidate actually has the technical skills to back up their piece of paper.
So to preemptively answer that question and get a leg up on other candidates, graduates should be sure to generate some artifact(s) that demonstrate(s) their technical and organizational skills. Show them that you can plan a project, design it, see it through in programming it, and do so in a responsible, organized manner (good coding style, readable code, well-documented, and using proper version control), and you'll have addressed your future employer's greatest worries right off the bat.
If it's a project in one of these "hot" areas or specifically tuned for the work the employer does, all the better, but anything the employer is doing is probably leagues beyond what a fresh graduate can do by themselves in a few months, so ultimately they're not going to be that impressed with your domain-specific technical knowledge. Instead treat it more as an opportunity to show off your "soft" skills, your programming maturity, and your ability to actually produce a product rather than just answer exam questions. And while you're at it, you might as well make it something fun for yourself so you'll be driven to finish it.
What general advice would you give to a Junior .NET Developer?
Brian Law: i) Explore your options thoroughly. Too many students get bewitched by Big Tech companies, with their bold promises, their fancy campuses, their big recruitment events, and their nice swag. Nowadays, this also happens to students with start-ups. But those jobs are not only highly competitive, but they also have very similarly exacting work cultures and very little work-life balance. These are cutthroat environments that are, frankly, not suited for everyone. Instead, many graduates would probably be happier working at, say, medium or small-size companies where they can find a workplace culture that fits them rather than the other way around, or non-tech companies where the pressure is lower because the goal is more stability and support rather than rapid innovation. Of course, this is the exact same dynamic that plays out with young consultants, accountants, lawyers, and doctors, who are also often initially attracted to high-powered, high-pressure environments but often end up deciding it's not for them, especially as they get older and start thinking about families.
ii) Specialize. There's no job out there with the title, "Computer Scientist." Employers are looking to hire you for a specific set of skills and knowledge. If you can identify the area of Computer Science you're interested in and the work you want to do in that area, you can again get a big leg up over your competition if you can demonstrate that you actually want to do what your future employer wants you to and that you're good at it. If you want to work with databases, then take those extra database electives and learn some other database technologies on your own time, and your resume will stand out amongst all the others for any DBA job.
iii) Don't sweat it too much. You've probably been alive for 22 years or so, so you'll probably be in the labor force for 50+ years. Your first job is not going to be your last job, and you may easily find your career path taking unexpected turns that you never even knew existed. Just like you didn't know what the areas of computer science were as a freshman, there are many many CS-related job types out there that you're not even aware of, and 50 years from now, there will probably be even more. While it may seem like your first job will set you on one path for the rest of your life, really it starts you towards 5000 possible paths out of millions in total. No, you don't get the stability of a "job for life" anymore, but that can also be freeing in a way. Don't worry about finding that "perfect" job; even if you did find it, you and the world around you will change over time anyway, so just take your first step confidently and always keep an eye out for your next one.
What type of skills will young Junior .NEt Developers need?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: Most young graduates want to be game developers. Frankly, there are too few jobs in game development for students to find a reasonable change. The skills employers want are in using SQL with relational databases, and they want the ability to work in a full stack development environment and the willingness to learn new platforms and programming environments. The employer has a huge investment in their development stack, and the new employee has to learn that stack. Also, they want employees with the ability to communicate with management and, most importantly, the ability to work with others. The graduate should be solid in basic data structures and how they are applied to solutions. Additionally dynamic HTML web services are welcome.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Junior .NEt Developers?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: For most graduates, no. Most employers have their own platforms, so the effects from the pandemic are not in play as the employer; the investment into the new graduate would be similar with or without the pandemic. The new graduate may have a more difficult time catching up from the loss of some educational experiences from the pandemic, but I think it will even out in twelve to eighteen months. Some examples of the biggest challenges for new graduates are the transitions to working with others and being in offices. The past eighteen months has allowed all of us to enhance our bad personal habits; the new graduate is likely to bring these to work and expect that this is normal (e.g., bathing, eating at the desk, playing games during work time).