Salesforce Admin Vs. Developer – Which one to choose?

Are you thinking of switching your career to Salesforce and are in a dilemma about which path to choose? Salesforce is one of the best CRM platforms available currently that can be leveraged to make use of the customer data well with instances of growing data generation. The market shares of the platform grew over the past years, and the company accelerated its revenue compared to the other CRM vendors. 

This game-changing technology with an extensive list of productivity-boosting features, no doubt, will help you work smarter and faster on whichever path you choose. An intense passion for the Salesforce platform is considered the fundamental prerequisite to entering the world of Salesforce. Now, let’s check out how we could choose between Salesforce Admin and Salesforce Developer.

Which Path Should I Choose – Salesforce Administrator or Salesforce Developer?

It highly depends upon the aspirant on which path to choose, as everyone’s niche is different. 

Admin responsibilities include managing releases into production and carrying out minor declarative changes. The developer’s responsibilities typically involve building functionality using Apex/Visualforce in a sandbox, and handing it over to the admin to manage the deployment schedule.

Basically, the admins act as mediators between business and technology. Moreover, administrators are more likely to interact with customers on a more frequent basis. Developers usually have prior experience with another coding language or will have the ability to learn one. While they interact with business users and stakeholders, they work in the background, collaborating more with the Administrator.

Now, we will check out in detail what each career entails.

Salesforce Admin

A Salesforce Administrator is one who is a specialist in business operations. They collaborate closely with business stakeholders to learn about and understand current procedures, as well as gather requirements for new ones and should be able to take those process requirements forward and implement them in Salesforce successfully.

They tailor the platform’s capabilities to the needs of its customers. Their chief role is to get the things tracked correspondingly for the uplift of the organisation.

The core responsibilities of Salesforce Admin include securing the data and protecting the users’ privacy. They also need to generate reports and dashboards on business to achieve targets.

Moreover, if any problem arises, a Salesforce admin is the first person to be approached for solutions. All the other sectors of the platform learn how to effectively and fruitfully utilize the various tools from the admins.

Because of the critical role that Salesforce Administrators play in assisting companies in achieving their objectives using Salesforce, demand for certified experts is on the rise. The essential skills needed for Salesforce Admins also increase their demand. The demand increases, and so does the pay scale. 

By starting your career as a Salesforce Admin, you can easily switch to other roles such as developers, architects, and so on. Even if you are interested in pursuing a career as a Salesforce Developer, it is still advised to take up the Salesforce Administration first and then move on.   

Salesforce Developer

Although Salesforce can be learned by anyone passionate about this profile, Salesforce Developers need some technical knowledge and some previous knowledge of coding. Knowing Java is beneficial because Salesforce’s coding language, Apex, is loosely based on it. You’ll also need to know MySQL, as Salesforce queries are written in SOQL, loosely based on MySQL. You’ll also need to work on Visualforce, which is primarily based on HTML and CSS, in addition to Apex, followed by Lightning and Lightning Web Components at a later stage.

A Salesforce developer is a person who operates and executes the Salesforce platform or other organizations. Salesforce developer is basically a job position under Salesforce. As the name suggests, they look after the development side of the organization.

Chiefly, they design and implement new plans to execute services successfully to improve the business. They build good customer relationship management. They facilitate technologies to implement the successful running of the organization.

A Salesforce Developer’s day-to-day work is highly technical, but the profile entails more than just programming. Salesforce Developers must work closely with sales, customer service, and marketing colleagues to transform company needs into useful Salesforce tools. Salesforce developers are also in charge of quality assurance, testing, debugging, and generating user documentation once a solution has been developed.

There’s no need to say that the demand for Certified Salesforce Developers is ever-increasing. According to Mason Frank’s study, 67% of Salesforce Developers are satisfied with their job, and 64% of Salesforce Developers are happy with their salary. 

Do you still have a dilemma about which one to opt for? Scroll down.

Salesforce Admin Vs. Salesforce Developer

1. Salesforce Admin is the expert at customizing the platform to meet the company’s objectives. They literally manage everything to deliver an error-free project to the client. At the same time, Salesforce Developers take care of the technical side of an organization.
2. Salesforce Admin plays as the problem solver, whereas Salesforce Developer gets a chance to work with the best technology and develop customer-facing interfaces. 
3. According to Mason Frank’s recent study on Salesforce career trends, the average salary range of Salesforce Administrators in the US is 90,000 – 111,500 US Dollars for Juniors and 111,500 – 144,500 US Dollars for Seniors, whereas the annual salary range of Salesforce Developers in the US is 99,250 – 126,750 for Juniors and 126,750 – 174,500 for seniors. Refer to Salesforce Salary Guide for more details. 
4. Both the Salesforce Admin and Salesforce Developer profile promises a secure future with a steady growth of income with updated certifications and experience. 
5. Salesforce Admin certification can be pursued without any prerequisites. In contrast, Salesforce Developer certification needs some requirements to commence with.

To Sum Up

The advent of technology demands the intervention of highly skilled and qualified people. The positions of admins and developers are different, and their roles and responsibilities are also varied. But the jobs of admins and developers are intertwined, and they remain pillars of each other.

However, which career path to choose solely depends upon your skill set and interests. And no need to worry as both positions open immense job openings every year with a good pay scale. Increase your potential and marketability by securing a Salesforce Certificate according to your niche.

Do check out our Salesforce certification courses. We are here to give you practical exposure with the help of our best gurus.

Keep updating yourself with the latest changes and updates of the Salesforce platform by signing up with saasguru. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the career opportunities for Salesforce Admins?

Salesforce Administrators can pursue a range of career opportunities, such as:

1. Salesforce Administrator: Manage and oversee Salesforce instances, including user administration, data upkeep, and security.
2. Business Analyst: Make business decisions using insights and suggestions from Salesforce data.
3. Salesforce Consultant: Advise organisations on optimising their use of Salesforce to meet business needs and goals.
4. Salesforce Project Manager: Oversee Salesforce development and implementation projects to ensure prompt and affordable delivery.
5. Sales Operations Manager: Leverage Salesforce to enhance sales processes, strategies, and operations.

2. What are the career opportunities for Salesforce Developers?

Salesforce Developers can consider opportunities including:

1. Salesforce Developer: Develop customised solutions within the platform to support business functions and project needs.
2. Salesforce Architect: Design robust Salesforce solutions, ensuring scalability, security, and optimal performance.
3. Salesforce Technical Lead: Manage the development team and oversee technical aspects of Salesforce projects.
4. Salesforce Consultant: Provide technical expertise and solutions to meet the specific needs of clients using Salesforce.
5. Application Developer: Create applications using Salesforce’s development tools and platforms like Force.com.

3. Which Salesforce role is right for me?

Consider your interests, abilities, and professional ambitions to choose the best Salesforce role for you. A Salesforce Admin role may be suitable if you enjoy problem-solving, analysing business processes, and interacting with users. If you have a strong technical background and enjoy coding and developing solutions, a Salesforce Developer role might be more appropriate.

4. How do I get a job as a Salesforce Admin?

1. Educational Background: Start by acquiring relevant academic qualifications, ideally in IT, Business, or related fields.
2. Salesforce Certification: Obtain Salesforce Administrator certification to validate your knowledge and skills.
3. Build Experience: Gain experience through internships, volunteering, or working in entry-level positions related to CRM systems.
4. Networking: Through Salesforce events, user groups, or online communities, make contact with industry experts.
5. Apply for Jobs: Look for Salesforce Admin job opportunities on job boards and company websites and submit tailored resumes and cover letters.

5. How do I get a job as a Salesforce Developer?

1. Acquire Technical Skills: Learn programming languages like Apex and Visualforce and understand Salesforce development tools and best practices.
2. Obtain Certification: Consider obtaining Salesforce Developer certifications to enhance your credibility.
3. Build a Portfolio: To showcase your abilities, create sample projects or contribute to open-source initiatives.
4. Networking: Engage with the Salesforce developer community through forums, social media, and events to learn and connect with potential employers.
5. Apply Strategically: Target job openings that match your skills and experiences, and prepare thoroughly for interviews by showcasing your technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities.