Web developers are increasingly sought after by companies that need a web-based app and those that need to update an existing web app.
Simply put, the web developer is in charge of the design of websites that’ll meet the needs of his company or clients. To do this, he/she first analyzes their needs and reflects on the ergonomics of the software, with the aim of satisfying users.
He then draws up a set of specifications that contains the necessary details for this project, before implementing it by writing the lines of code.
Related: How to become a developer from scratch
Tasks of a web developer
Even if the goal of the game is to translate a need into code, the job of a web developer is not all about coding.
Typing lines of code may even be the easiest task!
A web developer needs to know what to code, respect good security practices, have a test environment, etc. Knowing how to develop is above all having the ability to analyze and anticipate problems, in order to design a solution that effectively responds to the problem posed.
To do this, the web developer can rely on several languages such as JavaScript, SQL, HTML, etc. There are many different technologies, for different uses and different contexts. But you can just as easily develop the same thing with several languages! The sentence you’re reading now was generated by JavaScript, but it could have been generated by PHP, Ruby, Python…
What skills does a web developer need?
It is hard to find a professional field with career options as large as web development. As a web developer, a lot of emphasis is laid on your will to learn as it is an ever-evolving field.
The Internet is characterized by rapid changes and daily innovations that one has to learn continually. Therefore, being ready and willing to learn is very much emphasized in web development job descriptions.
Web developers mostly work in teams and are in direct contact with clients. Therefore, social skills are equally necessary.
Above all, the most important skill is knowing how to use a programming language such as Java (Enterprise Edition), JavaScript, Python, Ruby, C #, Perl, and PHP as well as a framework.
Front-end technologies such as HTML5, XML, or CSS3 are often used in projects.
Knowledge of SQL databases such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, Sybase, and their client-server applications is also important.
Due to the wide range of requirements that are often very high, some developers specialize in one or two areas, such as programming web applications with XY technology or creating high-performance database structures.
In addition to technical skills, a web developer should have a pinch of creativity and perseverance in order to offer innovative solutions.
How do you become a web developer?
In most cases, applicants have a degree in computer science, specialist information technology, or media information technology. However, many come from technically oriented subjects or creative courses with subsequent further training.
Numerous institutes and educational institutions offer specialized training to aspiring web developers. The training could be done part-time through distance learning with or without a certificate awarded at the end.
Often, the training usually includes an internship at agencies and other companies. It is not uncommon for interns to be taken directly after a training.
Where can I work as a web developer? What salary can I expect?
Website developers work as freelancers or as employees at startups, agencies, and medium-sized or large companies.
While a freelancer chooses his clients largely independently, the web developer as an employee gets the customers, projects, and deadlines assigned by his superior.
Regardless of the size of a company, job requirements are often very demanding and complex. The average salary of web developers in the US is about $75,000.
Big cities
In large cities and metropolitan areas, earnings tend to be at the upper limit. However, web developer salaries largely depend on the career path and on the experience and specializations.
Experienced front-end developers can earn up to $70,000, while back-end developers generally earn a little more.
As a freelancer
The hourly rate for freelancers is agreed upon with the respective client. However, the competition among freelance web developers is increasing and costs arising from self-employment, e.g. insurance, must be taken into account when considering their income.