How To Become A Front End Lead: What It Is and Career Path

What is a front end lead and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The Front End Lead is a computer programming specialist who generally works in website design, tasked with creating a useful and aesthetically pleasing design to the eye and can be used across devices and platforms.

Naturally, the Lead must determine the specifics of the website, such as its structures, design, goals, and various pages and parts, all of which must work in tandem with the company, its policies, wishes, and its general look and public image. They also update designs as necessary, add features or remove bugs, and generally work towards a flawless website, no matter which device or platform the consumer accesses it through.

A person hoping to work as a Front End Lead generally must have a degree in Computer Science or Information Technology, or a closely related field, and must have proficiency in various programming languages, such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. An understanding and knowledge of different things, such as graphic design software, SEO, or interactive design, are typically also a must.

ScoreFront End LeadUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,664

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.0

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 5.94%

Black or African American 9.44%

Hispanic or Latino 17.92%

Unknown 4.84%

White 61.19%

Gender

female 68.34%

male 31.66%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress Level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a front end lead

Explore front end lead education requirements

Most common front end lead degrees

Bachelor's

38.7 %

High School Diploma

27.1 %

Associate

22.2 %

Start to develop specific front end lead skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	19.84%
Math	9.19%
Checkout	7.76%
Basic Math	6.63%
Cash Management	5.22%

Complete relevant front end lead training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New front end leads learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a front end lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real front end lead resumes.

Research front end lead duties and responsibilities

Prioritize, delegate and accomplish multiple projects, as well as the ability to troubleshoot and resolve common problems.
Translate delivered Photoshop files into HTML, CSS and Javascript code.
Sell MN and WI DNR licenses.
Update and maintain HTML content.

Get front end lead experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a front end lead. The most common roles before becoming a front end lead include cashier, sales associate team lead and customer service representative.

Prepare your front end lead resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your front end lead resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a front end lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Front End Lead Resume templates

Build a professional Front End Lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Front End Lead resume.

Apply for front end lead jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a front end lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do front end leads rate their job?