For years, the question, "Is SharePoint dead?" has echoed in tech corridors. For any CTO or CIO overseeing a significant investment in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the answer is a resounding, strategic no.
SharePoint hasn't died; it has undergone a profound evolution. It is no longer the clunky, on-premise intranet of the past, but the foundational Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and collaboration layer for the entire Microsoft 365 suite.
The demand for SharePoint developers is not only strong but is also shifting, specializing, and becoming more critical than ever.
This article provides a definitive, strategic analysis of the modern SharePoint developer demand, the essential skills required, and the optimal staffing models for securing this high-value talent.
Understanding this shift is the difference between maximizing your Microsoft 365 ROI and letting a multi-million dollar investment languish.
Key Takeaways: SharePoint Developer Demand
- Demand is High and Evolving: The need for SharePoint developers remains strong, but the focus has entirely shifted from legacy on-premise management to modern, cloud-based development using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) and the Power Platform.
- The M365 Backbone: SharePoint Online is the core content engine for Microsoft Teams, Viva Connections, and OneDrive. Developers are essential for customizing, automating, and integrating these services to drive true digital transformation.
- AI is the New Imperative: The integration of Microsoft Copilot and Azure AI services is creating a critical new demand for developers who can structure SharePoint data and build custom AI-ready solutions via SPFx and the Microsoft Graph.
- Strategic Staffing is Key: Due to the scarcity and high cost of specialized, modern SharePoint talent in the USA and EU, a staff augmentation model with CMMI Level 5 certified experts is the most scalable and risk-mitigated solution.
The Great Shift: Why Modern SharePoint is Central to Enterprise Strategy
To assess the current What Is Microsoft Sharepoint And What Is It Used For, you must first acknowledge its transformation.
SharePoint is no longer a standalone product; it is a core service within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This integration is the primary driver of the enduring SharePoint developer demand.
For enterprise organizations, SharePoint Online provides the necessary governance, security, and scalability for mission-critical functions like document management, internal communications (intranets), and custom business process automation.
The platform's persistence is a direct result of its deep integration, making it the de facto content engine for the modern digital workplace.
The SharePoint-M365 Integration Matrix 💡
A modern SharePoint developer is, in effect, a Microsoft 365 developer. Their value is derived from their ability to connect SharePoint to the broader suite, unlocking exponential ROI for the organization.
This is why the demand for this specialized talent is so high.
| M365 Component | SharePoint's Role | Developer Task |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | File Storage & Content Services Layer | Customizing Teams Tabs with SPFx Web Parts, integrating document libraries. |
| Power Platform | Data Source & Automation Engine | Building Power Apps that read/write to SharePoint Lists; creating Power Automate workflows for document approval. |
| Viva Connections | Intranet & Employee Experience Hub | Developing Adaptive Card Extensions (ACEs) using SPFx for a unified dashboard. |
| Azure | Identity, Security, & Compute | Integrating Azure Functions for complex business logic; leveraging Azure AD for secure access. |
According to Developers.dev research, organizations that fully integrate SharePoint with their M365 suite see an average 25% reduction in time spent searching for documents, directly impacting operational efficiency.
The Evolving Skillset: What Defines a High-Demand SharePoint Developer?
The days of C# server-side development and farm solutions are largely over. The modern SharePoint developer must possess a client-side, cloud-first skillset.
This shift has created a significant talent gap, making developers with the right mix of skills a scarce commodity.
For a detailed breakdown of the required competencies, you can explore What Skills Sharepoint Developers Should Have.
The core of the modern skillset revolves around three pillars:
1. SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Mastery ✅
SPFx is Microsoft's strategic, unified development model for building custom, responsive, and secure experiences across the M365 ecosystem.
As Microsoft officially retires older models like SharePoint Add-ins by April 2026, SPFx is not optional; it is essential.
- Core Technologies: TypeScript, React/Angular/Vue.js, Node.js, Webpack.
- Value Proposition: Enables the creation of a single component that can be deployed as a SharePoint Web Part, a Teams Tab, or a Viva Connections Adaptive Card Extension, ensuring a consistent user experience.
2. Power Platform Integration 🚀
The ability to integrate SharePoint with the Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI) is a non-negotiable skill.
This allows developers to move beyond simple document management to build powerful, low-code/pro-code business applications.
3. The AI & Microsoft Copilot Imperative ðŸ§
The introduction of Microsoft Copilot fundamentally redefines the developer's role. The new demand is for developers who can:
- Build AI-Ready Content: Structure SharePoint data and apply rich metadata in ways that make it easily discoverable and usable by AI tools like Copilot.
- Extend Copilot: Use Copilot Studio and the Microsoft Graph API to create plugins that allow the AI to interact with proprietary line-of-business systems through SharePoint.
Is your enterprise SharePoint strategy ready for the AI era?
The gap between basic M365 usage and an AI-augmented, custom-built digital workplace is widening. It's time to bridge it.
Secure vetted, Microsoft-certified SharePoint developers with expertise in SPFx, Power Platform, and Copilot integration.
Request a Free ConsultationQuantifying the Demand: Market Data and Strategic Staffing Challenges
The high demand for specialized SharePoint Online developers is reflected in market compensation and the difficulty of finding local talent in markets like the USA, EU, and Australia.
The projected job growth rate for SharePoint developers is a healthy 13% from 2018 to 2028, indicating sustained long-term demand.
US SharePoint Developer Salary Benchmarks (2025)
The high cost of securing top-tier, local talent is a major pain point for CIOs. The average annual salary for a skilled SharePoint Developer in the US is approximately $113,185 to $123,113, with top earners (90th percentile) reaching up to $149,000 or more, especially for those with expertise in architecture and Power Platform integration.
The Strategic Staffing Imperative 🎯
For a Strategic or Enterprise-tier client, the cost and time-to-hire for this specialized talent can severely impact project timelines and budgets.
This is where a strategic staff augmentation partner becomes essential. The key benefits of outsourcing SharePoint development are clear: access to a deep pool of pre-vetted experts at a competitive cost, without compromising on quality or security.
Why Traditional Hiring Fails for Modern SharePoint Projects:
- Skill Scarcity: The specific combination of SPFx, Power Platform, and Azure skills is rare in the general market.
- High Cost: Local US/EU salaries create budget strain for large-scale, multi-year projects.
- Slow Time-to-Hire: Enterprise procurement can take months, while project needs are immediate.
To mitigate these risks, organizations should look to a partner that offers a dedicated, in-house talent model. Developers.dev research indicates that projects utilizing a dedicated Hire Sharepoint Developers POD achieve a 20% faster time-to-market compared to ad-hoc staffing models, while realizing significant cost savings.
Risk-Mitigated Outsourcing: Securing Your SharePoint Expertise
For our target readers-CTOs, CIOs, and VPs of IT-the decision to outsource is a strategic one, not just a cost-cutting measure.
It's about securing expertise quickly and with minimal risk. When considering Key Benefits Of Outsourcing Sharepoint Development, focus on the vendor's process maturity and commitment to security.
The Developers.dev Assurance Framework:
As a Microsoft Gold Partner with CMMI Level 5 and SOC 2 certifications, Developers.dev addresses the core objections of enterprise buyers:
- Vetted, Expert Talent: Our 100% in-house, on-roll developers are led by Microsoft Certified Solutions Experts (like Atul K., Nagesh N., and Yogesh R.), ensuring deep platform knowledge.
- Financial Peace of Mind: We offer a 2 week trial (paid) and a Free-replacement of any non-performing professional with zero cost knowledge transfer.
- Security & IP Protection: Our processes are governed by ISO 27001 standards, and we guarantee White Label services with Full IP Transfer post-payment, eliminating ownership concerns.
The relationship between How Sharepoint Online And Office 365 Are Related means that your development partner must be an expert in the entire M365 security and compliance landscape, not just a single application.
2026 Update: Future-Proofing Your SharePoint Strategy
As we look beyond the current year, the demand for SharePoint developers will only intensify, driven by two major forces: AI integration and platform consolidation.
- AI-Driven Workflows: Developers will be tasked with integrating Microsoft Copilot into custom business processes, using SharePoint as the secure, structured data source. This requires a shift from simply building web parts to engineering data for AI consumption.
- SPFx Consolidation: With the retirement of legacy models, the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) will become the undisputed standard for M365 customization, making SPFx expertise the single most valuable skill in this domain.
- Evergreen Strategy: The core value proposition of SharePoint-secure, scalable Enterprise Content Management-is an evergreen business need. As long as organizations rely on Microsoft 365 for collaboration, the need for expert developers to customize and integrate this platform will remain a strategic priority.
Conclusion: The Verdict is In-Demand is Stronger and Smarter
The debate over the relevance of SharePoint is over. SharePoint developers are unequivocally in demand, but the profile has changed.
The market is not seeking the administrators of the past; it is seeking a new breed of cloud-focused software engineer who can transform the SharePoint platform into a hub for custom applications, intelligent automation, and AI-powered insights. They are the key to unlocking the full potential of your organization's investment in the Microsoft cloud.
Developers.dev Expert Team Review: This article has been reviewed and validated by the Developers.dev Expert Team, including Microsoft Certified Solutions Experts like Atul K., Nagesh N., and Yogesh R.
As a CMMI Level 5, SOC 2, and Microsoft Gold Partner since 2007, Developers.dev provides a secure, process-mature, and expert-driven solution for your most complex SharePoint and Microsoft 365 staffing needs. Our 1000+ in-house IT professionals are ready to deliver future-winning solutions for your enterprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SharePoint development a dying career in the age of low-code platforms like Power Apps?
Absolutely not. While Power Apps handles many simple forms and workflows, it relies heavily on SharePoint Lists and Libraries as its data source.
Furthermore, for complex, enterprise-grade customizations, such as building custom web parts, integrating with external systems, or creating unified experiences in Teams and Viva, the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) is the required tool. The modern developer must master both SPFx (pro-code) and the Power Platform (low-code) to be truly in demand.
What is the most critical skill a SharePoint developer must have today?
The single most critical skill is SharePoint Framework (SPFx) development using modern JavaScript frameworks like React or TypeScript.
This is the official, future-proof way to build custom solutions that integrate seamlessly across the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem, including SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and Viva Connections.
How can I ensure the quality of an offshore SharePoint development team?
Quality assurance starts with vendor vetting. Look for verifiable process maturity and security compliance. Developers.dev, for example, is CMMI Level 5 and ISO 27001 certified.
We also offer a 2 week trial (paid) and a Free-replacement guarantee, ensuring you only pay for high-performing, expert talent.
Ready to secure the expert SharePoint talent your digital transformation demands?
Don't let the scarcity of specialized SPFx and Power Platform developers slow your enterprise growth. Our Staff Augmentation PODs are built on 100% in-house, vetted, and Microsoft-certified experts.
