Acquiring skills and applying for jobs that require them have long been the standard recipe for landing jobs. For developers, one such long-running tech stack is MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js).
The MERN stack has long been the go-to choice for developers looking to build full-stack JavaScript applications. Its ease of learning, robust community, and abundant resources have made it a favourite among beginners and boot camp graduates.
However, many developers and YouTubers are now questioning whether MERN is still a viable choice for breaking into the job market or if it has become oversaturated. For the latter, it is mostly about selling their DSA (data structures and algorithms) courses, but the relevance of MERN is definitely under question by many job seekers.
‘For 1 MERN Stack Role, There are Probably 1000 MERN Stack Devs’
A common concern across developer forums, particularly on Reddit and Stack Overflow, is the sheer number of developers specialising in MERN. It is the most sought-after skill for landing jobs, at least at Indian companies.
In a Reddit discussion, a user said, “The job market is flooded with MERN stack developers. Every boot camp and online course churns out thousands of them every year.” The result? An intensely competitive job market where junior developers struggle to stand out.
The popular consensus is that MERN is no longer enough to get a job. Companies are looking for people who understand architecture, scalability, and DevOps, which is why DSA is trending on YouTube. MERN remains relevant, but merely knowing how to build a CRUD application with it is not enough to secure a high-paying job.
Several developers blame online boot camps for this oversaturation. These boot camps promise quick jobs after completing the course. They focus on the most trending topics and job applications on LinkedIn, Naukri, and other job portals.
The Salary Disparity
A major complaint among developers is that despite the high demand for JavaScript-based applications, salaries for MERN stack developers remain relatively low. A user on X shared, “MERN developers are getting paid less because the supply is so high. Employers know they can always find someone willing to work for a lower salary.”
Hiring managers and experienced developers increasingly emphasise the need to go beyond basic MERN knowledge. Besides MERN, people also use other acronyms that include frameworks like Postgres, Ollama, R1, and Next.js. “Learn Next.js, explore database optimisation, understand deployment strategies, and get comfortable with cloud services,” advised a senior software engineer in a discussion.
“MERN without Next.js feels outdated now,” they added. “Server-side rendering, static generation, and better SEO support make Next.js a far superior choice.”
This aligns with broader industry trends. Junior MERN developers often find themselves in a race to the bottom, competing with freelancers and offshore developers who can offer similar skills at a lower cost. “It’s not that MERN is dead—it’s that it’s commoditised. Unless you bring something unique to the table, you’re just another resume in the pile,” said a developer.
MERN Stack Isn’t Dead
Though many say that MERN is dead, it is actually just undeniably oversaturated. Simply knowing React and Node.js is no longer enough to land a job in an increasingly competitive landscape. That is why it is a good idea to focus on building projects after this to prove your expertise to the hiring manager.
However, the demand for MERN is still at an all-time high, with startups and Fortune 500 companies all looking to fill positions. Claiming MERN is saturated is like saying engineering is saturated. Yes, there are too many people, but that doesn’t mean that there is a dearth of jobs.
Regardless of that, it is also not the only stack to master to land a job. Java, Angular, and PHP are all in demand and possibly also face the same kind of competition.
