The increasing pace of technological advancement in Nigeria has also led to an increasing demand for back-end developers or web application developers in Nigeria.
Most companies in all areas are looking to hire professionals who can work with server-side applications and databases and handle the functioning of applications seamlessly. But how much do back-end developers earn in Nigeria?
This article delves into the average back-end developer salary in Nigeria, exploring industry trends, statistics, and key factors influencing compensation.
Also see: Big Data Engineer Salaries in Nigeria 2024
The Role of a Back-end Developer
Before we get into salary specifics, let us first define the role of a back-end developer. These professionals focus on programming, database administration, and implementing application programming interfaces (API).
Their main duties may include:
- Writing scalable and efficient code
- Performing database management and maintenance
- Connecting to external systems and APIs
- Working with the front-end developers towards perfecting the user interaction
- Taking care of the security of information
Back-end developers mostly are able to work with programming languages such as Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, NET, etc.
Also, in their practices, they are typically faced with frameworks such as Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, and others.
Average Salary Ranges for Back-end Developers in Nigeria
Salary estimates by different sources, including Glassdoor and PayScale, show the following average salary ranges for back-end developers in Nigeria:
- Junior (0-3 years): ₦2.5 million – ₦4 million per annum
- Mid-level (4-7 years): ₦6 million – ₦10 million per annum
- Senior (8-12 years): ₦12 million – ₦18 million per annum
Back-end Developer Salary by Location
Another factor which is location, affects the salaries of back-end developers in Nigeria.
Cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt command higher salaries than other parts of the country because of the presence of numerous tech companies and startup companies.
Lagos
As the commercial and technology center of Nigeria, Lagos pays the highest amount of salaries to back-end developers.
The average salary here is around NGN 3,000,000 per annum. Senior developers can go as high as NGN 12,000,000 yearly.
Abuja
Abuja earns quite high salaries as well because it is also becoming a seat for technological activities.
Back-end developers earn within NGN 2,500,000 in Abuja on average per year.
Port Harcourt
Though Port Harcourt is known for its oil and gas industry, it is also being overtaken by the technology industry.
The average back-end developer salary in Port Harcourt is about NGN 2,200,000 annually.
Factors Affecting Back-End Developer Salaries
Experience and Skills
- Years of Experience: Like any other profession, experience counts when it comes to remuneration. Developers with ten or more years of experience earn better compensation than their relatively junior counterparts.
- Technical Expertise: The skill level in various programming languages, motivation & technology frameworks, and databases makes a difference in how much an individual can earn. The hot technologies in Nigeria are Python, Java, JavaScript, Node.js, and MySQL.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Employers are always on the lookout for people who can easily troubleshoot, especially complex technical challenges.
Location
- Urban Centers: Back-end developers are likely to earn better pay in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt because of the large number of tech firms and the cost of living.
- Regional Variations: Even such salaries will still differ from one region to another within Nigeria. This is due to the fact that certain regions are more economically endowed and others are more tech-hungry.
Company Size and Industry
- Large Corporations: More often than not, larger companies provide better remuneration packages than freelancing or small startups.
- Industry: It can also be seen that there are differences in how much salary a back-end developer makes depending on the specific industry. Tech, financial services, and E-commerce industries tend to pay higher than other industries.
Education and Certifications
While many back-end developers are self-taught, having a formal education in computer science or a related field can be advantageous.
Advanced degrees and certifications can further enhance earning potential.
Future Trends for Back-End Developers in Nigeria
The outlook is very bright for back-end developers in Nigeria.
The employment opportunities in the years to come are predicted to be influenced by several trends related to the job market and salaries.
Expanding Tech Ecosystem
The tech ecosystem is very rapidly developing in Nigeria with numerous new startups and tech companies being formed on a continual basis.
This development is anticipated to generate more employment and raise the pay rate for back-end developers.
Applicability of AI and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming part of most businesses today.
Those back-end developers who are well-versed in this area will likely be able to find high-paying jobs.
Increase in Cybersecurity Concerns
There has been an increase in the use of cyber-attacks therefore companies need to enhance the focus on cyber security.
This, in return, will create opportunities for back-end developers with the ability to put in place strong security features.
Challenges and Opportunities for Back-end Developers
Back-end developers in Nigeria confront several challenges, including the following, despite the abundance of opportunities:
- Skill gap: Demand for specialized skills, such as cloud computing and DevOps.
- Infrastructure: Limited access to quality infrastructure and resources.
- Global competition: Competing with international developers for remote jobs.
FAQs – Back-end Developer Salary in Nigeria: Trends, Statistics, and Insights
What Do Back End Developers/ Engineers Do?
As the people who code and manage websites and all of their components, back-end developers and engineers are in charge of coordinating the web servers, databases, forms, pages, and functions.
They need to know server-side languages like PHP, Ruby, and Python, as well as relational databases like SQL and non-relational databases like MongoDB.
As a link between the interface and the development engine, back-end developers and engineers must also be able to add JavaScript handles to the browser’s side.
This is usually done with a framework like Zend or Cake or a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal.
What is the average salary for a Backend Developer?
The average salary of back-end developers is between N210,000 and N592,000 per month according to Glassdoor.
What is the salary of back-end developers at Kuda bank?
Kuda Bank pays their back-end developers an average salary of N854,167 according to data from Glassdoor.
What is the salary of back-end developers at Moniepoint?
Moniepoint pays their back-end developers an average salary of N14,400,000 which is about N1,166,000 per monthaccording to data from Glassdoor.
What is the salary of back-end developers at Flutterwave?
Flutterwave pays their back-end developers an average salary of N482,000 monthly salaryaccording to data from Glassdoor.
Conclusion
The back-end developer salary in Nigeria reflects the country’s growing tech industry and demand for skilled professionals.
The salaries of back-end developers in Nigeria change with factors like experience, location, skill set, and others.
For beginners, a fairly reasonable salary would be expected but for those with experience and the right specialization, the earnings increase drastically.
With the expanding technology environment and the rising requests for digital solutions, the future seems bright for back-end developers in Nigeria.