Web Developers are at the frontline of the internet world. They develop, design and create websites and are responsible for the site’s technical aspects. Web developers are in charge of performance and capacity of a website’s to gauge its speed and how much traffic it can take. In addition to that, web developers may also be in charge of creating content for various websites.
If this line of work sounds like something you would be interested in, the following guide would be of use to you. It lists down details on a web developer career, including a discussion on salaries and how to become a web developer in the US.
How to Become a Web Developer 
Should I Become a Web Developer?
The field of web development is expected to experience a tremendous amount of growth. With high salaries and high demand, it seems like an ideal career choice for those interested in computers and the IT world. Web developers can also transition into a variety of other careers through various specializations such as JavaScript, CSS or HTML. You can go into mobile development and create content for mobile versions of websites.
The following table provides a summary of the career of a web developer in the US at a glance.
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Education Required
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Associate’s Degree
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Major Requirement
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Web Design
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License/Certification
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None
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Experience/Training
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None
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Key Skills
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Concentration, creativity, customer-service skills, attention to detail
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Annual Mean Salary (2018)
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$75,580
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Job Outlook (2018-28)
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13% (Much faster than average)
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Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Outlook of a Web Developer
Employment for web developers across the US is expected to grow by 13% in the years from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. Employment in this sector is expected to experience an increase as ecommerce continues to be a big market. Online industry is also expected to surpass retail buying, creating more jobs for web developers. In addition to that, the increase in the use of mobile devices to search the web will cause a growth in the demand for web developers.
Web developers who know multiple programming languages as well as different digital multimedia tools like Photoshop and Flash, will have the best opportunities in the coming years.
California is the state with the highest level of employment for web developers, with 20,170 jobs, followed by New York, Texas, Florida and Washington. California also ranks in the list for the highest paying states for web developers, coming in at number 4, with an annual mean wage of $86,160. The top paying state for this occupation was Washington, paying $94,060 in annual mean wages.
Steps to Become a Web Developer
Step 1: Choose a Specialization
Before you begin, it is important to understand what aspect of web development you want to go into. This could be user interface design, mobile application development or front-end development. You may also want to get a basic understanding of the basics of the industry, such as JavaScript frameworks, CSS or version control.
Step 2: Complete the Educational Requirements
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, you need at least an associate’s degree to qualify for entry level jobs in the field. However, most employers prefer candidates who have at least a bachelor’s degree. Students can choose to major in web development or a related science. Web developers should know HTML programming very well, while many employers would want developers to also understand other languages, such as SQL or JavaScript.
Step 3: Update your Skills
The field of web development is constantly evolving. Those working in this occupation are required to keep themselves updated about the latest developments, new tools and computer languages.
Step 4: Create an Online Portfolio
Since employers are interested in seeing results, web developers are encouraged to create online portfolios. With these portfolios, web developers can depict their coding and technical capabilities.