Bureau of Labor Statistics

Web Developers

web developers image
Web developers are responsible for both the look of a website and its technical aspects.
Quick Facts: Web Developers
2017 Median Pay $67,990 per year
$32.69 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2016 162,900
Job Outlook, 2016-26 15% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2016-26 24,400

Summary

What Web Developers Do

Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site. They are also responsible for the site’s technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website’s speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site.

Work Environment

About 1 in 6 web developers worked in the computer systems design and related services industry in 2016. About 1 in 6 were self-employed. Others worked in industries including publishing, management consulting, and advertising.

How to Become a Web Developer

Educational requirements for web developers vary with the setting they work in and the type of work they do. Requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. Web developers need knowledge of both programming and graphic design.

Pay

The median annual wage for web developers was $67,990 in May 2017.

Job Outlook

Employment of web developers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and ecommerce.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for web developers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of web developers with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about web developers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Web Developers Do

web developers image
Some developers work with graphics and other designers to determine the website’s layout.

Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site. They are also responsible for the site’s technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website’s speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site.

Duties

Web developers typically do the following:

  • Meet with clients or management to discuss the needs and design of a website
  • Create and test applications for a website
  • Write code for the website, using programming languages such as HTML or XML
  • Work with other team members to determine what information the site will contain
  • Work with graphics and other designers to determine the website’s layout
  • Integrate graphics, audio, and video into the website
  • Monitor website traffic

When creating a website, developers have to make their client’s vision a reality. They build particular types of websites, such as ecommerce, news, or gaming sites, to fit clients’ needs. Different types of websites require different applications. For example, a gaming site should be able to handle advanced graphics, whereas an ecommerce site would need a payment-processing application. The developer decides which applications and designs will best fit the site.

Some developers handle all aspects of a website’s construction, and others specialize in a certain aspect of it. The following are examples of types of specialized web developers:

Back-end web developers are responsible for the overall technical construction of the website. They create the basic framework of the site and ensure that it works as expected. Back-end web developers also establish procedures for allowing others to add new pages to the website and meet with management to discuss major changes to the site.

Front-end web developers are responsible for how a website looks. They create the site’s layout and integrate graphics, applications (such as a retail checkout tool), and other content. They also write webdesign programs in a variety of computer languages, such as HTML or JavaScript.

Webmasters maintain websites and keep them updated. They ensure that websites operate correctly, and they test for errors such as broken links. Many webmasters respond to user comments as well.

Work Environment

web developers image
Developers build websites for all types of businesses.

Web developers held about 162,900 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of web developers were as follows:

Computer systems design and related services 17%
Self-employed workers 16
Publishing industries (except Internet) 5
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 4
Advertising, public relations, and related services 4

Work Schedules

Most web developers work full time.

How to Become a Web Developer

web developers image
Developers often have both programming and graphic design knowledge.

Educational requirements for web developers vary with the setting they work in and the type of work they do. Web developers need knowledge of both programming and graphic design.

Education

Educational requirements for web developers vary with the setting they work in and the type of work they do. Requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. An associate’s degree in web design or related field is the most common requirement.

However, for more specialized developer positions, such as back-end web developers, some employers prefer workers who have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or a related field.

Web developers need to have a thorough understanding of HTML programming. Many employers also want developers to understand other programming languages, such as JavaScript or SQL, and have knowledge of multimedia publishing tools, such as Flash. Throughout their career, web developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.

Some employers prefer web developers who have both a computer degree and coursework in graphic design, especially if the developer will be heavily involved in the website’s visual appearance.

Advancement

Web developers who have a bachelor’s degree can advance to become project managers. For more information, see the profile on computer and information systems managers.

Important Qualities

Concentration. Web developers must sit at a computer and write detailed code for long periods.

Creativity. Web developers often are involved in designing the appearance of a website and must make sure that it is appealing as well as functional.

Customer-service skills. Webmasters have to respond politely and correctly to user questions and requests.

Detail oriented. Web developers need to have an eye for detail, because a minor error in coding could cause an entire webpage to stop working.

Pay

Web Developers

Median annual wages, May 2017

Computer occupations

$84,580

Web developers

$67,990

Total, all occupations

$37,690

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics

The median annual wage for web developers was $67,990 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,830, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $122,320.

In May 2017, the median annual wages for web developers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Publishing industries (except Internet) $71,060
Computer systems design and related services 68,500
Advertising, public relations, and related services 66,230
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 65,620

Most web developers work full time.

Job Outlook

Web Developers

Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26

Web developers

15%

Computer occupations

13%

Total, all occupations

7%

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Employment of web developers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment of web developers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand. Online purchasing is expected to grow faster than the overall retail industry. As retail firms expand their online offerings, demand for web developers will grow. In addition, an increase in the use of mobile devices to search the web will lead to increased demand for web developers. Instead of designing a website for a desktop computer, developers will have to create sites that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes, leading to more work.

Because websites can be built from anywhere in the world, some web developer jobs may be moved to countries with lower wages. However, this practice may decline because the cost of managing web developers in multiple countries can offset the savings to businesses. Furthermore, web developers must understand cultural nuances that allow webpages to communicate effectively with users, and domestic web developers are better equipped for this task, curtailing the work that may be moved to other countries.

Job Prospects

Job opportunities for web developers are expected to be good. Those with knowledge of multiple programming languages and digital multimedia tools, such as Flash and Photoshop, will have the best opportunities.

Employment projections data for web developers, 2016-26

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Occupational Title

Web developers
SOC Code15-1134
Employment, 2016162,900
Projected Employment, 2026187,200
Percent Change, 2016-2615
Numeric Change, 2016-2624,400
Employment by Industryemployment projections excel document xlsx

State & Area Data

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of web developers.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION 2017 MEDIAN PAY
Computer and information systems managers

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.

 Bachelor's degree $139,220
Computer programmers

Computer Programmers

Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.

 Bachelor's degree $82,240
Computer support specialists

Computer Support Specialists

Computer support specialists provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. These specialists either support computer networks or they provide technical assistance directly to computer users.

 See How to Become One $52,810
Computer systems analysts

Computer Systems Analysts

Computer systems analysts, sometimes called systems architects, study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures, and design solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.

 Bachelor's degree $88,270
Database administrators

Database Administrators

Database administrators (DBAs) use specialized software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and secure from unauthorized access.

 Bachelor's degree $87,020
Information security analysts

Information Security Analysts

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.

 Bachelor's degree $95,510
Graphic designers

Graphic Designers

Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.

 Bachelor's degree $48,700
Multimedia artists and animators

Multimedia Artists and Animators

Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

 Bachelor's degree $70,530
Software developers

Software Developers

Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks.

 Bachelor's degree $103,560

Contacts for More Info

Last Modified Date: Friday, April 13, 2018

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Web Developers,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm (visited March 10, 2019).

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