React Developers must possess a powerful combination of solid technical and soft skills for this key operational role. While a degree in computer science, math, or information systems is commonly required, employers tend to value proven technical expertise and business understanding over academic background for this position.

Technical skill set required

• In-depth understanding and knowledge of React, its core principles, its libraries and its technologies including TypeScript, jQuery, Redux, and NodeJS.
• Proven track record in developing applications in React – including component design and state management – for specific use cases.
• Solid working knowledge of React debugging tools, e.g., Chrome DevTools.
• Significant front-end experience using JavaScript concepts surrounding code structure, variables, data types, operators, functions, boolean, arrays, loops, switch statements, objects, primitives, and more.
• A solid understanding of ES6 (ECMAScript 2015 or ECMAScript 6), the newer version of JavaScript. It enables developers to perform valuable functions such as scoping variables, array methods, DOM manipulation, event handling, ‘this’ keyword, arrow functions, high-order functions, call-back functions, etc.
• Expertise in JavaScript XML (JSX) so programmers can effortlessly code and incorporate HTML/XML elements in React, and enhance app scalability, without the need for clunky React APIs or complicated code.
• A high level of literacy in client-side technologies, typically implementing responsive web principles, reverting to border-box model, writing HTML tags and CSS selectors, and performing CSS reset.
• A firm understanding of asynchronous programming and of Redux, a built-in state that allows developers to control and preserve the React library, and to produce apps that behave in a consistent manner, are easy-to-test, and operate similarly in different environments.
• Expertise in writing cross-browser code.
• Experience using centralized version control systems – such as GitHub, GitLab, and BitBucket – to merge or isolate branches to test code performance under varying conditions. This empowers developers using React to launch and retract features individually without affecting the source code or other modules, to maintain code flexibility and control without critical data or functionality losses, and to facilitate code storage and maintenance.
• Familiarity with front-end build pipelines and development tools, such as Babel and Webpack.

Soft skill set required

1. Solid communication skills

Excellent communication skills, based on a firm understanding of the full life cycle of software development, are a must-have tool in the React Developer’s toolkit. They need to discuss highly technical matters with the developer team and CTO to promote understanding of specific technical issues, requirements and challenges, as well as where they fit in the wider project. They need to be able to effortlessly switch to business speak to share update reports and communicate challenges and successes to non-technical stakeholders, such as the Product Owner and non-technical departments, client-side.

2. Strong interpersonal skills and a team spirit

Strong interpersonal skills are equally important in the React Developer job description. While developers using React need to be able to efficiently progress specific components of a project on an independent basis, they must also be great team players. No member of an agile technology team can be successful in isolation. Every member, including the React Developer, must have a personality that gels with others. All the technical skills and knowledge in the world mean very little if individuals are unable to operate within a team.

3. Robust problem-solving skills

An inquisitive, curious mind and a strong appetite to unlock understanding are equally essential elements of the React Developer’s skill set. Combined with a logical, can-do approach to problem-solving, React specialists quickly identify problems, postulate and analyze potential solutions according to a number of variables, and proceed to design and implement the optimal solution for the job.

Programmers using React are not phased when issues crop up. Indeed, they welcome random code bugs or complex grid layout conundrums as opportunities to learn and to think outside the box. In this context, there are no problems, only solutions.

4. Exceptional time management skills to ensure the front-end development remains on track in terms of milestones, budget and deadlines.

React Developers are expected to be able to add value at any and all stages of the front-end software development process – from concept and design through to implementation and maintenance. As such, they need to have a firm understanding of the full life cycle of UI and UX solutions. Their main responsibilities over the course of a project are varied and can be broken down into the following areas:

1. Web development

Writing clean, sustainable, scalable and flexible code for web and mobile applications is the main thrust of the React Developer’s activity. Programmers working in React are responsible for the UI of an app overall and as regards specific interface components. They are also responsible for installing and configuring server environments for React deployments.

2. UI creation

User interface creation is another key aspect of the React Developer job description. Developers using React design UIs for JavaScript-based applications using React’s open-source library architecture. They are involved in the process end-to-end, from concept stage to design, testing, implementation and maintenance. They must make sure the UI/UX designs meet usability guidelines and optimize front-end performance. They often work with other JavaScript developers and software engineers to develop robust, flexible front- and back-end architecture, along with the APIs to support it.

3. Code quality and function maintenance

React specialists regularly test new React features, fix bugs, and monitor code performance, systems dangers and software dependability. They analyze the results carefully and write up the findings in detailed reports which they share with project stakeholders (mostly team members). Based on the insights delivered by these reports, they modify the specifications and designs of at times extremely complex applications to optimize UI performance.

4. Training and support

React Developers are responsible for creating training notes, documenting projects and ensuring that these materials are easily accessible to the full development team. They play a key role in resolving any technical and/or operational issues relating to their team, project or department. They also, on occasion, become involved in mentorship programs.

High-quality, reliable web and mobile apps are essential for businesses looking to maintain and grow their business online. Creating, implementing and maintaining the code behind the challenge is a big, as well as multi-pronged, responsibility.

The first challenge lies in understanding the business case behind the solution requirement. This means having a firm grasp of the project’s specific needs and priorities, as well as the wider business context. This understanding enables React Developers to keep their activity in clear alignment with the overall aims and needs of a project, without getting distracted by side issues.

The second challenge centers around developing technology that will fulfil all the business requirements. To this end, React Developers must possess in-depth understanding and knowledge of React, its core principles, its library and its technologies. The coding challenges can be tough, the most frequent ones of which relate to the creation of a higher-order component to reuse component logic, the implementation and use of Redux, and the sharing of data among components without using props. Big lists of data, useless renders, search engine optimization (SEO) and decomposition of the logical and UI layers can also be problematic.

The third major challenge for React Developers relates to their soft skills, of which many are essential to achieving successful outcomes. Without the right interpersonal skills, even the most technically gifted React specialist is doomed to failure. In brief, solid communication, interpersonal and time management skills as well as passionate curiosity and a can-do approach to problem-solving are essential for React programmers to complete their projects successfully.

React Developers work closely with other members of the development team, particularly backend developers, testers, and UX/UI designers. In Agile team structures, they also liaise with the Scrum Master as well as the Product Owner.

Other interlocutors include client stakeholders, such as Product Owners, Product Managers, and other project management profiles on behalf of the client or tech leads and other peer developers part of a client’s in-house team.

You don’t have to look far to judge the success of a React Developer’s work. Given the aim of the role is to design, implement and maintain UI and UX experience on web and mobile apps, measuring the React programmer’s work performance is straightforward. Metrix relating to user satisfaction scores, retention rate, system usability scale, customer ratings, number of shares, completion task rate and more are important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

That said, user interaction isn’t the only measure of success in this matter. The journey of how React Developers get to the end result also matters in terms of team morale and retention. Feedback from the team as regards soft skills – working style, quality and coherence of communications, interpersonal skills, time management skills, and approach to problem-solving – are also key success indicators.

In other words, success indicators relate to both the hard and soft skills of React Developers, and how they apply them to satisfy all the business and technical criteria required of a front-end software solution development project.

In 2022, depending on the level of experience and the nature of the company, the average salary for a React Developer in the United States ranges from $82,000 to $107,000. The average is $93,000 (source: Salary.com)
On freelance platforms, you can find React Developers with an hourly rate ranging from $51/hour in the lower bracket, to $84/hour in the higher bracket, based on level of experience and technical expertise. The average is $65 per hour (source: Glassdoor).