Blockchain Developers - Everything you need to know

When considering switching our careers to become a blockchain developer, we must study the job market of blockchain developers to see if this is still an in-demand skill. According to LinkedIn’s recent report about the most in-demand soft and hard skills, blockchain remains one of the leading abilities.

Employment website Glassdoor in 2018 reported that – based on their database – there were 1,775 blockchain-related job openings in the United States alone that year. The figure reportedly represents a 300 percent increase when compared to the previous year’s 446 job listings.

So, yes, blockchain developers are still in-demand today more than ever. In fact, the demand for blockchain professionals has increased so much that companies are willing to pay blockchain developers between $150,000 to $175,000 per year, according to a CNBC report.

Blockchain has many applications but the most apparent benefit is how the technology provides transparency and efficiency in several sectors, including finance and real estate.

So, the demand for blockchain engineers has only increased over the years, and skills can be applied in numerous fields. Now, what’s the path to becoming a blockchain developer? Let’s find out!

Table of Contents

Where to Start

To become a blockchain developer, you don’t only have to be a software developer; you also need to understand the principles of blockchain technology. Get familiar with smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain protocols. You can even get yourself a crypto wallet to save your cryptocurrencies to get familiar with the process.

It is also vital that you understand other concepts like private and public keys, distributed applications (DApps), and digital signatures. You need to dive into the world of finances and economy to be able to dominate this skill. However, you still need to be a developer, so there are specific programming skills you need to have.

Required Programming Skills

Blockchain engineering requires different skills, depending on the purpose of your project. Remember, developing a blockchain is different than developing for a blockchain. If you’re going down the first path, you’ll have to have some background on cybersecurity, cryptography, and distributed computing. However, if what you’ll do is to develop for a blockchain, transactional logic is required, depending on your project. If you are developing smart contracts, logic is the only thing you need to have.

Also Read: Blockchain Interview Questions Part -1

There is no simple answer to what programming skills you need because it’ll depend a lot on the platform you’ll be working on as well. Bitcoin, for instance, uses C++, but if you’re going to work on Ethereum, you’ll probably use Solidity and Vyper, which are the primary programming language for Ethereum. Hyperledger, which is an open-source blockchain platform, uses JavaScript, Node, Python, Golang, and Java.

The Role of a Blockchain Developer

Blockchain engineering is a complex profession; you will have to develop specific tasks to ensure everything works perfectly. Some of the things that a blockchain developer does are to design blockchain, security patterns, consensus protocols, and network architecture. You also need to build decentralized apps and smart contracts, as well as creating the entire stack of Dapps.

Also Read: Ethereum Interview Questions – Part 1

Chris Ward, member of the Ethereum Foundation and Kauri, referred to the importance of handling security in blockchain engineering:

“You need patience, agility, unpredictability, which can be the most frustrating part. It’s always bloody changing. You also need an eye for security because if you get it wrong, you can have a lot of potential problems.”

Salary of a Blockchain Developer

Blockchain engineering is more in-demand than ever, therefore their salary is higher than other members of the tech community. Besides, they have a pretty complex role in the financial world as well. According to information provided by Hired to CNBC, blockchain developers could make from $150,000 to $175,000 on average per year. This compensation is higher than any other software engineer salaries.

Connect with the Right People

When starting a career as a blockchain engineer, you need to start building a network and showcase your skills. If you have zero experience in this field, but you’re a proficient developer, you need to start diving into the world of blockchain.

Start by setting up your wallet and get familiar with the platforms. You can also volunteer for open-source projects to start getting some practice. This way, when you start sending job proposals, you’ll have something to show about your blockchain engineering experience. Also, remember to leverage platforms like Hired.com, LinkedIn, or Upwork. You can also try doing some freelance jobs that will boost your CV for when you apply for a full-time job.

Also Read: Common Crypto Questions

In Conclusion

Blockchain engineering is a vast world, and you should not limit yourself. Try to study as much as you can and learn from leading people in the industry. If this is something you’d like to do, you’ll need to know about economics and software engineering.