Web Developer Career

web-developer-500Web developers are responsible for creating every website you have ever visited, whether it be for school, career or leisure related activities. As a web develop, you have the flexibility to choose which part of the website to work and specialize in. For example, some web developers opt to focus on front and back end development while others focus on overall website appearance, content editing or site performance.

Web development is a great career path for those with an interest in exploring new areas and thinking outside the box. As a web developer you will have numerous options to grow and develop your skills.

Web Developer Career Snapshot

Any company, big or small, with an online presence, has likely utilized the services of a web developer. While companies such as Amazon and Facebook hire web developers to maintain and monitor their site performances, other smaller companies may use web developer for the first time to establish an online presence. Similarly, while most web developers chose to work for established companies, 1 in every 7 web developers chooses to remain self-employed, picking up freelance work where possible. Both corporately employed and self-employed work typical 40 hour weeks or more depending on the workload. Some worthwhile certifications that can help your resume are Zend PHP Certification, Zend Framework Certification, and MSSD: Web Applications.

Further details on a career as a web developer are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$64,970

is the average yearly pay for web developers.

27%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

43%

have a Bachelor’s degree while 20% have an Associate’s degree.

Web Developer Education

Those interested in web developing careers typically hold bachelors’ degrees in computer science or engineering fields, while less than 20% hold associates degrees. Moreover, depending on the difficulty of the project post-secondary certifications may in required.

Web Developer Job Duties

Typical workday tasks consist of writing efficient code for software testing, designing and implementing website layouts, performing website maintenance and meeting various technical requirements, to name a few. In addition to these daily tasks, web developers may also attend meetings with clients, in order to learn more about their business and the content they require on their website.

Web Developer Salaries

Web developers are offered a higher than average median pay as well, around $65,000 annually (according to May 2015 BLS.gov statistics), while the lowest 10% makes about $35,000 and the highest 10% makes about $117,000. The six-figure salaries, however, are generally reserved for candidates who have 10 plus years of web developing experience, a masters degree or a combination of both.

Web Developer Job Outlook

Since web developers have the option of freelancing versus working full time for companies, job growth can vary, but for the most part, there is an upward trend in job growth. Based on job projections for the next 10 years, web developer careers are expected to see a 27% increase, higher than most fields. The higher than average job growth is reflective of the technology boom taking place in the modern world, making web developing an extremely lucrative field.

Web Developer Career

Web Developer Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Web Developers:Typical Work Activities:
• Programming
• Critical Thinking
• Operations Analysis
• Active Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Deductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Category Flexibility
• Information Ordering
• Near Vision
• Computer servers
• Desktop/notebook computers
• High capacity removable media drives
• Interacting With Computers
• Getting Information
• Using Relevant Knowledge
• Creative thinking

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