Behind every captivating or professional website is a web developer. This IT professional creates stunning, user-friendly websites using various web development tools and frameworks. From simple HTML websites to complex e-commerce stores, the web developer shapes the digital landscape for individuals, companies and organizations.
Effective, attention-catching web developer job descriptions can attract the top developers in the industry. This guide looks at how to become a web developer, focusing on essential skills, qualifications and experience as well as roles and duties. It also highlights potential web development projects, web developers' salary expectations and some common questions about their work and careers.
What Does a Web Developer Do?
Web developers build and maintain websites. Here are their essential duties and responsibilities:
- Designing and creating a professional-looking website based on World Wide Web Consortium standards and client requirements.
- Maintaining website appearance, performance and capacity.
- Converting UI/UX design wireframes into website code.
- Designing web application architecture.
- Managing data exchange between users and servers.
- Collaborating with designers, manual testers and project managers to ensure project success.
- Working on both the client side and server side of web applications.
- Staying abreast of web technology trends and best practices.
Web Developer Job Responsibilities
In a full-time position, web developer responsibilities include:
- Writing clean, efficient and testable code.
- Creating and maintaining reusable code libraries.
- Gathering and refining website specifications based on technical needs.
- Implementing JavaScript and other languages to create dynamic pages.
- Testing the feasibility of UX/UI design and mockups.
- Testing and validating user input before submitting it to the back end.
- Collaborating with designers, copywriters and other web developers.
- Implementing responsive design for mobile devices.
- Optimizing web apps and websites for speed and scalability.
- Integrating data from back-end services and databases.
- Troubleshooting and debugging code issues and glitches.
- Implementing data security and protection measures.
- Participating in code reviews with testers and programmers.
Web Developer Required Skills and Qualifications
A web developer requires various skills and qualifications to perform their duties.
Education and Experience
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering or software engineering.
- Certificate in web development.
- 2+ years of work experience.
- Understanding of web markup and client scripting.
- Experience leading projects and teams.
Technical skills
- Proficiency in HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, AngularJS or React.
- Good understanding of responsive design.
- Proficiency in web markup, including HTML5 and CSS3.
- Good knowledge of Git and other versioning tools.
- Front-end coding.
- Testing and debugging.
- Proficiency in client-side scripting and JavaScript frameworks.
- Good grasp of technical SEO.
Soft Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Creative problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Flexibility and adaptability.
- Excellent time management.
Web Developer Potential Projects
Web developers can work on different projects depending on their skill level and experience. These include:
- E-commerce websites that sell products and services online.
- Responsive web apps that adapt to various screen sizes and devices.
- Content management systems that allow owners to update content.
- Custom, web-based tools with specific functionality to meet user needs.
- Website optimization to improve speed, performance and Google search rankings.
- API integration to connect websites to external services and data sources.
- Data visualizations and dashboards to present data in an intelligible way.
- Progressive web applications that feature a native-like experience for mobile users.
- Customer portals that allow end users to log in and access services online.
- Login authentication systems to validate user identity.
- Web APIs, such as Restful API, that allow for data exchange.
- Payment gateway integration into e-commerce websites to receive payments from buyers.
Web development projects can vary based on clients' needs. Project complexity can range from small business websites built using HTML to large enterprise applications built using PHP, JavaScript or Python.
Web Developer Salary Expectations
Web developers in the United States typically earn between $73,000 and $120,000 a year, while those in Canada earn $49,000 to $74,000 per year. Their pay varies depending on seniority level and whether they're independent or work in-house.
- Entry-level web developers: Around $87,000 per year.
- Mid-level web developers: Approximately $107,000 per year.
- Senior-level web developers: Up to $137,000 per year.
- Freelance rates: $50 to $150+ per hour.
Remember that a web developer's salary may vary depending on their location, specialization and experience.
Web Developer Work Hours and Benefits
Work Hours
In a full-time role, a web developer works 40 hours a week. They may have:
- Flexible schedules.
- Potential overtime.
- On-call duties.
Benefits
Unlike freelancers, in-house web developers enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- Health insurance.
- Retirement plans.
- Paid time off.
- Professional development.
- Performance bonuses.
- Perks (free laptop, conference sponsorships).
Benefits may vary among employers.
Web Developer FAQs
Who Does a Web Developer Work With?
A web developer works with designers, copywriters, project managers, SEO specialists and quality assurance engineers.
Are There Different Types of Developers?
Web developers can hold different positions depending on their skills:
- Front-end developers.
- Back-end developers.
- User interface developers.
- Full-stack developers.
- Webmasters.
What Is the Job Outlook for Developers?
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job outlook for web developers is positive, with demand for developers projected to grow by 16 percent between 2022 and 2032.
What Are the Career Advancement Opportunities?
A web developer can start as a junior front-end or back-end developer and grow into a full-stack developer, project lead or project manager.
What's the Difference between a Web Developer and a Web Designer?
A web developer is responsible for the code that powers a website, while a web designer is responsible for the website's look and feel.
How Do Web Developers Stay Updated with New Technologies?
Web developers can stay current on the latest web development technologies and trends by attending workshops, webinars and conferences that feature industry experts.
What Are Some Key Performance Indicators Used to Measure a Web Developer's Success?
Interviewers can use metrics such as website performance (speed and load time), user experience, code quality and project completion rate to evaluate a web developer's work and success.
