What Does a Front End Developer Do?
A front end developer is responsible for building and maintaining the parts of a website or application that users interact with directly. They use programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to turn design mockups into fully functional digital interfaces. Their work ensures that a site is visually appealing, responsive across devices, and performs efficiently in different browsers.
Beyond layout and styling, front end developers implement interactive features, connect to back end services via APIs, and ensure accessibility standards are met. They collaborate closely with designers, back end developers, and product teams to create seamless digital experiences that support both user needs and business goals.
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Front End Developer Core Responsibilities
- Translate UI/UX design wireframes into functional, accessible code
- Develop and maintain responsive layouts using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Build reusable components using frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular
- Optimize page load times, rendering performance, and browser compatibility
- Implement and maintain cross-browser and device testing strategies
- Integrate front end with back end services via RESTful APIs
- Follow web accessibility guidelines (WCAG) and SEO best practices
- Use Git for version control and collaborate via code reviews
- Stay current with front end trends, tools, and best practices
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (ES6+)
- Experience with one or more modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, or Angular)
- Familiarity with responsive design, mobile-first development, and cross-browser support
- Understanding of REST APIs, JSON, and asynchronous JavaScript
- Version control systems like Git/GitHub
- Build tools (Webpack, Vite, or similar) and pre/post processors (Sass, PostCSS)
Soft skills
- Strong problem-solving and debugging abilities
- Collaboration with design, back end, and product teams
- Attention to visual and functional details
- Ability to work in agile or iterative development environments
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, or headless CMS platforms
- Familiarity with automated testing (Jest, Cypress)
- Knowledge of accessibility (WCAG 2.1), SEO markup, or performance audits (Lighthouse)
National Average Salary
Front end developer salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Front End Developer is:
$101,566
Sample Job Description Templates for Front End Developers
React Front End Developer
Position Overview
We are hiring a React Front End Developer to build scalable, high-performance user interfaces using React.js. This role is responsible for crafting component-based web applications that deliver seamless user experiences across devices. You’ll work closely with designers and back end engineers to integrate APIs and optimize front end architecture for maintainability and performance.
Responsibilities
- Develop responsive UI components using React, JSX, and CSS-in-JS solutions
- Manage state with tools like Redux, Zustand, or React Context
- Optimize performance with lazy loading, code splitting, and memoization
- Integrate APIs using Axios or Fetch and handle asynchronous logic
- Collaborate on routing, authentication flows, and global app layouts
- Conduct unit and integration testing using Jest and React Testing Library
- Participate in code reviews and support CI/CD workflows
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong proficiency in React, JavaScript (ES6+), and component-based architecture
- Experience with version control (Git), build tools (Webpack/Vite), and modern CSS (Sass, Tailwind)
- Understanding of RESTful APIs and front end application state management
Soft skills
- Detail-oriented with a collaborative approach
- Strong debugging and problem-solving abilities
- Familiar with agile and sprint-based development
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development, or a related field
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Next.js or server-side rendering (SSR)
- Familiarity with accessibility (WCAG) and performance monitoring tools (Lighthouse, Sentry)
Vue.js Developer
Position Overview
We are looking for a Vue.js Developer to design and develop front end interfaces using the Vue framework. This role involves building reactive, modular components and delivering user-centric features for web applications in fast-paced environments.
Responsibilities
- Create and manage reusable Vue components using the Composition or Options API
- Work with Vue Router, Vuex (or Pinia), and scoped CSS styling
- Collaborate with back end developers to integrate APIs
- Optimize rendering and app responsiveness for mobile and desktop
- Implement front end logic, user input handling, and data-binding
- Maintain clean, well-documented code and contribute to code reviews
- Stay updated on Vue 3 features and community best practices
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency in Vue.js, JavaScript, and component-based UI development
- Experience with Vuex/Pinia, Vue CLI or Vite, and single-file components (SFCs)
- Familiarity with REST APIs, Axios, and asynchronous data handling
Soft skills
- Problem-solving mindset and fast learning ability
- Clear communication and teamwork in collaborative projects
- Consistency in writing maintainable and testable code
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a development-related field
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Nuxt.js or SSR applications
- Familiarity with Tailwind CSS or SCSS for styling
Angular Front End Developer
Position Overview
We are seeking an Angular Front End Developer to develop enterprise-grade web applications using Angular and TypeScript. This role is ideal for developers who excel in building large-scale, modular, and well-tested front end systems for complex user workflows.
Responsibilities
- Build and maintain Angular components, services, and modules
- Implement reactive programming patterns using RxJS
- Use Angular CLI for scaffolding, testing, and deployment workflows
- Create robust forms with validation using Reactive Forms or Template-driven Forms
- Manage routing, guards, and lazy loading for optimized app structure
- Integrate APIs securely and handle error states gracefully
- Collaborate on performance improvements and UX refinements
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficient in Angular 12+ and TypeScript
- Familiar with RxJS, Angular Material, and SCSS
- Strong understanding of observables, lifecycle hooks, and dependency injection
Soft skills
- Structured and analytical thinker
- Proactive team contributor with strong communication skills
- Committed to quality and test-driven development
Education
- Bachelor’s in computer science, engineering, or related field
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with enterprise applications or micro front ends
- Familiarity with accessibility (ARIA roles, keyboard navigation)
Mobile Front End Developer
Position Overview
We are hiring a Mobile Front End Developer to create responsive, mobile-first web applications and/or native mobile experiences using front end technologies. This role focuses on delivering fast, accessible, and device-optimized UIs for smartphones and tablets.
Responsibilities
- Develop mobile-friendly front ends using responsive CSS, media queries, and frameworks
- Create mobile-first layouts and optimize rendering on small screens
- Build cross-platform mobile apps using React Native, Flutter, or similar technologies
- Collaborate with UX/UI designers to implement pixel-perfect interfaces
- Test and debug applications across devices and screen sizes
- Optimize performance and loading times for mobile users
- Integrate with back end APIs and mobile authentication services
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong knowledge of responsive design, CSS Grid, and Flexbox
- Experience with React Native, Flutter, or mobile-optimized PWA development
- Familiarity with mobile debugging tools and device emulators
Soft skills
- Empathy for mobile users and performance trade-offs
- Clear communicator and agile team collaborator
- Ability to test, iterate, and refine rapidly
Education
- Degree in front end development, mobile development, or equivalent experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience publishing apps to the App Store or Google Play
- Familiarity with mobile accessibility and WCAG standards