Is Front End Web Development a Good Career?

Becoming a Front End Developer provides a good long-term and in-demand career option. With the world’s ever-expanding dependence on technology, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects opportunities in web development and related areas to grow significantly between now and 2031. 

With the continued increase in several areas of technology including ecommerce, work for people with skills in web development and digital design is projected to increase as companies will be looking for Front End Developers, Back End Developers, and Digital Designers to create visually appealing and functional websites and applications that must work on various-sized screens. 

A Front End Developer must have knowledge and experience in web development and coding with an emphasis on the front end, which focuses on the user side for designing and developing websites. Working as a Front End Developer allows for creativity as well as working with a flexible schedule. Working in front end web development also provides good salaries for an in-demand profession that continues to grow.

What is a Front End Developer?

Becoming a Front End Developer involves building websites and applications using common front end web development languages. The front end of a website is what users see on their web browsers and is built using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other coding languages. 

Web development includes creating websites and apps from scratch. This means applying front end, back end, and full stack web development procedures. Front end development focuses on how a user interacts with a website while back end development concerns the functionality of that website within browsers like Chrome and Safari, for example. Full stack development combines both those functions.

Skills needed for becoming a Front End Developer can also qualify you for working as a Web Developer or Web Designer.

Read more about what a Front End Developer does.

Front End Developer Salary and Job Outlook

There are plenty of career options for those who have skills in front end web development. Front End Developers can earn an average salary of around $91,000 a year in the United States. The position can earn a qualifying professional as much as $114,000 in a place like San Francisco, which, of course, is the largest city located near Silicon Valley, the hub of the tech sector. Front End Developers can also earn salaries of about $105,000 in Seattle or $98,000 in Atlanta. 

Occupations similar to Front End Developer include Web Developer, which averages around $67,000 nationally, and Web Designer, earning around $52,000.

Read more about Front End Developer salaries and job outlooks for the position.

What Makes Front End Developer a Good Career?

Many organizations have websites and are looking to maintain or improve their web presence within today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. Becoming a Front End Developer provides plenty of options due to the increasing expansion of technology. A Front End Developer must understand the basics for designing and building websites. The front end of a website is what users see on their browsers and is constructed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript coding. Other skills required include knowledge of JavaScript frameworks and libraries such as React and Node.js. Therefore, skills in coding are essential.

Front End Developers are responsible for the user-side of websites, especially with the visual appearance and user interface (UI) for that site. Front End Developers work with Back End Developers in testing design, layouts, interfacing, functionality, and navigation for web pages and applications to ensure visibility, compatibility, and usability within all types of web browsers or devices. While Front End Developers optimize user interface for a website, Back End Developers focus on performance and function on the server side of the site. Web development is a collaborative occupation that demands working as part of a team.

Front End Developers Are in Demand

With the world’s ever growing dependence on technology, Front End Developers focus on the visible side for creating websites. Front End Developers design and develop the layout for websites and apps by integrating graphics and content. Front End Developers apply coding and programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in designing and developing those websites.

In addition to HTML and JavaScript, most employers require Front End Developers to have experience with several programming languages, including SQL and JavaScript libraries and frameworks. It’s also beneficial to have knowledge and experience with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal. It’s also imperative that Web Developers keep up to date on new tools and computer languages as well as maintaining skills with current technology and methodologies throughout their career.

A Front End Developer must be a problem-solver who has no problems working under pressure and meeting deadlines. The profession also demands being able to adapt to sudden changes because there are always new methods coming up for doing things when working in technology.

Possessing Skills in Web Development

A Front End Developer must possess web development skills for building the user-side for websites and apps through coding and programming languages. A Front End Developer must work as a member of a team in creating what users see on their screens. They must be able to work with graphics in collaboration with designers in determining the layout of a website, including integrating graphics, audio, and video into a web page.

While Front End Developers are responsible for the client-side, they usually collaborate with Back End Developers who have to possess the skills needed for the server-side of web development. Back End Developers focus on the technical aspects for how a website functions. As part of their responsibilities, Back End Developers must ensure that a website operates and are also usually responsible for troubleshooting issues with that site. In contrast to Front End Developers, who are responsible for the user-side in creating a website, Back End Developers focus on the server-side of websites by integrating elements of front end web development.

As an occupation that depends on collaboration, working as a Front End Developer creates opportunities for working in different areas of web development and technology, fostering essentially a cross pollination of skills that can lead to options for shifting over to other related careers.

Possessing Skills in Coding

Front End Developers must possess coding skills that focus on how users interact with websites and apps. A Front End Developer must know HTML and CSS along with JavaScript. Front End Developers write HTML code to provide content for websites along with CSS to arrange the style and layout of the web page. JavaScript provides interactivity and animation for websites.

Coding is what makes the Internet work. Code runs behind web pages and plays an integral role in how technology basically runs everything–including business–in today’s world. There are various coding languages that facilitate Computer Programmers in developing websites, apps, and digital software as well as analyzing data or creating machine learning algorithms. Having a background in coding demonstrates skills and knowledge that can be helpful in finding employment in an ever-evolving world.

Coding skills can also lead to working as a Back End Developer. Working on the back end emphasizes the powering and functioning of websites within browsers. Learning programming languages like Swift, Objective-C, or Go can help Front End Developers in knowing back end and full stack functions that should provide flexibility when hunting for work.

Experience in a Collaborative Working Environment

Without exception, Front End Developers are expected to work as part of a team. Aside from Back End Developers, Front End Developers work with Designers, Project Managers, and Product Managers in designing, developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting websites and apps.

In contrast to Front End Developers, who are responsible for the user-side of websites, Back End Developers focus on the server-side of websites and apps by having to integrate elements of front end web development. Back End Developers emphasize the functionality of websites and usually collaborate with Front End Developers and others in making sure that websites and applications operate.

Front End Developers also work with Project Managers, who lead teams on projects through planning, managing, and budgeting in order to meet defined goals and deadlines. Project Managers manage people, scope, time, quality, and budgets in industries as diverse as construction and information technology.

Opportunities for Advancement as Front End Developers

As an occupation that depends on collaboration, working as a Front End Developer can create opportunities for working in several areas of web development and technology.

Front End Developers who have a bachelor’s degree can move on to becoming Project Managers. Because Front End Developers work as part of a web development team, becoming a Project Manager seems like a natural next step in the career.

Project Managers apply several methods for getting projects completed. Becoming a Project Manager requires formal project management certification in order to qualify for many of the positions. In order to become a Project Manager, a candidate must gain Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certifications. CAPM provides an initial foundation when entering the field while the PMP certification requires more experience from working within the profession.

Job Outlook for Front End Developers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for Front End Developers should grow between now and 2031. Many openings are expected due to organizations needing to replace employees who are either retiring or moving on to other places.

With the continued increase in areas of technology like digital streaming, social media, and ecommerce, work for individuals with skills in web development or digital design are projected to grow.

Career Paths Related to Front End Developer

Due to their versatility, web development and coding skills can provide you with several career paths. With these skills, you can become a Front End Developer, focusing on how a user interacts with a web page. Anyone new to web development can also find work as a Web Designer, which requires fewer technical responsibilities in a tech-related job that offers a good initial position for someone coming from a design background with knowledge in HTML and CSS looking to work in the tech industry.

Additionally, web development and coding skills can qualify you to work as a Back End Developer, which emphasizes the powering and functionality of websites working within a browser, or Full Stack Developer, which combines front end and back end roles. Other options related to finding careers related to front end web development include work as a Product Manager, Software Project Manager, Software Engineer, .Net Developer, and, of course, Web Developer. Positions similar to Front End Developers offer comparable salaries and interchangeable procedures but may use other coding languages. Learning programming languages like Swift, Objective-C, or Go as well as getting familiar with working in back end and full stack functions should appeal to potential employers.

Careers related to becoming a Front End Developer include Mobile App Developer, UI Designer, UI Engineer, and Software Engineer. Other work includes becoming Data Analysts, Data Scientists, or Machine Learning Engineers, which all involve working in data analysis, algorithms, and visualization.

Read more about other career paths related to Front End Developer careers.

Learn the Skills to Become a Front End Developer at Noble Desktop

People have several options for learning to become a Front End Developer, which include in-person and live online training courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs that provide real-time hands-on instruction. Noble Desktop offers several live online Web Development courses.

For example, with hardly any prior coding experience, an individual could complete the Front End Web Development Certificate and get headed in the right direction for their new career with training in how to build the user side of a responsive website. This course aims to keep class sizes small so that students can receive tailored advice and guidance from their instructors.

If you would like to learn about designing websites or email programs from coding with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, you can train for the Web Design Certificate. In addition, this course will teach you how to build websites using WordPress.

If you would like to learn about more options for building websites or apps from scratch through skills in front end web development, Noble Desktop provides information on their Learn Front End Web Development page, which can guide you through learning about several options for becoming a Front End Developer, including what free resources are available and career advice.

Key Takeaways

• Becoming a Front End Developer provides good long-term career options for an in-demand profession.
• Working as a Front End Developer involves designing and developing the user-side of websites and apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Many organizations are looking to maintain or improve on their web presence in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape.
• With an ever-growing dependence on technology, companies are looking to hire Front End Developers.
• Front End Developers must be willing to work as part of a team in collaborating on web development projects. 
• Working as a Front End Developer provides opportunities for working in several areas of web development and technology.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the employment outlook for Front End Developers is expected to grow.
• Due to inherent versatility, web development skills can provide several career paths.
• Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online web development courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs that provide training through real-time hands-on projects.