Frontend vs backend staff level
yoe: 2 Tc: 150k Is it actually much harder to get to staff level as frontend vs backend dev? I see on levels.fyi a bunch of frontend devs at L6 level as well. I like frontend better but if the ceiling is L5 level than it seems to make sense to focus on backend. What are y’all’s experiences on this and promotions in general for frontend vs backend
Levels.fyi
In the same boat, Been doing frontend work. Need to decide whether to deep dive into Frontend or learn Backend.
Yeah currently stuck on if I should take a backend role to experience it and see if I like it or if I should try to break into faang as a frontend dev, with backend I would probably be down leveled to entry level but with frontend I would kinda get stuck as all my experience would be frontend then and if I wanted to switch later I would be entry level as a backend with over 3 yoe
I have worked a little on backend but not to a point where I know if I’d enjoy it more than frontend
As someone doing this for over 15 years I can tell you once you hit staff and above you will not be doing only UI work at any half decent company. It'll be more full stack. One advantage I've seen (ymmv) is that many BE devs who become staff+ have struggled with UI but UI engineers seem to learn the backend concepts relatively easier. UI work is just complex and requires a lot more patience to master. Not beating down on anyone that's just my experience. Tc 550 currently at LI
There are plenty of front-end engineers that make it to staff level though chasing a level shouldn't be your goal. Staff is a functionally different job than a Sr. Eng at most companies. It's like deciding to move into a different role more than it is getting a promotion
How is it functionally a diff job?
At the end of the day you make more in staff level I think most people would take that role given the opportunity