Web Developer Job Description

Web Developers are responsible for building and maintaining websites and web applications, writing the code that defines operational and functional capabilities. Depending on their particular specialization, web developers may focus on code that controls how the website looks (front end development), code that processes data and determines functionality (back end development), or both (full stack development). They might also be responsible for the ongoing capacity and performance of a site they create.

This overview will explain what Web Developers do, what they typically earn, and how to learn the skills required to land a web development job.

What is a Web Developer?

A Web Developer's main tasks are creating websites or web applications. In many cases, the Web Developer is also responsible for maintaining sites and applications, including capacity and performance checks. These professionals typically receive assignments to build websites or develop applications that serve specific purposes for their company or clients. The end products must fulfill their goals while providing an appealing and engaging user experience. 

For example, a travel agency might hire a Web Developer to create their website. The Web Developer would include features like requesting a quote or booking the service to serve the client effectively. However, navigating the website must be a positive experience for the potential customer. It must be intuitive and user-friendly, with top features like quotes and bookings in prominent areas. The end user may also want additional information to help them decide, such as travel agency reviews. The Web Developer’s job is to fulfill all the criteria they and the client laid out beforehand so that the client and consumer are satisfied with the site.

There are three primary types of Web Developers, front end, back end, and full stack. Each has specific responsibilities for website creation. Visual aspects of the website—the actual pages that users see and interact with—are referred to as the “front end,” and a Front End Web Developer will specialize in this part. The “back end” refers to the website’s structure and internal code, so a Back End Web Developer is responsible for this part of the site, which often includes site maintenance. Full Stack Web Developers are qualified to work on both the back and the front end and are highly desirable professionals.

Web Developers often work as part of a team, even when they do their coding work solo. Freelance Web Developers, however, may work entirely on their own. Web development teams' composition and reporting structure vary depending on business and industry. In addition to front end and back end developers, a development team may include a Project Architect, a Business Analyst, a Quality Assurance Engineer, a Content Strategist, or a UX Designer. Most teams will have a Project Manager coordinating their work. Depending on the company's size, developers may report directly to this manager or a general Web Development Manager responsible for multiple teams. 

Job Requirements

You do not need a degree to become a Web Developer. Up to two-thirds of entry-level web development roles do not list a degree as a requirement. In fact, you can become a Web Developer if you have a certificate or certification to demonstrate the relevant skills and knowledge. Many bootcamps and certificate programs can provide you with these types of credentials. 

Once you have completed your web development education, there are a few “must-haves” for your job search. Every Web Developer must have a website that displays their portfolio. This portfolio must demonstrate the candidate’s skills and showcase the type of work they can create. You will also need a resume, which should be no more than two pages. One page is acceptable, too, especially if you are new to the field. While the resume highlights your most significant accomplishments, you also need a LinkedIn profile that comprehensively lists your experience, education, certificates and certifications, and professional accomplishments.

Read more about the job requirements for a Web Developer.

Job Responsibilities

The main task of any Web Developer is to build websites and web applications that meet project criteria and fulfill their function (as designated by the company or client) while providing a positive user experience. More specifically, the job responsibilities of a Web Developer will depend on whether they work on the front end, the back end, or both. 

A Front End Web Developer’s typical responsibilities might include the following:

• Create and maintain the user interface (UI) of a website or web application
• Provide the bridge between visual design and its implementation on the technical side
• Use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to program the site or application’s user-facing functions
• Ensure that designs will function equally well regardless of browser or device type used
• Optimize the site or application for speed and scalability
• Construct reusable modules and libraries
• Validate form input before submitting code to the back end 
• Develop new tools that will improve site interaction for the end user
• Collaborate with back end Developers to integrate the site or application’s internal structure and operations with the user experience 

A Back End Web Developer’s responsibilities might include the following:

• Design and construct the internal structure of a website or web application
• Write efficient code to execute the desired functions while addressing a project’s specific technical requirements
• Program in languages that may include JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, Ruby, or C#
• Construct reusable modules and libraries
• Build robust Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that will support both desktop and mobile clients
• Test and debug the site or application’s code, including the construction of automated tests and validation of form inputs
• Optimize the site or application for performance and scalability
• Collaborate with front end Developers to integrate the site or application’s internal structure and operations with the user experience 

A Full Stack Developer handles front and back end development, so their work integrates the responsibilities listed above. 

Skills

You do not need a degree to become a Web Developer. Up to two-thirds of entry-level web development roles do not list a degree as a requirement. In fact, you can become a Web Developer if you have a certificate or certification to demonstrate the relevant skills and knowledge. Many bootcamps and certificate programs can provide you with these types of credentials. 

Once you have completed your web development education, there are a few “must-haves” for your job search. Every Web Developer must have a website that displays their portfolio. This portfolio must demonstrate the candidate’s skills and showcase the type of work they can create. You will also need a resume, which should be no more than two pages. One page is acceptable, too, especially if you are new to the field. While the resume highlights your most significant accomplishments, you also need a LinkedIn profile that comprehensively lists your experience, education, certificates and certifications, and professional accomplishments.

Read more about the job requirements for a Web Developer.

Why Do Businesses Need Web Developers?

In today’s world, a business with no online presence cuts itself off from a significant amount of business. Consider when you are choosing a restaurant for a date night, dinner with friends, or a business dinner. All you know is that everyone has agreed on Italian food. You search online, pull up a list of restaurants in your area, and find two Italian restaurants with equally positive reviews. Do you pick the restaurant with a polished website and a menu that’s easy to locate or the restaurant that only shows up online because a customer has added it to Yelp? For many, a restaurant with a good website looks like a better bet for a quality meal because having a site for one’s business shows professionalism and investment in the customer experience.

Many businesses also want to create web applications for their customers. Consider a medical office that already has a website, but patient feedback indicates that they would like to be able to schedule appointments online. The office might hire a freelance Web Developer to create an application for scheduling that would integrate with their existing site. Once that application is on the site and answering the needs of existing patients, it may also attract new patients who prefer to do everything online. The app could be the deciding factor for choosing one doctor’s office over another.

Whether creating websites or writing applications, Web Developers help bring business to the companies and clients they work for in a world where customers expect online presence and services from the businesses they patronize. 

Where Do Web Developers Usually Work?

For the reasons discussed in the last section, almost any business in any industry might hire a Web Developer. Everyone needs a website, from billion-dollar companies to mom-and-pop shops, and many businesses also need web applications.

Some companies may have in-house Web Developers who work for the business directly, especially big, well-funded companies that need to provide long-term, complex web services. For example, a large, established financial services company requires a robust and well-maintained online banking system. They’ll want Web Developers on staff to keep the system at an optimal performance level, and they’ll be able to afford salaries and benefits for a web development team. In contrast, if Jake and Pete’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shop needs a website to provide their hours, their location, and a menu that hasn’t changed in 15 years, they are more likely to hire a freelance Web Developer for short-term contract work. Despite their differences in size, funding, industry, and web services requirements, both companies and all kinds of businesses in between need to hire Web Developers.

Web Developer Salary and Job Outlook

Before choosing to become a Web Developer, you should know what you will likely be paid and the factors that affect your compensation. Web Developer salaries will vary according to a candidate’s education, experience, and specialized skills. The company size, workplace location, and industry also shape the compensation offered. But experience is the most important factor, followed by skill set and location. You will earn more if your employer is located in a large city. Salaries for Web Developers in the United States can range from $51,000 to $155,000. It is essential to research specific locations and industries when applying for Web Developer positions.

The job outlook for Web Developers is also excellent, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for Web Developers through 2031 is projected to grow by 23%, far higher than the 5% national average across all careers. The labor market is projected to add an average of 21,800 new Web Developer jobs each year in this time span. If you choose to become a Web Developer, you can expect the position to be in high demand with good job security in the coming years.

Read more about Web Developer salaries and the job outlook for a Web Developer.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Web Developer?

The time required to become a Web Developer will vary significantly depending on your chosen learning method, your experience level, and what type of developer you want to become. Pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in computer science will likely take two to four years to complete your studies.

However, you don’t need a formal degree to become a Web Developer. Instead, you can pursue a bootcamp or intensive certificate program, which often includes career support to help you get hired afterward. Someone completely new to coding is probably looking at five to six months from starting a bootcamp to becoming a qualified Web Developer. Those with previous coding experience enrolled in a full-time bootcamp could become qualified Web Developers in three months. Additionally, it will take less time to master front or back end web development than to become a full stack Web Developer, as Full Stack Developers need to be equally capable with front end and back end work.

Web Developer vs. Software Engineer

If you’re considering a Web Developer career, software engineering is another option. Software Engineers use their coding skills to create programs that run on an operating system. 

Professionally, a Web Developer has much in common with a Software Engineer. For example, both write code to create specific products that meet predetermined criteria and provide positive end-user experiences. They also may use some of the same programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python. 

However, the responsibilities of these two jobs differ. While Web Developers create sites and applications that users access via the internet, Software Engineers build programs that are meant to run on a computer or mobile device’s operating system. Software Engineers also write more complex programs, so they must have in-depth knowledge of computer science. Since Web Developers interact more directly with interface designs, they must have some creative prowess, especially when working on the front end. Software Engineers are typically better compensated than Web Developers, averaging about $127,000 yearly for an entry-level position to a Web Developer’s $75,000. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Web Developer at Noble Desktop

To become a Web Developer, you must learn specific skills critical to the job. Noble Desktop can help you build these skills through in-person or live online instruction. Either way, you’ll have access to expert instructors who can clarify issues when you are confused, provide feedback on your work, and guide you through becoming a Web Developer. Small class sizes and the option to retake any course for free once you’ve completed it are additional incentives for studying with Noble Desktop.

Noble offers several relevant certificate programs demonstrating your Web Developer skills and qualifications to share with potential employers and support you in your job search. Completing the software engineering certificate gives you the broadest qualifications and career path options. If you are primarily interested in developing for the front end, consider the front end web development certificate. JavaScript is becoming increasingly popular for web development, so completing the certificate in Javascript will boost your resume. Opt for the full stack development certificate if you're interested in front end and back end programming. And if you prefer behind-the-scenes programming, pursue the certificate in Python development.

If you’re a beginner in web development, Noble’s hub of articles and resources on web development is a great place to start and plan your learning path. Noble’s web development courses are excellent if you’re eager to start learning but not yet ready to commit to a full certificate.

Key Takeaways

• Web Developers create and often maintain websites or web applications
• Front End Developers focus on the visual elements of the site
• Back End Developers work on the internal structure
• Full Stack Developers do both
• Almost any business in any industry might hire a Web Developer to build a site or application
• Some businesses have in-house Web Development teams, while others hire individual Web Developers on a freelance basis
• It can take anywhere from three months to four years to become a qualified Web Developer, depending on your learning method, your level of previous coding experience, and whether you are pursuing full stack development vs. exclusively front end or back end
• Software Engineers create products by writing code and, in that respect, are comparable to Web Developers. However, Software Engineers write programs to run on a specific device, while Web Developers build sites and applications to be hosted on the internet
• You can receive comprehensive training to become a Web Developer through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop