Frontend developer wanted
Since I’ve worked as a frontender/web dude in a few countries now in the last few years I thought I’d impart my, albeit limited, knowledge on the current state of the market for us webbies in the cities I know more or less something about. As you are probably aware, things are better in some places than in others and I’m not just talking about the remuneration: the cost of living and the environment are all factors that will determine where you end up.
But if you’ve got good Frontend skills (XHTML, CSS, JS, design and let’s say some scripting) and few year’s of experience under your belt, here is what could await you in the following places …
London, England
London in swinging so hard that it makes you dizzy. It seems as if there is an unlimited supply of jobs and there are 1000s of talented folk working in the industry. All the big players are in London and if you get your foot into the right door, then I guess anything is possible. It’s true that the size of the city and its awful weather can suck the soul out of you however if you’re here to get ahead in your career, you’ve made a good move. Every morning my inbox heralds an upcoming web event, most of them merely a bunch of geeks getting together for a discussion in a central London pub, but of course there is every else you could want.
Salaries
£35,000 is a good and very obtainable starting wage in London. From what I’ve seen I’d say that it’s the average if you work for a decent company. You may command more if you have good ActionScript skills or spray the right amount of bullshit. Still, as you’re probably aware, it’s painfully expensive to live in London. The pound is decreasing in value against all major currencies excluding the US dollar at the moment so I think they should switch to the Euro now, but don’t tell any English people that.
Cost of living
London is one huge cash cow. Money is always on your mind because it’s only thing that’s keeping you here. A weekly tube ticket has just risen to £24.50. Rent is also absurdly expensive: depending on your location and the condition of the premises, you can be sharing with five people and still be paying £200 a week. Nevertheless, between £120 and £150 per week should get you something decent in Zone 2. A pint of beer will on average be around £3. For food, I shop at the markets so my bills are much less that if I were to pop into Tescos everyday but I would hazard an estimation of around £50 a week.
Lifestyle
Living in London itself is a whole lotta fun and the possibilities to entertain yourself are endless. But the lack of sunshine (the sun sets at around 3:30pm in winter) and the cold can really bring you down. The upside is that Europe is on your doorstep and you can fly to just about anywhere for decent prices.
Visa hassles
Having an EU passport really helps however the United Kingdom does have working visa arrangements with many countries. Obtaining a skilled migrant’s visa is also possible if you have a good lawyer and about £1,500.
Sydney, Australia
Australia’s economy is on the move and there are more opportunities, particularly in cities like Sydney or Melbourne, every day. The web industry is fairly progressive for a country of its size and in Sydney there are always great events and conferences for professionals to attend.
It’s my experience that Sydney is catching up and surpassing the scales of pay in London. Coupled with the lower cost of living (although Sydney is getting very expensive) and you’ll have plenty of beer money left over at the end of the month.
Salaries
The lack of good developers in Australia coupled with current high rates of inflation and value of the Australian Dollar means that you’ll be paid very well with the right company. It’s possible to earn in excess of $80,000.
Cost of living
For a nice room near the beach, be prepared to pay up to $250 a week, but you can get much lower in the suburbs and in some places on the North Shore, which is still close to the city. A weekly bus/train/ferry ticket will set you back $34. If you live by yourself and eat modestly put aside about $100 for food. A schooner (425mls) of beer normally costs around $4 in the city. Petrol is still a great deal cheaper than in Europe too.
Lifestyle in general
Of course I am biased, however living on the coast anywhere in Australia is as close to paradise as you can get (barring the Gold Coast) and Sydney is no exception. Whoever thought of placing a bustling metropolis on a lush beach and pristine harbour deserves a jug of cold Coopers Ale. The weather is great just about all year and people love to be outside playing sport and drinking at the pub. Woohoo! There are downsides: because of its low population and isolation Australia lacks the richness of culture that you’ll find in Europe and it is expensive to travel abroad.
Visa hassles
If you don’t have an Australian or Kiwi passport, or a suitable work visa, be prepared for the immigration nightmare from hell. The Australian government is notorious for its plethora of entry requirements however, the intake of migrants is increasing every year so if you’ve got the skills and experience, the market is there and there is a good chance that might get in.
Barcelona, Spain
Spain is growing out of control and is already the world’s 8th largest economy. No one thought to mention this to employers however who still pay some of the worst wages in Europe. Nevertheless, compared to places like London and even Sydney, a city like Barcelona is a cheap place to live and the weather and the food is excellent. The web industry is still in its infancy although people are starting to wake up in Spain to web standards and there are now many boutique agencies doing great work. There are many design conferences in Barcelona but not many web standards activities … yet.
Salaries
Do not come to Spain in search of fortune. It won’t happen. An annual wage of €30,000 is considered excellent in Spain and although the Euro is strong it’s not enough if you like to travel a lot. Many people don’t bring home much more than €1,200 a month. If you get more then you’ll probably have scored a job with a foreign company that knows better. The worst thing is that the costs of living in Barcelona are rising, but the salaries are not. The Spanish word that comes to my mind is “tacaños” (tightarses).
Cost of living
Barcelona is getting expensive but it’s still relatively cheap. If you’re sharing a place, expect to pay between €350 and €400 a month. My weekly food bills never exceeded €50 because I always bought fresh produce from the markets. Beers are cheap too which I’m sure will make you happy: tap beer in most places will only cost you €2.
Lifestyle
If you like to party then you’re in for a treat. Barcelona is an international and creative city where you’ll meet people from everywhere doing just about everything. There is a load of public holidays in Spain, it’s on the Mediterranean, the slopes of Andorra two hours away and there are more bars and restaurants than you can poke a chorizo at. Furthermore, the street/beach parties in Barcelona are the best I’ve ever been to. What are you waiting for amigo?! 
Visa hassles
Once again, having an EU passport is a tremendous help. I don’t know of any reciprocal working programs and I met tons of Americans and some Kiwis living on the black market so I can only wish you the best of luck. Spanish bureaucracy can be slow and frustrating too. I met a Venezuelan girl who married her gay friend who was Spanish just to enter the country. Hey, if you’re open minded …
So?
Don’t take the salary figures I’ve quoted at face value. Although I’m not guessing - they are in the range from what I’ve seen when job hunting and are backed up by anecdotal evidence from friends - wage variables will differ in each situation. Proper research will give you an indication of what you should be demanding.
This is not a large list to be sure. But I’d be interested in hearing about the market/lifestyle in your country or city. I’m really keen to learn what’s going down in New Zealand, South America or other parts of Asia.