PHP Developer Career Advice

[mr90486]

Machan, Can anybody provide me with following information:

1. The average starting salary for a new(entry level) PHP Developer. How much of increments a developer can get year by year?

2. I am currently 28, will that be a problem to get into the industry?

3. I don't have an IT degree but I can code stuff. I am good with php. However I am not really good with javascript, and html/css designs. I understand everything but to become really good at that I need to have more time. But with my age I don't have much time to spend at home. I can utilize every technology to the good effect. Your ideas on this?

4. Should I give up on this? Is this worth trying at the age of 28? I have no other option. This is what I can do. But I suspect is this worth trying. I am trying to develop a portfolio but it takes so much time. I have started several projects but not even one has finished. I can't see an end of this at the moment. Really frustrated. Please advice is this worth trying?

If the salaries are good, then I can at least be hopeful of a better future and keep working on the portfolio.

Thanks.

 

[Robin*Hood]

බම්ප්

 

[Lalakajee]

Well, Since you don't have a degree, that's definitely going to bite you if you want to get a "job".
But if you are good in coding and databases, you can try your hand at freelancing (oDesk, Freelancer etc.)
Build some programs on your own and display it in your own portfolio, start with low rates and get a good reputation on above outsourcing sites, you will build a freelance career. I am doing Java but I have friends who are doing PHP on-line, they earn good money.

Age is not a problem. You are never too late for anything. Good Luck Bro

 

[mr90486]

bump

බම්ප්

Thanks guys

 

[mr90486]

Well, Since you don't have a degree, that's definitely going to bite you if you want to get a "job".
But if you are good in coding and databases, you can try your hand at freelancing (oDesk, Freelancer etc.)
Build some programs on your own and display it in your own portfolio, start with low rates and get a good reputation on above outsourcing sites, you will build a freelance career. I am doing Java but I have friends who are doing PHP on-line, they earn good money.

Age is not a problem. You are never too late for anything. Good Luck Bro

Thanks machan. yea, freelancing is a good option but again the lack of css/html and JavaScript skills will be a problem.

 

[Jack_Sparrow]

You have to face a big competition with graduate php developers who has done java scripts jquery and CSS HTML.

So when starting don't expect big salaries. You may have to start with 15000-20000 (per month) salary. when you get more experience you can go beyond 50000. but it takes time and depends on how you perform.

but when it comes to freelancing your degree age does not matter.

better get some exposure on HTML javascript try w3 school, its not that hard , you can learn within 1 month
http://www.w3schools.com/

 

[nismok]

Its better to do freelancing rather than working somewhere, since you don't have a degree.

 

[mr90486]

You have to face a big competition with graduate php developers who has done java scripts jquery and CSS HTML.

So when starting don't expect big salaries. You may have to start with 15000-20000 (per month) salary. when you get more experience you can go beyond 50000. but it takes time and depends on how you perform.

but when it comes to freelancing your degree age does not matter.

better get some exposure on HTML javascript try w3 school, its not that hard , you can learn within 1 month
http://www.w3schools.com/

Thanks bro Sure I am OK with a salary of 15 to 20K to start with. That's really encouraging. Thanks again.

 

[Fox Mulder89]

hmm.. wayasa 28k nam tikak awul but eka loku awulak nam neme. mulin ma job ekak himin sare hoya ganna wahamaa. passee bit wage ekak patan ganna. eka parttime nisa loku awulak naha.

oya athare himin sare anek qualification skills hada ganna. mama danna samahara aya awudu 28 di BIT eka iwara karala virtusa giya. IT walata age eka loku awulak naha.

 

[mr90486]

hmm.. wayasa 28k nam tikak awul but eka loku awulak nam neme. mulin ma job ekak himin sare hoya ganna wahamaa. passee bit wage ekak patan ganna. eka parttime nisa loku awulak naha.

oya athare himin sare anek qualification skills hada ganna. mama danna samahara aya awudu 28 di BIT eka iwara karala virtusa giya. IT walata age eka loku awulak naha.

Thanks Brother

 

[Lalakajee]

Thanks machan. yea, freelancing is a good option but again the lack of css/html and JavaScript skills will be a problem.

There are many easy to use frameworks (jQuery, Bottstrap etc.) But if you can learn JS & CSS on the way, it would pay off.

 

[Fox Mulder89]

bump

 

[mr90486]

There are many easy to use frameworks (jQuery, Bottstrap etc.) But if you can learn JS & CSS on the way, it would pay off.

Yea, got to try it. Thanks bro

 

[Unclesam]

Learn some PHP frameworks and cms systems. Drupal, Codeigniter,laveral ,wordpress,magento,zend etc

But I think PHP is just not enough for your whole life. My advise is start learn other languages too. Java,Python,Ruby on rails, etc.

 

[speedmalli]

you can get a trainee job with your level of knowlage, without css and javascript php has very little value. you have to work with 3 combined.. not that difficult

 

[DJvodka]

1. 15k and upwards in SL. might as well go up to 6 figures. But that requires good engineering skills.

2. Nope. Not even a bit.

3. It's not required to have a degree for web developing. But if they see you have a potential to grow they will force you to do one.

4. Don't you ever frigging give up First of all you gotta get rid of that shit attitude and start fresh. If you want it, go get it. Nobody is stopping you. It's all up to u.

 

[Ayeshlive]

1. The average starting salary for a new(entry level) PHP Developer. How much of increments a developer can get year by year?

Salary, IMHO is shitty at start but you will get increments once or twice each year, and that's way more than government increments. If you work hard, the increment would be 20,000 LKR.

2. I am currently 28, will that be a problem to get into the industry?

Kinda. Many companies want you to work hard in irregular times. Not until 5.30, but it can be worse as mid-night. But that will pay off and usually comes with extra perks. If you are married, or about to get married soon, they can't assign you to those tasks

3. I don't have an IT degree but I can code stuff. I am good with php. However I am not really good with javascript, and html/css designs. I understand everything but to become really good at that I need to have more time. But with my age I don't have much time to spend at home. I can utilize every technology to the good effect. Your ideas on this?

Don't be framed to PHP. How are you familiar with PHP5/OOP stuff? Can you nail down a ZEND certificate, have rep on stackoverflow.com, open source projects, etc?
A degree is not the sole criteria to land a job. Someone with several hundred commits in a famous PHP framework can land a job easily than some dumb guy who did an IT degree and has no experience in real world programming whatsoever. Try to complete a degree part time.

4. Should I give up on this? Is this worth trying at the age of 28? I have no other option. This is what I can do. But I suspect is this worth trying. I am trying to develop a portfolio but it takes so much time. I have started several projects but not even one has finished. I can't see an end of this at the moment. Really frustrated. Please advice is this worth trying?

Trust me machan this is a well-funded field, and as long as you are honest, hardworking, a willing to learn, you'll be very happy you chose this path. I started my career when I'm 18, and I made my first 6-figure monthly income when I'm 20 (I'm 22 now). Age does not matter. Despite a real job, try to develop your online reputation. Create a site for yourself, lean new stuff, contribute to projects you love, help others, and do whatever it takes to increase your reputation. You will face some social issues that everybody thinks you are a poor jerk. Your family won't understand what on the earth you are doing to earn that much. You'll have hard times explaining the job to parents of your SO, but all it matters is how much happy you are.
Good luck!

 

[Kasun_K]

1. 15k and upwards in SL. might as well go up to 6 figures. But that requires good engineering skills.

2. Nope. Not even a bit.

3. It's not required to have a degree for web developing. But if they see you have a potential to grow they will force you to do one.

4. Don't you ever frigging give up First of all you gotta get rid of that shit attitude and start fresh. If you want it, go get it. Nobody is stopping you. It's all up to u.

All are correct except number (3).Who says for web developing no need a degree?Unlike before nowadays PHP uses not only to develop websites.PHP uses for web systems also.Some cloud systems too.So it's better to have a IT/CS degree to understand the programming and networking concepts.

 

[s.shehan]

your best option is doing freelancing. You dont have to be good at js and css to do that. Just use the tools which do the styling and basic js for you. Such as bootstrap or zurb foundation. If you need any help inbox me I will try to help as I could.

 

[mr90486]

Learn some PHP frameworks and cms systems. Drupal, Codeigniter,laveral ,wordpress,magento,zend etc

But I think PHP is just not enough for your whole life. My advise is start learn other languages too. Java,Python,Ruby on rails, etc.

you can get a trainee job with your level of knowlage, without css and javascript php has very little value. you have to work with 3 combined.. not that difficult

bump

All are correct except number (3).Who says for web developing no need a degree?Unlike before nowadays PHP uses not only to develop websites.PHP uses for web systems also.Some cloud systems too.So it's better to have a IT/CS degree to understand the programming and networking concepts.

your best option is doing freelancing. You dont have to be good at js and css to do that. Just use the tools which do the styling and basic js for you. Such as bootstrap or zurb foundation. If you need any help inbox me I will try to help as I could.

Thank you so much guys.