Everything you need to know about hiring full stack developers on OfferZen

About this article:

This article is aimed at hiring managers looking to scale their teams with full stack developers. In this article, we’ll cover:

• What full stack developers earn in South Africa
• Industries with the most full stack developers
• Common benefits full stack developers in these industries get
• Factors full stack developers are considering when evaluating an offer

When scaling your team, finding the right full stack developer can be a challenge. A poor hiring decision can lead to setbacks, low-quality code, and wasted time. Here we unpack everything they want from their next job.

What skills does a full stack developer need?

44.8% of South African developers identify as full stack developers, making it the most common developer role. Here are the core skills to look out for when hiring full stack developers:

• Front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery.
• Experience working with TypeScript.
• The following frameworks: React, Angular, Spring Boot, ASP.net, Ruby on Rails, Vue.js, Node.js, Nuxt.js, Next.js, Nest.js and Express.js.
• Object-oriented programming languages: Java, .Net and C#, Python, PHP and Ruby.
• Database technologies such as SQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis.
• Web development tools such as Git, Webpack, and Babel.
• Web architecture and protocols such as HTTP, REST, and SOAP.
• Cloud-based services such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
• Agile development methodologies and working in Agile teams.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.

Full stack developers on OfferZen typically have at least 4 years of experience, and 44.5% of them are at the senior level.

Full stack developers’ level of experience on OfferZen

What does it cost to hire a full stack developer?

We gathered data from 2001 full stack developers to better understand what they can expect to earn over the course of their careers.

Key salary trends and insights:

• Junior full stack developers in South Africa typically earn more than front end developers but less than those on the backend.
• This pattern continues as they reach higher levels of seniority.
• Full stack developers working with Java earn higher average salaries than full stack developers who don’t.

What else should you consider when looking at what it costs to hire full stack developers?

Salary is just one part of a standout compensation package. A great set of benefits can make a world of difference when it comes to landing top full stack developers.

Let's first take a closer look at the industries that full stack developers commonly find themselves working in. The data shows that South African full stack developers tend to work for companies based in Web development, SaaS development or FinTech. Cloud tech and Consulting also employ a sizable number of front end developers.

Industries where full stack developers commonly work

The FinTech and SaaS sectors typically have larger tech and enterprise companies where it’s normal for developers to receive generous benefits packages. However, developers in web development may work at companies that range from small dev houses to enterprise organisations. As a result, their total remuneration packages can vary.

So what benefits are common for developers working in these sectors?

1. Bonuses (with around half of developers receiving them at their current jobs)
2. Medical aid contributions
3. Retirement or pension contributions

Developers are also likely to get education budgets to support their career development, as well as allowances for things like home internet expenses.

Most common monetary benefits for full stack developers in these industries

When you’re looking at potential full stack developers for your team, it also helps to consider other factors they consider when evaluating an offer. This way, you know what to highlight in your interviews so you don’t lose the best people in the process.

What are full stack developers looking for from their next role?

While a great compensation package can give you an edge when it comes to hiring full stack developers, your non-monetary benefits also play a key part in getting the best people on your team.

When weighing up an offer, here are the top three things full stack developers in South Africa prioritise:

• Growth opportunities
• Remote work options
• Language frameworks

This means during the interview process, you need to show potential team members the career growth opportunities you provide. At the same time, if you’re not offering remote work, you run the risk of losing out on top full stack developers.

Factors full stack developers consider when assessing a role

Keep in Mind

The salary and benefits data in this article is taken from OfferZen’s 2023 State of the Software Developer Nation Report. In this article, ‘salary’ refers to the gross monthly salary (before tax) provided by more than 4500 survey respondents..It excludes other incentives like equity or bonuses.

Last but not least, it is always important to keep in mind that every individual’s context is different. At the end of the day, salary is a personal conversation that should take place between employee and employer and should consider the nature of work, perks and other contextual factors like tech stack or industry.

Ready to find your next full stack developer? On OfferZen, you'll get notified weekly about new candidates and receive recommended matches.

Hiring teams can makeunlimited hires across all the roles on OfferZen, saving up to 50% compared to traditional recruitment costs.

Are you hiring software developers? OfferZen is the curated developer hiring marketplace that connects job-seeking developers with exciting opportunities at over 2000 companies in Europe and Africa.

Hiring teams can make unlimited hires across all the roles on OfferZen, saving up to 50% compared to traditional recruitment costs.

Further reading

• Full Stack Developer Salary Trends in South Africa
• Everything you need to know about hiring Java developers on OfferZen
• Everything you need to know about hiring Python developers on OfferZen
• • Full stack developer interview questions
• • Full stack developer job description