Salesforce developer: what they do, salary and how to become one

Salesforce Cloud is one of the leading CRM platforms in the market, which intensifies demand for Salesforce developers to meet company needs.

The platform has a strong capacity to integrate different areas of the business, including marketing, sales, and customer service, among others, making the tool essential for companies of different sizes.

With digitalisation and demand for personalised solutions, the Salesforce developer's role is increasingly in demand and valued. In this article, you will discover what a Salesforce developer does, the required skills, how to stand out in the market, and why this specialist is important to a business's success. Keep reading!

What does a Salesforce developer do?

A Salesforce developer integrates, optimises and customises the platform to each company's needs. Their main responsibilities include developing Salesforce features and applications to improve user experience and increase process efficiency.

The developer works on creating and customizing automated workflows, as well as intuitive user interfaces. This is done through Apex, a proprietary Salesforce programming language similar to Java, which allows programmers to add business logic to system events.

Another Salesforce developer responsibility is integrating with other platforms used by the company, such as ERPs, sales systems, marketing, among others, contributing to centralised, fluid data flow.

As important as the other functions, data migration is also the Salesforce developer's responsibility, and they must ensure the safe and efficient transfer of information.

Salesforce developer salaries

According to Glassdoor, a Salesforce developer's salary in Brazil is R$5,215 per month, although it can reach R$15,000 or more depending on seniority level.

Besides experience, professional certifications and location also affect earnings. In the US, for example, a professional can earn up to US$85,900 per year, according to Trailhead.

In Portugal, meanwhile, the average monthly earnings is €1,525, approximately R$8,511.

Demand for qualified professionals in the field is growing and the Salesforce developer career is highly promising. This is shown by a report from the consultancy IDC, which estimates that there will be creation of 9.3 million new jobs and generation of US$1.6 trillion in new revenue business opportunities in the Salesforce ecosystem by 2026.

What do you need to become a Salesforce specialist?

A Salesforce specialist must combine several technical skills, soft skills and certifications, as well as a deep knowledge of management platform. Below are some of the key areas of expertise this professional needs to have.

Hands-on experience and in-depth Salesforce knowledge

The first step is mastering the tools, features, and programming languages used in Salesforce development. Some of them are:

• Apex;

• VisualForce;

• Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL);

• Lightning Web Components.

In addition, practical experience and work on real projects requiring integration, automation, and customisation are also necessary.

Certification

Another important stage in becoming a Salesforce developer is obtaining platform-recognised certifications. They enable further specialisation and career advancement, opening opportunities in the ecosystem at companies around the world.

Salesforce has more than 40 certifications related to different roles such as consulting, marketing, administration, and more. For programmers, some available certifications are Platform Developer, JavaScript Developer, Salesforce Accredited B2B Commerce Developer, Marketing Cloud Developer, among others.

Obtaining certifications requires dedication, good command of English, and excellent analytical thinking. Previous experience and familiarity with the field are also welcome.

A Salesforce offers its own learning platform, Trailhead, which is free and ideal for exploring all learning possibilities.

Familiarity with tools and technologies

In addition to certification and hands-on experience, it is necessary to stay current with the technology world in order to identify the main trends and tools that can be incorporated into Salesforce development.

A solid grounding in agile methodologies is essential in Salesforce implementation. After all, in a globalised and competitive world, providing accurate answers, making processes more efficient, and generating more customer value are essential.

A specialist developer uses tools such as Salesforce Dev Hub to create agile, collaborative development environments, integrating code and testing features in temporary organisations, making it easier to deploy and manage Salesforce solutions.

Familiarity with Slack and Tableau is also important, as these tools are widely used in technology companies and will be part of your routine as a Salesforce developer.

Some soft skills

No less important than technical skills are interpersonal capabilities. They are an important differentiator when companies need to choose a candidate.

Being a Salesforce specialist primarily requires analytical ability. This skill ensures the capacity to identify and solve problems efficiently, which in turn ensures the platform works well.

Likewise, it is important to have strategic thinking, a broad view of the company's objectives, and the ability to propose solutions that add value to the business, as well as good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team, interacting with different areas and proposing technical solutions.

Skills gained on Trailhead

As we have already mentioned, Trailhead is Salesforce's free online learning platform, where professionals interested in improving their skills and qualifications can access modules and learning trails.

With Trailhead, developers not only learn platform fundamentals through introductory concepts of navigation, administration and customisation. They also develop dynamic, intuitive user interfaces using Visualforce and Lightning Web Components.

Learn to create custom applications and integrate with external systems, as well as configure Salesforce Cloud to meet specific business needs and achieve a more efficient Salesforce implementation.

What distinguishes a regular programmer from a Salesforce developer?

The main difference between a regular programmer and a Salesforce developer is their level of specialisation. While a generalist programmer works broadly with programming languages and software development, a Salesforce developer is a specialist in the platform and its specific demands.

They have deep knowledge of the tools and features, recognised certifications that demonstrate platform expertise, and the ability to implement solutions that make the most of available resources.

There is, of course, no prohibition against a Salesforce developer also knowing additional languages such as C++, Python, and JavaScript. However, the major difference is expertise in Salesforce requirements.

How does this professional help with your company's Salesforce implementation?

The Salesforce developer will work alongside other specialists and Salesforce consultants to understand the business and create an implementation plan based on company needs.

In addition to customizing the platform, they are responsible for systems integration, data migration, and application development, ensuring support so teams can use every resource effectively.

A WeeNow, has a team of Salesforce specialists with more than 13 certifications across platform areas such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, application development, data administration, and integration.

Our goal is to help your company get the most from Salesforce, driving business results and providing valuable experiences for customers. If you are seeking a reliable partner to implement, customise or optimise Salesforce, contact us and discover how we can help you.