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Curious about a career in web development? In this video, we’ll talk about what web developers do, why they are essential for the economy, what skills you need for this career, industries you can expect to work in, schools, and programs that will equip you for a career in web development, and other resources.
So what is web development?
In general, web development is the process of building websites and applications for the internet, or for a private network known as an intranet. The web development process includes web design, web content development, client-side/server-side scripting, and network security configuration, among other tasks.
A typical web developer’s tasks may include the following: design, create, and modify Web sites; analyze user needs to implement website content, graphics, performance, and capacity; integrate websites with other computer applications; convert written, graphic, audio, and video components to compatible Web formats by using software designed to facilitate the creation of Web and multimedia content.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for web developers is likely to grow by 8% by 2029 and that is no surprise. The need for web developers has been present since the invention of the internet. Web development has led to the creation of several useful sites that we use in our day to day lives. These sites usually generate a lot of revenue, and hire a lot of employees. Our economy as a whole would probably be far behind than where we are today if web developers did not exist.
Check out this video for more insight into what web developers actually do.
Skills needed for a web development career
To be a successful web developer, you’ll need to have the following soft skills: communication skills, attention to detail, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Apart from soft skills, you’re also going to need the following basic technical skills: HTML/CSS skills, analytical skills, Responsive design skills, JavaScript skills, Testing and debugging skills, Back-end basics, and Search engine optimization skills.
Industries that require web developers
Given the demand for web developers across several industries, a web developer can expect to work in any of the following: Computer System Design and Related Services, Other Information Services, Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services, Management of Companies and Enterprises, Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services, Specialized Design Services, Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services etc.
Web development has become an expansive field that can be divided into other subfields such as UX Design, UI Design, Web Design, etc. A web developer can hold any of the following titles/roles: Web Designer, Front End Developer, Backend Developer, DevOps, UI Designer, UX Designer, Art Director, Web Developer, Full Stack Developer, Product Manager, and Information Architect.
Economic outlook.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 3 highest paying states for web developers are Washington, California and Georgia with an annual mean wage of $134,310, $90,230 and $87,800 respectively.
You can find the annual mean wage for web developers in your state or the state you’re interested in working in by visiting the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
You’ll find the link in the description below.
Your next steps
Educational requirements for web developers range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree, with some employers preferring to hire web developer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, such as computer science or programming.
Web developers need to have a thorough understanding of HTML programming. Many employers also want developers to understand other programming languages, such as JavaScript, SQL or Python and have knowledge of other multimedia publishing tools. Throughout their career, web developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.
For a 4-year degree in computer science or programming you can consider some of the following top schools such as UCLA, Stanford University, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, etc.
You also opt for an associate degree in computer science or programming from some community colleges such as Austin Community College, Westchester Community College, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
You can also get an online degree in web development from schools such as Arizona State University, Liberty University, Bellevue University and Baker College.
Of course you don’t necessarily need to have a bachelors or associate degree to be a qualified web developer. You can be a qualified web developer through other non-conventional means such as acquiring knowledge and certifications through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Examples of MOOCs that offer a wide range of qualifications ranging from HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python that are recognized by employers are Udemy, Coursera, Codecademy, Mozilla, Google, Khan University, etc.
If you’re interested in web development as a career, you can check out some of the schools that I’ve mentioned. Feel free to visit their websites and search for more information. You can also contact the course representatives and I’m sure they will be happy to provide you with more information on their school and admission process. Some of the schools I have mentioned also offer financial aid and scholarships should you happen to need help funding your studies.
The ball is in your court now.
Do your research. Talk to your guidance counselors at school or professionals who can help you understand more about the field. Research schools and programs that will be a good fit for you and, most importantly, believe in yourself and keep your dreams alive.
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