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Web Developers

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $92,650 Median per year · $44.54/hr Most earn $48,100–$162,290

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Provide clear, detailed descriptions of Web site specifications, such as product features, activities, software, communication protocols, programming languages, and operating systems software and hardware.
  • Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
  • Document technical factors such as server load, bandwidth, database performance, and browser and device types.
  • Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
  • Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
  • Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware or software issues affecting Web sites.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 5,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Computer systems design and related services21.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)17.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.4%
  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services5.9%
  • Advertising, public relations, and related services4.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Often remoteExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Web Developer is often reachable after a two-year associate degree plus a year or two of hands-on entry-level work, though a strong portfolio can sometimes get you started sooner. Most people spend roughly 3 to 4 years from starting school to landing this job.

  1. Associate degree in web development, computer science, or information technology

    2 years

    You learn core coding (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and often a server language), databases, and how websites work, which builds the base every web developer needs.

  2. Junior Web Developer

    1-2 years

    You build and fix real websites under a senior developer, learning to test code, work with clients, and follow industry standards for browsers and devices.

  3. Web Developer

    You design, build, and optimize websites and web applications, and you take responsibility for how they perform and connect to other systems.

Where it can lead

  1. Web and Digital Interface Designers

    4-6 years of experience first

    You shift more of your focus to user experience, visual design, and how people interact with sites, usually needing a bachelor's degree and more design experience.

  2. Software Developers

    6-8 years of experience first

    You move from building websites to designing and building larger software systems, which typically takes deeper programming skill and often a bachelor's degree.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take computer science, programming, or web design classesEarly exposure to coding and how websites are built gives you a head start and helps you see if you enjoy the work.
  • Join a coding, robotics, or tech clubWorking on group projects with other students builds teamwork and gives you things to show in a portfolio.
  • Enter a coding or hackathon-style competitionCompetitions push you to finish a real project under time pressure, which is similar to what web developers do on the job.
  • Build a personal websiteMaking your own site teaches HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript while giving you your first portfolio piece.
  • Take a summer or part-time job that uses computersHelping with a school or local business's website, or doing tech support, shows responsibility and builds practical skills.

In college

  • Enroll in an associate degree program in web development or computer scienceA focused program teaches the coding, database, and web fundamentals that employers expect for this job.
  • Do an internship or co-op at a company with a web teamReal work on live websites teaches you workplace habits and often leads to your first junior role.
  • Build and publish projects for your portfolioWorking sites you can show to employers are often more convincing than a transcript alone.
  • Join a student coding or tech organizationStudy groups and hackathons help you learn faster, practice teamwork, and meet people who can refer you to jobs.
  • Earn a beginner web certification or take a campus web-building jobA certificate or a paid role maintaining a campus website shows employers you can apply what you learned.

Tips for getting started

  • Build a portfolio of 3 to 5 small websites or web apps you made yourself and put them online; employers often look at this before they look at grades.
  • Learn version control with Git and get comfortable reading other people's code, since most real jobs involve team projects.
  • Ask your school or local library about free coding practice, and look for a part-time or volunteer job building a website for a local group to get real experience.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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