It pays to be a .Net Developer

Developed by Microsoft and running on Microsoft Windows, .NET is an open source developer platform used for building different types of applications. And if you spend any time talking to UK developers – like we do – you’ll know that its popularity has continued to rise.
 

So why is it that the demand for .NET developers is so buoyant and salaries remain virtually on a par with those for Java developers for example?

Strong demand for .NET & .NET CORE

The recently published 2019 Stack Overflow survey revealed that .NET and .NET Core are very commonly used by developers (the former was actually voted more popular). What’s important to remember is that new features are constantly being added to the framework, so it’s imperative for .NET developers in the UK to keep on top of these updates. They must have an aptitude to ask the right questions so that projects can be completed within time and budgetary constraints.

ASP. NET skills highly sought

The same survey, which polled 90,000 developers, also found that professional developers voted ASP.NET (and ASP.NET MVC – ‘model, view, controller’) as the fourth most popular web framework that they use. Should we be surprised? Not really, given that it’s such a versatile platform that can be used for cloud-based web applications. UK employers are also keen on C# web development experience and knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery.

Permanent Salaries & Contractor Rates

According to ITJobsWatch, the median salary for permanent .NET developers in the UK is £47,500 and for contractors that’s £425/day (for the six months to 11 April 2019), up by  11.76% and 6.25% year on year respectively. For .NET developers working in Fintech that figure rises to £60,000. This is more or less in line with what we’re seeing in the UK market although of course salaries will vary regionally according to role, company and industry.     

Microsoft certifications and qualifications

I’m often asked about the importance of certifications for .NET specialists. Although you don’t need to be certified, employers are always more likely to favour someone who has an industry-recognised qualification. One of the most marketable is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certification, and for those looking at leadership roles, the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) is the one that comes highly recommended. Either way, being certified demonstrates a high skill level and strong track record.

Securing the best .NET talent

UK .NET developers need to possess first class analytical and problem-solving skills as well as being adept at collaboration and communication, as often they will need to relay complex ideas and solutions to non-technical stakeholders. Ultimately they will stand or fall on their deep understanding of the .NET framework – they must be able to implement solutions quickly and efficiently. Hiring the right with a proven background in your industry sector is paramount.

To find out more about how we can help you source the .NET expertise you need, please click here to speak to one of our Roc experts.