Are you thinking of a tech career, but not sure where to start? Data engineering, as well as full-stack development, are two of the most popular fields—the data engineers assist companies handle and analyze their data, while full-stack developers build websites and software. There is a huge demand, with a rise of 50% in data engineering jobs and a 35% rise in full-stack positions this year.
For professionals who excel at data work, data engineering serves as an ideal field choice. The job of full-stack development becomes ideal for anyone who finds joy in building digital products. In this blog, we will focus on the differences between the Data Engineer vs Full Stack Developer for the job description, required skills, salary scale, and the future opportunities. Let’s dive in!
Who is a Data Engineer?
A data engineer is someone responsible for all the data handling infrastructures to organize and to transform the data. Even think of them as data foundation builders who facilitate organizations’ ability to work with data properly. Their work is to prepare data that may include processed data for the data scientists, analysts, and artificial intelligence models.
To explore the skills, tools, and roadmap to becoming a data engineer in 2025, check out our detailed blog on Data Engineering.
Key Responsibilities of a Data Engineer:
- Designing and maintaining data pipelines
- Data manipulation with big data platforms and data repositories (Snowflake, Redshift, etc.)
- Using ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process
- Ensuring data security and quality
Skills Required:
- Programming: Python, Scala, SQL.
- Big Data Tools: Hadoop, Apache Spark.
- Databases: SQL, NoSQL, Snowflake.
- Platforms: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud.
- Efficient processing of data for real-time analysis.
Example
Suppose an e-commerce company needs to study the behavior of its customer. A data engineer constructs pathways that gather information from different locations (Website, sales, customers support) and arranges data so that analysts and machine learning algorithms can analyze it.
Who is a Full Stack Developer?
A full-stack developer designs, implements and manages high-level applications both for the client and on the server side, as well as at the database. They develop web applications and interfaces that are familiar to us daily and should work seamlessly.
To explore the complete roadmap for becoming a full-stack developer, check out our detailed blog on Full Stack Developer Roadmap.
Key Responsibilities of a Full Stack Developer:
- Build front-end with the help of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (React, Angular, and Vue).
- Ensuring the back-end of services by utilizing Node.js, Django, or Spring Boot.
- Using databases such as MySQL server or NoSQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, etc.
- Integrating APIs and third-party services
- Ensuring website responsiveness and security
Skills Required:
- Programming: JavaScript, Python, Java, or PHP.
- Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular.
- Backend: Node.js, Django, Flask.
- Databases: SQL, NoSQL.
- DevOps: CI/CD, cloud computing (AWS, Azure).
Example:
When you buy from a store online, a full stack developer has worked on the website page (front-end) and made sure your order is entered properly within the system (backward-end).
Key Differences: Data Engineer vs Full Stack Developer
Data Engineer vs Full Stack Developer Salary
Both careers have a high earning potential. Salaries differ according to experience, place and company.
United States Salary
- Data Engineer Salary: The average salary is $90,000 to $150,000 in the US, with high-paying companies going beyond.
- Full Stack Developer Salary: Usually $80,000 to $140,000 based on knowledge or skills and experience.
Indian Salary
- Data Engineer Salary: As $90,000 to $150,000 in the US average in salary, and top companies pay even more.
- Full Stack Developer Salary in India: Entry-level salaries start at ₹5-9 LPA, with senior developers earning ₹12-25 LPA.
Which Career Should You Choose?
- If you love working with data, databases, and analytics, go for data engineering.
- If you enjoy building websites and applications, a career as a full-stack developer may be the right choice.
If you’re still unsure, try learning the basics of both and see which excites you more!
How to Get Started?
To kickstart your career in data engineering or full-stack development, you need structured learning, hands-on projects, and mentorship.
Join Bosscoder Academy to access top-notch courses, mentorship from industry experts, and real-world projects that prepare you for high-paying tech jobs. Whether you want to become a data engineer or a full-stack developer, we have the right resources for you!
Start your tech journey with Bosscoder Academy today!
FAQs
Q1. What is the difference between Data Engineer and Full Stack Developer?
Both careers are in demand. Data engineers are mainly involved in the extraction, processing, and storing of data, whereas full-stack developers are involved in the creation of websites and applications. Select between data or development, depending on which field you are more interested in.
Q2. Do data engineer earn more than full-stack developers?
Salaries depend on one’s place of work and seniority, however, data engineers earn slightly more due to the increasing demand for data analyst and data scientists.
Q3. Is data engineering harder than full-stack development?
Both are technical, but data engineering deals more with ‘gigantic’ big data, ETL, and cloud computational facilities than full-stack development which includes both frontend and backend, and databases.
Q4. Can a full-stack developer become a data engineer?
Yes! Various skills for data analysis include SQL language, programming using python language, and cloud computing. It is possible to make the transition with the help of big data technologies such as Hadoop and Spark.
Q5. How long does it take to become a data engineer or full-stack developer?
In structured learning, new programmers can get placed in a job within a period of 6–12 months, having exposure to practical and certification-related projects.
