Web development is a vast field and developers can choose from various programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and other technologies. Usually, they can pair one language with various frameworks and libraries in the same tech stack. For example, JavaScript has numerous resources including Angular, Apache Royale, Backbone.js, jQuery, Node.js, React, and Vue.js, just to name a few. Python’s most popular framework is Django, but it’s also paired together with Pyramid, Web2py, or Flask. Ruby is special because it is rarely used without its most popular framework: Rails. In fact, the Rails framework drives Ruby long-term and while hiring Ruby developers it’s essential to verify their Rails skills. Let us take a closer look at Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and how both of these skills affect the Ruby on Rails developer salary.
In this article, we’re going to cover the following topics:
- What is Ruby? What is Ruby on Rails?
- Ruby on Rails Salary
- Junior Ruby on Rails Salary
- Other factors that affect a Ruby on Rails developer salary
What is Ruby?
Ruby is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language, developed in Japan and released in 1995. Its designer, Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto, wanted a genuine object-oriented, easy-to-use scripting language and decided to create it himself, failing to find what he was looking for in Perl and Python. He said that the primary purpose of Ruby is to make programmers enjoy their work, be productive, and happy.
What is Ruby on Rails?
Rails is a server-side web application framework written in Ruby under the MIT License. It emerged a few years later, in the early 2000s’ and it has greatly influenced web app development by introducing modern and innovative features and now widely-used patterns such as Convention over Configuration or Don’t repeat yourself.
Ruby on Rails developers, similarly to other web developers, perform daily tasks involving designing, writing, testing, and debugging code in Ruby on Rails. They create web applications from scratch or maintain and update existing ones.
Ruby had quite a rocky ride. According to the TIOBE Index, it started gradually getting back to the mainstream in 2018 but has dropped again in 2019 and 2020.
Source: TIOBE
That said, RoR developers are still in demand. Many big and well-known web services, such as Basecamp, Zendesk, Airbnb, Shopify, Hulu, and GitHub have been built in RoR. It’s also widely taught in computer science faculties, boot camps, and free workshops organized by its community, like Rails Girls. Its popularity is reflected in a Ruby on Rails salary.
Ruby Developer Salary
On average, a Ruby on Rails developer salary is similar compared to salaries for other web development technologies, such as with Python or JavaScript. It’s visibly higher than an average front-end developer salary, which, according to PayScale, stands at $69,411 per year.
According to PayScale, a Ruby on Rails salary equals $79,789 per year.
Another popular job & recruiting site, Glassdoor, shows that Ruby on Rails developers earn slightly more, $93,987 per year.
Indeed usually shows higher salaries than both PayScale and Glassdoor. Ruby on Rails developer salaries are no exception. According to this service, the average salary amounts to $119,689 per year. 
Junior Ruby on Rails Salary
As we’ve already mentioned, Ruby on Rails is often a subject taught on boot camps, free or affordable workshops, and even online courses. It has a highly engaged community that prepares free tutorials and other learning materials. Ruby is also considered as a programming language that is easy to learn, even for people with no technical background. It has an impact on a junior Ruby on Rails salary which is visibly lower than the average.
According to PayScale, a junior Ruby on Rails salary stands at $59,655 per year.
Glassdoor, similarly to the average salary, provides a higher amount of $77,337 per year.
Based on data provided by PayScale, it’s clear that a Ruby on Rails developer salary significantly grows with the professional experience.
Other factors that affect a Ruby on Rails developer salary
It shouldn’t be surprising that, apart from experience, the knowledge of the Ruby on Rails framework is the most significant factor in estimating a Ruby developer salary. It’s clear on PayScale which shows 2 average salaries: one of a Ruby developer and the other of a Ruby on Rails developer. The first one earns, on average, $76,616 per year, the latter – $79,789 per year. Among the other skills that influence a Ruby on Rails developer salary, the following are the most common:
- An understanding of web markup, including HTML and CSS
- Familiarity with MySQL and PostgreSQL databases
- Familiarity with other popular web development programming languages, such as JavaScript and its most popular framework
- The knowledge of the most significant concepts of OOP in Ruby, for example, classes, objects, inheritance vs composition, blocks vs procs vs lambdas, etc
- The knowledge of MVC paradigm
- Familiarity with API as a concept and JSON as a format
- Ability to work in a team and good communication skills
Ruby on Rails is still very popular among web developers around the world. Because it’s open-source and has a dedicated community eager to help each other and train new developers, RoR is relatively easy to learn. This, in turn, has an impact on an average salary. That’s why it’s so important to screen Ruby on Rails developer skills before making a final choice.
Before you go
We also have other great resources devoted to a software developer salary, such as:
