How to Become a Web Developer
How do you think this website was created? Every feature you see on this site, as well as all the systems that make it work, were created by web developers. These professionals are responsible for the way the Internet looks today. Front end, back end, and full stack web developers constantly experiment with new layouts and systems to make sites more user-friendly, attractive, and secure. Here on Computer Science Hero, we’ll go over everything you need to learn on how to become a web developer.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider choosing a career in web development:
Listings
Average Salary
Hiring Companies
What Is Web Development?
Web development is a growing career field for programmers, designers, and anyone interested in building websites. Web developers use coding languages such as HTML, Ruby, JavaScript, and CSS to create websites and online applications.
Businesses hire web developers to design, improve, and repair sites. These professionals are responsible for site design (front end), server connectivity (back end), and, occasionally, both (full stack). Web developers also help businesses turn their visions and product ideas into reality.
What Do Web Developers Do?
Simply put, web developers create websites for individuals and businesses. A lot goes into building a site; coding, design, search engine optimization, and collaboration are all necessary. Many people consider web development to be a subcategory of software engineering and development, as the professions share many similarities. These professionals also use their skills to create interactive site applications and streamline server communications to increase speeds. A web developer’s primary responsibility is to ensure websites are modern, secure, and helpful to users.
Web Development Job Description
Web development shares a core set of job responsibilities with most computer science careers. Chief among the job duties of web developers is coding, as these professionals spend much of their time using programming languages to build websites. Web developers also work on teams to create new online applications for users and businesses. The job also includes quite a bit of planning and collaboration, as businesses hire developers to help create products and services that meet their vision. Web developers are attentive and skilled professionals who understand trends in website design and possess the skills to stay on top of the game.
As a web developer, you’ll be tasked with:
Coding is a primary responsibility of web developers, but it’s not the only job responsibility they deal with. Additionally, you need to learn web development hard skills (like wireframing) and soft skills (especially communication) to be effective in the field.
What Are the Required Skills for Web Development Careers?
Web developers need a variety of skills (and plenty of practice) to compete in the modern tech job market. It’s not 2002 anymore, and modern sites take a lot more than some HTML color codes to serve users effectively. Here are some of the most important hard skills and soft skills for web developers.
Design Skills
Web design skills are especially important for front end developers, as these professionals need to understand how to create a modern site that’s helpful to users. Design skills help developers maximize page attractiveness and simplify designs without sacrificing quality.
Programming Knowledge
The primary duty of web developers is to create and maintain websites using programming languages. The primary web development languages are HTML, JavaScript, and CSS for front end work. These languages work to create a site's features and visual design. Back end developers rely on Ruby-on-Rails, Python, JavaScript, and Java. Java is one of the most widely used languages, and proficiency with Java is vital to becoming a web developer.
Site Design and Development
Web developers are responsible for designing and developing sites and web applications. This process includes everything from wireframing the layout to creating functional and interactive features.
Debugging and Updating
Every site programmer deals with errors from time to time, so debugging skills are necessary to keep your sites running properly. Also, regularly updating layout and code is required to stay up-to-date and keep users (and employers) happy with site functionality and design.
Wireframing
Wireframing is the process of ‘laying out’ the design of a website before building it. This process involves choosing a layout, mapping out features, and deciding what to focus on during the process. Wireframing is essential for efficient site-building.
Teamwork
Building a website is no trivial task, and unless you work as a freelancer, chances are you’ll be working on a team. Effective communication and collaboration are key to a successful web project, so it’s essential to be a team player.
How Much Do Web Developers Make?
Web developers make unusually high salaries for entry-level careers. Today, the average web developer earns $69,430 annually, not including additional income from bonuses and stock options. Web development salaries vary between companies and locations, but experience levels also play a big part in salary. Experienced web developers can make upwards of $111,000 annually, and business owners can earn as much as they can generate revenue through effective marketing.
Here are the average web development salaries for several major American cities with data from Glassdoor.
| City | Average Salary |
| Atlanta, GA | $68,148 |
| Boston, MA | $73,921 |
| Chicago, IL | $68,490 |
| Cleveland, OH | $59,748 |
| Dallas, TX | $66,841 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,309 |
| Miami, FL | $63,038 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $61,346 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,358 |
| New York, NY | $75,672 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $65,585 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $64,776 |
| Portland, OR | $68,610 |
| San Francisco, CA | $92,548 |
| Seattle, WA | $77,325 |
The biggest contributing factors to how much a web developer will make is their location, experience, company, and specialization. Here are some popular related fields.
Web developers are responsible for turning code into functioning websites. These professionals also perform tasks like ‘wireframing’ to plan site layouts and features ahead of time. Web development jobs are abundant, and the field will likely continue to grow faster than most careers.
- Mean Annual Salary: $107,287
- Projected Job Growth Outlook (2014-24): 24%
- Number of People Employed: 1,256,200
Software engineers create solutions based on their client’s needs. This may include developing a web or mobile application, game, operating system, or network system.
- Mean Annual Salary: $69,430
- Projected Job Growth Outlook (2018-28): 13%
- Number of People Employed: 160,000
Web developers use coding languages like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to create sites and web applications.
- Mean Annual Salary: $88,280
- Projected Job Growth Outlook (2014-24): -7%
- Number of People Employed: 273,600
Programmers write and test code to ensure that computer applications and software programs function as they should. They work with plans formulated by software developers and engineers and turn them into instructions for computers.
- Mean Annual Salary: $98,350
- Projected Job Growth Outlook (2014-24): 28%
- Number of People Employed: 100,000
Information security analysts create plans to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. They are the first line of defense against cyberattacks.
- Mean Annual Salary: $90,070
- Projected Job Growth Outlook (2014-24): 11%
- Number of People Employed: 119,500
DBAs work with special software to store and organize a company’s important data. They ensure the data is organized, accessible by authorized individuals, and safe from unauthorized access.
| Position | Salary |
| Entry Level (0-4 Years) | $75,000 |
| Mid-Career (5-10 Years) | $125,000 |
| Experienced (10-20 Years) | $150,000 |
| Late-Career (20+ Years) | $200,000 |
Web developers are responsible for turning code into functioning websites. These professionals also perform tasks like ‘wireframing’ to plan site layouts and features ahead of time. Web development jobs are abundant, and the field will likely continue to grow faster than most careers.
The Types of Web Developers
Web development is a broad term that encompasses several dedicated career paths. The most common subtypes include front end, backend, and full stack developers. Some people also include web designers under the term, though web designers focus primarily on site layout and appearance.
Front End / Backend Developers
Front end developers focus on client-side programming, which encompasses the visual and interactive features of a site. Essentially, what we consider ‘the site itself’ is the domain of front end developers. Back end developers work on the server-side, programming systems that connect the site with the Internet.
Full Stack Developers
These are all-in-one web development professionals who master the skills of front end and back end programmers. Full stack developers are responsible for entire sites, and they sometimes lead teams of other specialized web programming professionals.
How to Become a Web Developer
Web development takes time to learn, and an education program can help you grasp the concepts necessary to succeed. Thanks to the Internet, it’s easier than ever to find study resources to learn common programming languages. Nonetheless, the structure of a dedicated education program can increase your odds of success. Here are the most common ways to become a web developer in the 2020s.
Education Pathways for Web Developers
Web developers come from all educational backgrounds. There’s no universal requirement to become a web developer, though the majority of professionals in the field earned a bachelor’s degree at some point. Today, you can become a web developer through self-instruction, coding bootcamp, or college.
Traditional Colleges and Universities
Colleges and universities are the most common education pathway for web developers. Students attend community colleges, universities, and graduate schools for tech degrees. The most popular degrees for web developers are computer science, software engineering, graphic design (usually with additional coding education), and web development.
However, you don’t necessarily need any college degree to work in the field. The tech industry (as a whole) is concerned primarily with your ability to do the work. If you can learn to code, you can build a website. While a college degree increases your chances of landing higher-paying jobs and advancing in your career, your career prospects are largely based on your skills and motivation.
Coding Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps are a recent arrival in the higher education system. These programs arose due to an increased demand for web developers and a woefully inadequate supply. Bootcamps, unlike colleges, only focus on in-demand skills (instead of general education and electives). Some coding bootcamps can focus on teaching specific programming languages like JavaScript and CSS. Coding bootcamps are strictly career-training programs. Students who attend bootcamps pay an average of $13,000 for the course. Bootcamps last between three months and one year, though the average is about six months.
Over the last decade, bootcamps proved themselves as viable education programs for tech job seekers. Now, many bootcamps offer income-based deferred tuition programs and job guarantees, with placement rates exceeding 90%. A bootcamp program can show you how to learn web development with virtually no coding experience.
- Duration: 1 to 5 years
- Cost: $0 (or minimal)
- Average Base Salary: Unknown
- Duration: 3 to 12 months
- Cost: Avg. $13,600
- Average Base Salary: $70,700
- Duration: 4 to 6 years
- Cost: Avg. $34,740 (4 years)
- Average Base Salary: $65,900
- Duration: 1.5 to 2 years (in addition to Bachelor’s Degree)
- Cost: Avg. $30,000 to $100,000 (in addition to Bachelor’s Degree)
- Average Base Salary: $114,000
- Duration: 4 to 8 years (in addition to Bachelor’s Degree)
- Cost: Avg. $50,000+ (in addition to Bachelor’s Degree)
- Average Base Salary: $124,000
Coding Bootcamp
Coding bootcamps are designed to train beginners how to become web developers. These programs are intensive and short term, and focus strictly on in-demand tech skills. Many bootcamps offer job guarantees, and programs often last around three to six months.
College/University
Colleges and universities are a popular choice for web developers. Students with degrees in computer science, graphic design, and software engineering often choose a web development career path. A degree isn’t always required, but it’s certainly beneficial in the job market.
Self-Study
Many web developers are self-taught, thanks to the enormous amount of free coding resources available online. Developers also use books, how-to videos, and other tools to teach themselves programming languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Some books are even available for free, such as Eloquent Javascript: A Modern Introduction to Programming, by Haverbeke.<br /> Web developers are in high demand and the field is a safe and profitable career choice. By developing the skills outlined in this article through a traditional college or university, bootcamp, or self-study, you are well on your way to becoming a web developer.
FAQ
How long does it take to learn web development?
It depends on the education path you choose. Bachelor’s degree programs take four years, but coding bootcamps take less than a year to complete.
Do you need a degree to become a web developer?
No! People without any college education can become web developers. Many developers hold degrees nonetheless.
Is web development a good job?
Web development is a good job for many people. Surveys find that web developers enjoy high job satisfaction and relatively low stress.
Can web developers work from home?
Yes! Web developers can work from home as freelancers or remote employees.
Popular Technology Careers
UX/UI Designer
Web Developer
Data Scientist
