Is Web Development a Good Career? What You Should Know
The internet is such a massive part of society today that it’s nearly impossible to ignore. All those websites and functions—there’s more to do online every day. As a result, many people are wondering about careers connected to the web. Are these jobs lucrative? In demand? In short, is web development a good career?
“Development, whether in web, software, apps, games, etc... is a brilliant place to be in right now,” says Michael Pardon, director and front-end developer at E2E Studios. Pardon says there’s always work in development fields, especially for people who want to build something truly unique.
There are many factors to weigh when you’re choosing a career. And only you can know if those choices add up to a decision that will be right for you. Sometimes, all you need is a little more information. We gathered research and asked web developers what they’ve enjoyed about their careers to help you decide if becoming a web developer is a good move.
Is web development a good career in terms of salary and opportunity?
One way to measure a potential career is in its earning potential and job opportunity. On the earning potential front, web development careers appear strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the 2020 median annual salary for web developers and digital designers was $77,200—substantially more than the nationwide average of $41,950 for all occupations.1
The BLS also projects employment for web developers to grow at a rate of 13 percent through 2030—a rate faster than the occupational average.1 This is due in part to the explosive growth of e-commerce and the rising demand for mobile-friendly design.
As it stands, there’s little to no indication that the world will become less internet-focused. Technologies and platforms may shift, but the future appears bright for skilled web developers.
What do web developers think about working in web development?
Another way to evaluate a career option is to hear from professionals in the field right now. Is working in web development fun? Difficult? Exciting? We asked web developers to share some of the quirks of this role.
1. Web development can be fast paced
“I had this idea of what a web developer’s day at work looks like—long and boring,” says Sylv Zarzycki, junior web developer at designdough. “I couldn’t have been more mistaken.” Zarzycki explains that workdays are busy and full of collaborations with designers, content creators and clients.
“It’s way more chaotic and unpredictable than I ever thought it was going to be, but in the best and most exciting way.”
2. The creative work is engaging
Web development often involves a ton of creativity. Zarzycki says his favorite part of the job is when a new, awesome web design lands on his desk and he gets to play around with it. “There are a million ways to build a website, so it’s like an interactive jigsaw puzzle.”
3. The web development community is very supportive
“For me, the best part of the job is the community,” Pardon says. No matter what aspect of web development you like best, there’s probably a thriving community online full of other developers who will support you and collaborate.
Stuck on how to accomplish something? Odds are someone out there has worked on a problem or project similar to yours and is willing to offer tips or suggestions to help you get it sorted out.
“It’s a refreshing change where it’s not about competing all the time,” Pardon says. “There are so many avenues in development that people can work together on.”
4. You never stop developing your skills
For many web developers, leveling up their abilities and learning new things are definite highlights. Pardon enjoys the wide array of new things he learns to do on the job—building search engines and cryptocurrency trading websites, collaborating with Twitch® streamers and more. “I enjoy trying to create something others feel isn’t possible. It’s a brilliant role to get into if you like learning and adapting your skills.”
5. You create valuable solutions
Web developers often need to problem solve at a high level. “Part of the fun of being a web developer is coming up with simple, elegant solutions to problems that people face in their day-to-day lives,” says Patrick Rigor, UX engineer at Anura. He explains that it’s both exciting and rewarding to create valuable solutions that better people’s lives.
6. There are more resources to help web developers than ever before
“Getting into web development was daunting at first,” Rigor says. There’s so much to learn when you are starting out, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Pardon says it takes time and practice to learn web development. Professionals must first learn the fundamentals, then work at getting up to speed with current versions and methodologies.
But it’s a different learning landscape these days. Rigor says resources like W3Schools, StackOverflow, CodePen and pre-made libraries helped him feel less anxious about the learning curve. “At this point in time, the groundwork has been set for developers to explore and create innovative things.”
Is web development a good career for you?
As you can see, working in web development can be exciting, rewarding and stimulating all at once. Becoming a developer is time-intensive, Pardon says. “But in the end, it is a fulfilling endeavor that results in great rewards.”
When a website you’ve worked on for weeks or months goes live, Zarzycki says there’s a huge sense of satisfaction. “You see it and get to say ‘look at that awesome website! I built that.’”
If you think web development sounds like the kind of career you’ve been looking for, check out our article “Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Web Developer.”
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed December 2021] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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