Main image of article Web Applications Developers, Engineers Top Entry-Level Jobs
Engineers and web applications developers are some of the best entry-level jobs, according to new data from WalletHub, which compared 109 entry-level jobs across 13 metrics. Those metrics included starting salary, number of job openings, projected job growth by 2026, median annual salary, and more. Unlike other studies, which usually focus exclusively on salary and job availability, WalletHub also looked at the hazards of each occupation, specifically overwork and “fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 employees in the past three years.” Systems engineer came in first on WalletHub’s list, followed by engineer, electrical engineer, hardware engineer, and web applications developer. Other tech jobs, including database administrator and network engineer, also appeared on the list. According to the Dice Salary Calculator, a web applications developer in San Francisco with a single year of experience can expect to earn up to $79,500 per year, before you take cash-boosting specialized skills into consideration. In a city not considered a tech hub, such as Boise, that salary can dip to $43,000 to $60,000 per year—still pretty good for a place with a lower cost of living. Of course, compensation goes beyond salaries, and in a bid to attract the right talent, tech firms across the country are doling out a variety of perks in addition to cash. Depending on the company, that newbie web applications developer can expect everything from flexible hours to stock options. Those who specialize have even more negotiating power in the right context. And as web application developers progress in their careers, their salary inevitably creeps up. Those with five years’ worth of experience can expect to pull down $85,000 (on average) in San Francisco; in a place like Boise, it’s $67,000. Again, that base salary doesn’t reflect the other incentives that companies often offer to professionals. For entry-level engineers, salaries are similarly high: $84,000 in San Francisco, $59,000 in Kansas City (which, like Boise, has a lower cost of living and different tech-industry profile than the Bay Area). Keep in mind that engineers are a varied bunch, and salaries and compensation can differ wildly based on things like sub-industry and skills. For those tech pros just getting out of school with a shiny degree, data like this is good news: with tech unemployment low, and companies actively hunting for talent, there’s opportunity for many grads to quickly land a dynamite position.