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For the nearly 3 million early-stage developers worldwide, landing a junior developer job can feel daunting.
However, with junior-level tech roles rising by 47% over the last two years, there's never been a better time to enter the industry, especially for those seeking remote junior developer jobs or entry-level programming positions.
Here we’ll give you a comprehensive overview of what a junior developer does and how to get your tech career start. We’ll discuss key responsibilities, skills, job search strategies and more so you can successfully get your foot in the door.
Plus, we’ll connect you to junior developer jobs and resources at Tecla – we’re always looking for fresh new talent!
Tecla Answers: What Is a Junior Developer?
A junior developer is an entry-level software developer role oriented towards gaining core coding skills and project expertise. According to StackOverflow, 24.5% of programmers in the industry today would be considered junior.
Typically, a junior developer has:
- 1-2 years of work experience (though could be up to 4 years)
- A Computer Science degree
- Certifications in general-purpose languages (such as JavaScript, C++, Python, etc.)
Unlike a software developer internship role, junior professionals take on basic junior frontend/backend developer responsibilities. (Typically testing/debugging or coding non-critical tasks.)
In contrast to a mid-level developer, these entry-level professionals need explicit guidance and feedback on their work. Explore entry-level software developer roles with Tecla today!
Find out what it’s like to be a junior developer in CodeGym’s guide here.
Junior Dev Hiring: Why Choose Early-Stage LatAm Pros?
Companies worldwide choose junior dev hiring to support their tech teams and nurture new talent from the ground up. Currently, there are 302,088 junior web developers employed in the U.S. – not to mention countless other offshore junior developers.
Junior developer jobs are common at large-scale or fast-growing businesses, such as:
- Startups
- Tech consultancies
- Outsourcing agencies
- Enterprise tech teams
The finance industry is especially welcoming to junior developers, accounting for 15% of junior dev hiring. Reports suggest fintech also offers the highest paying entry-level developer jobs.
Additionally, one of the benefits of hiring junior developers is saving money. Companies can invest in less experienced candidates and train/upskill them over time.
Specifically, the median annual salary for a junior developer in the U.S is $90K, while nearshore software engineers in LatAm involve 30-50% lower rates. Learn more about why you should hire remote LatAm developers here.
In the age of AI, junior developers face a challenging landscape for learning to code. Read more in LeadDev’s guide here.
Top Responsibilities: What Does a Tecla Junior Developer Do?
Generally, a junior developer job involves writing code, testing software, fixing bugs and maintaining products. In addition, these professionals may:
- Handle any/all requests from the larger tech team
- Evaluate technical options and present them
- Prepare reports and documentation
- Implement product updates
- Participate in code reviews
- Attend development meetings and industry conferences
- Focus on learning new skills and trends (such as AI/ML, etc.)
Keep in mind that you may know a junior developer by another name: junior front-end developer, junior software engineer, QA tester, DevOps assistant, etc.
What’s more, you may also be looking for a junior full stack developer position. These roles often combine front-end and back-end coding work in early-stage teams.
Go deeper into today’s tech workplace with JetBrain’s State of Developer Ecosystem Report 2024.
Key Skills & Tools for Junior Developer Jobs in Latin America
Early-stage developers don’t yet have expertise, but they do have a handle on the fundamentals. To land a junior developer job, it’s important to have some or all of these core skills.
Technical Skills of Tecla Junior Developers
- Basic HTML, CSS, C++ and JavaScript
- Git/GitHub and command line basics
- Basic database skills (SQL)
- Exposure to at least one general-purpose language (Python, Java, etc.)
- Front-end frameworks (React, jQuery) and/or back-end understanding (Node.js, APIs)
- Knowledge of agile and/or DevOps methods
- Proficient in MS Office
Soft Skills for Coding Jobs No Experience
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Learning and goal-oriented mindset
- Ability to work autonomously
Developer Tools Used by LatAm Junior Developers
- Visual Studio Code
- GitHub and GitLab
- Task/project tools (Jira, Trello, etc.)
- Terminal basics
As you create your first junior developer resume, use Indeed’s entry-level resume template.
How to Find Junior Developer Jobs When Based in Latin America
Getting hired in your first junior developer job can be tough, but it’s doable if you stay strategic during the job search process.
Today, 22% of tech hires involve developers with 0-3 years of experience. Here’s how an early-stage programmer can get ahead – whether you’re based in Brazil, the U.S. or anywhere in-between.
Job Sites for Remote Junior Developer Jobs
- LinkedIn, Stack Overflow Jobs, AngelList, RemoteOK, etc.
- GitHub and Discord communities
- Twitter/X job threads
Portfolio Building Tips for LatAm Junior Devs
- Build a personal website (include it in applications!).
- Add 3–5 strong projects on GitHub.
- Contribute to open source code.
- Highlight clean code and good README files.
Certifications & Learning Open to LatAm Developers
- Free courses: Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, Khan, MIT OpenCourseWare, The Odin Project, SkillCrush, etc.
- Certificates: CS50 and Google Career Certificates
- Bootcamps: Microverse, Le Wagon and Ironhack
Looking for more advice to get your tech career started? Read Forbes's industry advice or DevCommunity’s guide for early-stage pros.
Tecla’s Recommended Junior Developer Career Path
Building a career in tech takes time and effort. Here’s what to expect when growing your developer career from the ground up.
Typical Timeline for a Tecla Junior Developer
Keep in mind that 82% of junior developers stay in the role for 1-2 years. These early years are vital to learning new skills and gaining real-life experience on development teams. After about two years, you’re likely qualified for mid-level roles.
Growth Areas for a Global Junior Developer
In an entry-level developer job, it’s valuable to focus on expanding your skills in high-growth areas that could be useful down the road:
- Front-end frameworks (React, Vue)
- Back-end skills (Node.js, Express, PostgreSQL)
- DevOps and deployment (Docker, AWS)
Getting Mentorship as a Junior Dev in Latin America
Mentorship is a major element of building a career. In addition to in-company mentorship programs, make connections by:
- Joining dev communities (ex: Dev.to, Stack Overflow, etc.)
- Participating in Slack/Discord channels
- Leveraging pair programming and hackathons
How to Become a Junior Developer With Tecla
Pro tip: Check out Tecla real-life success stories from LatAm-based junior developers – and more – on our YouTube channel.
At Tecla, we advocate for early-career developers through a robust talent nurturing program. We help prepare junior developers for their first work experiences through:
- Resources: We support junior developers during the job search process, including portfolio reviews, interview tips, English upskilling and job prep resources.
- Network access: We have a vetted remote job board focusing on top U.S. brands that pay competitive LatAm rates.
- Early-stage opportunities: We work with remote-first employers who are willing to hire and grow junior talent in the long term.
We’re always on the lookout for junior developers eager to learn and grow in a remote tech job at a U.S.-based company.
What’s more, we give promising talent access to outstanding opportunities to gain experience on remote, multi-cultural teams. Connect with us today to check out our Tecla junior tech roles.
Get an insider’s look at the tech workplace with Atlassian’s State of Developer Experience Report 2025.
Get Your Tech Career Start as a Junior Developer With Tecla
Getting your tech career start as a junior developer can be daunting. Yet, knowing what to expect can help you land your first role and gain essential experience.
Use our comprehensive guide to entry-level responsibilities, skills and strategies to optimize your junior developer job search. Remember that career building is a long-term process that takes years of effort and learning.
Don’t forget to sign up as a developer on Tecla, too. We’ll connect you to our suite of Tecla junior tech roles and resources.
LatAm Making?
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