Web Developer Job Description: Top 5 Skills, Qualifications, Experience Needed in 2023

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, there are currently 197,100 job openings for web developers in the U.S. alone. Going forward, the industry is anticipated to grow by 23% from 2022 to 2031, outpacing most other professions. Needless to say, this is an ideal time to pursue a career in web development. That makes it crucial for aspirants to understand the web developer job description, including the skills, education, and experience required to stay competitive in this field. This guide will help them ace interviews and find lucrative job opportunities. 

Web Developer Job Description

A web developer is in charge of developing, designing, and laying out a website in accordance with the requirements of a business. An understanding of both graphic design and computer programming is required for this profession because it takes both user experience and functional aspects into consideration. After developing a website, a web developer helps with its maintenance and upkeep. 

What Abilities are Employers Looking for?

• Writing efficient code by employing a range of programming languages such as Python, PHP, and Ruby
• Website design and development using standard HTML/CSS/JavaScript practices 
• A clear understanding of what can be developed within what timeline
• Collaborating with other programmers and web designers to develop and deploy their content 
• Researching different software and maintaining documentation
• Implementing contingency plans in case a website is unavailable
• Maintaining and improving the website after development

Web Developer Skill Set

Aspiring candidates will be well-positioned for success as web developers with a strong portfolio and a solid understanding of HTML. Here are the most common skills found in successful web developers.

1. Expertise in Various Coding Languages

• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS): Web developers utilize CSS to control the overall appearance of website components across numerous pages. The appearance of font faces, colors, element spacing, and element sizes are determined by CSS. 

• PHP: PHP is a server-side programming language that is utilized by web frameworks such as HTML and online content management systems. PHP is frequently used in server scripting by web developers to specify how a website reacts to user activities. 

• HTML5: The most recent version of the HTML standard, HTML5, is used to provide online content structure. To decide how to organize content into paragraphs, headers, lists, links, and other element types, web developers utilize HTML5. 

• JavaScript: A majority of modern websites use JavaScript, which is the main programming language for interactive web pages. JavaScript is used by web developers to manage tasks like dynamic loading. This language also specifies how an element will respond to a user’s click, opening up an infinite range of interactive options. 

In addition, web developers looking to stay relevant, show proficiency in open-source frameworks such as ASP.NET and Angular.js to create dynamic websites, apps, and services using these tools and resources. 

2. Logic-Based Problem-Solving and Analytical Thinking

Programming languages operate in accordance with established guidelines. Candidates can learn these languages quickly if they are good problem solvers. Logic-based problem-solving and analytical thinking are helpful for web developers who need to keep track of multiple jobs, initiatives, schedules, costs, and plan workflows.

3. Curiosity and the Capacity to Learn Quickly

Web developers must keep up with any important new programming languages, web development tools, and market developments. Even highly educated computer scientists in the field of coding will need to continually improve their skills to be competitive. 

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Skills

Many clients prefer that the independent web developers they hire are familiar with the basics of SEO. A website designed based on SEO guidelines receives more traffic because it ranks higher in search engine results. 

5. Understanding of Version Control Systems

A version control system can be used by a web developer to track, manage, and update code shifts and modifications. One such example is the Git application, which provides quick error detection and correction. This application also helps keep track of code changes so that you can review them before making any more changes. For full stack web developers who work under time constraints, a knowledge of such systems is crucial. 

ALSO READ: What is Full Stack Development? The Ultimate 2023 Guide

Web Developer Educational Qualifications

There are multiple educational pathways you can follow to build a career in web development. Let us look at some of the options: 

• Associate Degree in Web Development 

These two-year courses focus on programming languages, design techniques, and website applications to help students get a quick grasp of the subject. According to Payscale, candidates with associate degrees in web development earn an annual average salary of $60,000 in the U.S.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Web Development 

The typical route for aspiring web developers is a bachelor’s degree in computer science or web development. Despite the fact that candidates with associate degrees can land entry-level web development jobs, certain employers favor applicants with bachelor’s degrees. This degree takes at least four years to complete and successful candidates tend to earn an average annual salary of $76,000 in the U.S.

• Master’s Degree in Web Development

Master’s degree typically takes two years to finish. These professionals often stand out among other job applicants and are more likely to get hired for leadership positions. 

Professionals with a master’s degree in computer science and web development earn an average annual salary of $92,000.

Web Developer Experience Requirements

On the basis of experience requirements, a web developer job description is further classified into entry-level, junior, mid-level, senior, and lead positions. 

• Entry-Level Web Developer

An entry-level web developer is an individual applying for their first job and does not have prior experience. They have a basic knowledge of programming languages and software but no on-ground experience. 

• Junior Web Developer

Junior developers have one to two years of experience. Their knowledge of software applications is basic, but they have worked on some practical projects in the past. 

• Mid-Level Web Developers 

Mid-level web developers have around two to four years of experience. They write, edit, and review bigger chunks of code, fix major bugs, and set objectives for junior developers in the team.  

• Senior Developers

Senior developers have five to eight years of work experience and they are responsible for managing the whole development workflow process. They review code and mentor junior and mid-level team members. 

• Lead Developers 

A lead developer has 8.5+ years of experience. They are responsible for building and implementing a system from scratch. Their day-to-day tasks include solving architectural problems from scripts to interface design. They also build contingency plans based on future challenges and bottlenecks to schedule the yearly workflow. 

Web Developer Salary Range

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median yearly wage for web developers in the U.S. is $78,300. Numerous factors, such as employment location, industry type, and expertise affect a web developer’s salary. 

ALSO READ: How to Upskill and Improve Your Salary as a Web Developer

Can a Web Developer Work Remotely?

Finding remote employment is now simpler than ever because of the pandemic. More than 85% of developers claim that at least some of their teams work remotely. Therefore, working entirely remotely is possible at any experience level, provided your company has the proper setup for it, and you have your team’s support.

Web Developer Certifications

Certification proves your proficiency in a certain area of web development and your ability to adhere to industry standards. Consider pursuing a certification that would help you advance in your preferred area of web development. We have listed a few examples of general web developer certifications below: 

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSD)
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Developer
• Google Developers Certification

Get Started with Emeritus

Emeritus provides a wide selection of online coding courses, in association with top global universities,  for professionals looking to advance their careers. Now that you have an understanding of a web developer job description (including the skills, education, and experience needed to excel), improve your coding skills with us to become an ace developer. 

Write to us at content@emeritus.org