How to Become a Salesforce Developer in 2025?

What is a Salesforce Developer?

OK, so let’s start with basics by providing a definition. What’s a Salesforce developer? A Salesforce developer is a programmer who builds Salesforce applications across various PaaS (Platform as a Service) platforms. They don’t have to actually work for Salesforce, by the way.

Watch out the Simplilearn's video on Salesforce Administrator & App Builder Certification Training.

What Does a Salesforce Developer Do? 

A Salesforce developer has an understanding of how Salesforce works, coupled with experience in the platform. The developer is hired by a customer/client for the purposes of customizing Salesforce to the specifications of the hiring party. Alternately, it could be an in-house programmer who happens to be skilled at working with Salesforce. 

These developers use tools such as Apex and Visualforce, as well as frameworks like Lightning Component and Lightning Web Components (LWC) to develop apps. Since LWC is now the standard for modern Salesforce development, mastering it can be a game-changer for your career. To help you prepare for interviews and test your expertise, check out our comprehensive guide on 150 LWC Interview Questions and Answers for 2025.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Salesforce Developer

You will notice that the roles and duties of a Salesforce developer are in fact similar to those of other professional developers, but for the purposes of clarity and completeness, let’s go over them in the context of Salesforce itself:

• Analyze what the needs of the users are, then design, test, and develop software that meets those needs
• Design Salesforce solutions and create effective project plans. Add value to the three stages of project work; definition, development, deployment
• Suggest new software upgrades for the customers’ existing apps, programs, and systems
• Act in advance of the changing business and technological landscapes of Salesforce and .Net/Java platforms, and adapt accordingly
• Design every part of any needed application or a system, then plan how those parts will mesh together
• Create and implement programs for use over the Internet as well as for in-house users over the company intranet.
• Deal with possible inconsistencies in the quality of data and create processes that will overcome any potential system deficiencies
• Take the lead with other programmers by creating a variety of models and diagrams (for example, flowcharts) that will instruct them how to write additional needed software code
• Make sure that a program will continue to function normally through routine software maintenance as well as testing
• Document every part of the company’s entire inventory of applications and systems for future reference, especially in the context of upgrades and maintenance
• Collaborate with other computer specialists for the purposes of creating optimum software

It’s important for a Salesforce developer to establish a rapport with the client and ascertain what the latter’s expectations are for Salesforce implementation and operation. For starters, Salesforce developers need to understand how the client intends to use the software, identifying the needed core functionality.

This means paying special attention to user requirements that go beyond the scope of the software in question, issues such as system performance and security matters.

So as you can see, a Salesforce developer has a lot on their plate. It’s challenging work, but ultimately very rewarding as we will see below.

Salesforce Developers Salary

It stands to reason that a position with a lot of expectations will compensate you accordingly, that’s the case here. According to Glassdoor, a Salesforce developer in the United States earns an average of $87,000 a year. Apparently, there are also opportunities for extra bonuses and such, weighing in at about $8,000 as an annual average.

You could find a position that pays a maximum annual salary of $117,000, or as low as $62,000 a year. However, if you will check salesforce developer’s salary, you find a figure of over $130,000 a year being tossed around. Clearly, factors such as location and experience level can influence the annual figure. But regardless of the actual exact figure, the position is a potentially lucrative career choice.

How Does One Become a Salesforce Developer?

After such an exhaustive (and exhausting!) list of roles and duties, as well as the good news about fantastic compensation, the next point in the progression, should naturally be “So how does one prepare for such a challenging career?” Good question! Here’s how to become a Salesforce developer.

First thing’s first. Most software developers and this includes Salesforce developers, have a BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or some related field, and/or good computer programming skills and appropriate experience. It also helps to have knowledge and skills in the industry where those Salesforce skills will be put to best use. Furthermore, you should have an understanding of Object-Oriented Programming Principles, Model-View-Controller design pattern, .NET Programming, or Java.

Incidentally, if you intend to get into Salesforce development right out of college, it’s useful to have undergone an internship with software business. Such an arrangement gives you connections, experience, and needed skills. Once out of college, if you can’t immediately get into development, start off with a programmer position, and work your way up to the level of developer.

If your desire to become a Salesforce developer happens long after your college days ended, then consider taking an online salesforce developer training course that can teach you the needed skills and get your certification. Certification is important in this field because it confirms to prospective employers that you possess the needed skills to do the job they want you to do. 

More on the online training course option later on, so keep reading!

Key Skills Required To Be An Efficient Salesforce Developer

Finally, there are certain skills that any good Salesforce developer should have. These include:

• Analytical Skills: It helps to analyze your clients’ needs and design the appropriate software.
• Communication Skills: In order to better get your points across, whether it’s showing customers how the apps work or giving subordinates and team members clear instructions on what to do.
• Computer Skills: Having computer skills is one of the obvious skills requirements.
• Interpersonal Skills: Every good developer will inevitably need to be a good team player at one point or another.
• Problem-solving Skills: As dealing with problems is the bread and butter of developers. As a developer, you are overseeing every stage of software development, and you can rest assured that there will be problems manifesting themselves during each of those stages.

It also helps a good Salesforce developer to be creative and detail-oriented. In the former case, developers are often called to think outside the box in order to solve issues or design workarounds. In the latter case, software development is replete with small details, and overlooking a small matter could eventually escalate into something much larger.

Is Salesforce developer a good career?

Opting for a career as a Salesforce developer continues to be a highly promising and rewarding choice within the dynamic tech landscape. Salesforce remains at the forefront of customer relationship management (CRM), assisting businesses in comprehending and addressing customer needs through cutting-edge cloud-based applications designed for marketing, sales, and service.

Financially, the prospects for Salesforce developers remain robust. As of 2024, the average annual salary for a Salesforce developer in the United States hovers around $95,000, including potential bonuses. Salaries vary based on factors like location, experience, and role demands, with reports of some developers earning well over $130,000 annually, underscoring the lucrative nature of this career.

The demand for Salesforce developers continues to surge. Projections for 2024 indicate sustained growth, with the Salesforce ecosystem expected to generate a considerable number of new jobs. This growth reflects the ongoing and widespread integration of Salesforce across businesses of all sizes, solidifying the need for skilled developers.

The versatility of the role further enhances its attractiveness. Salesforce developers are not confined to working solely for Salesforce; they can contribute their expertise to various organizations, customizing Salesforce applications based on unique business requirements. This flexibility allows developers to gain diverse experiences, working on projects aligned with their interests and skill sets.

What’s Your Future with Salesforce?

Now that you know where Salesforce’s future is heading, what’s your future with Salesforce look like? Perhaps you want a new career whose challenges and rewards are irresistible. Or maybe you’re already a developer who wants to upskill by learning about Salesforce.

Whatever your motivation, Simplilearn has you covered. The Salesforce Administrator & App Builder Certification Training course has everything you need to get your Salesforce certification. With this Salesforce certification, you will gain certified, hands-on expertise in managing and developing apps for one of the most popular CRM products in the world. Simplilearn’s Salesforce training will prepare you to pass the two Salesforce exams and teach you the core administrative features of CRM. You’ll be taught all about analytics and customization skills, just what you need to tailor the system for your specific implementation and master the declarative capabilities of the Force.com platform to create new applications.

Whether you use Self-paced learning, Online Classroom Flexi-Pass, or by means of the Corporate Training Solution, you will reap the benefits of 48 hours of interactive instructor-led live training, 16 hours of e-learning content, and 30 hours of hands-on practice and projects, case studies, and quizzes, all designed to equip you for a Salesforce development career.

If you’re looking for Salesforce training that’s a little more focused, consider Simplilearn’s other Salesforce courses, Salesforce App Builder Certification Training, and the Salesforce Platform Developer I (Apex & Visualforce) Certification Training. 

If you want to enhance your software development skills further, we recommend you check Simplilearn's Full Stack Java Developer. This can help you hone the right skills and make you job-ready.

Whatever choice you make, Simplilearn is there to make your dreams a reality. Act today, and give your career that much-desired upgrade!