If you’re considering working in web development, you might be wondering how difficult of a career path it is to follow. While the process of becoming a Web Developer can be challenging, the rewards you receive in return often make it worth the effort. Let’s take a closer look at why.
Why Becoming a Web Developer Is So Difficult
If you’re thinking about becoming a Web Developer, you should know that it won’t always be easy; there are a few significant challenges that you’ll have to face along the way. Here are the three biggest reasons why it can be difficult to become a Web Developer.
1. You Have Many Decisions to Make
Starting a new career as a Web Developer can be difficult because you have a lot of decisions to make along the way. For example, you’ll need to decide which specialty you want to focus on. The three primary options are Front End Web Development, Back End Web Development, and Full Stack Web Development but you could also choose to specialize in a specific programming language by becoming a Ruby Developer, JavaScript Developer, Python Developer, or Java Developer.
You’ll also need to decide how to learn the skills necessary to become a Web Developer. Do you have the self-discipline required to learn on your own or would you prefer going to a school with a structured curriculum? If you choose a school, what type - a trade school, university, or one dedicated to tech classes alone? Would you prefer to learn online or through in-person classes?
Another consideration would be the amount of time you’re willing to put in to become a Web Developer. Are you able to dedicate yourself to full-time study or is part-time study required due to work and family obligations? Do you want to acquire your programming skills quickly or would you prefer to space classes out over several years?
2. There’s a Lot of Information to Take In
Another reason becoming a Web Developer is so challenging is there’s a lot of information to take in. You not only have to learn all the major programming languages associated with your specialty, you also have to learn how to use some of the most commonly used web development tools, libraries, and frameworks.
For example, if you choose to pursue a career in front end web development, you’ll need to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript plus Git for version control and the React and Bootstrap libraries. Aspiring Back End Web Developers would need to learn Java, Python, PHP, Ruby, and JavaScript along with Git plus frameworks like Django, Ruby on Rails, and Express.js. Potential Full Stack Web Developers carry an even bigger load; they have to learn a mixture of both front end and back end languages, libraries, and frameworks.
When you start your education, you may find yourself getting overwhelmed by all the new information you’re being exposed to. This information overload will be especially challenging for those who are complete beginners with no technical background. And the bad news doesn’t stop there; because the tech industry evolves quickly, Web Developers are expected to continue learning throughout their careers.
3. Switching Careers Can Be Stressful
Becoming a Web Developer is also difficult because changing careers is often stressful. When making the switch from one career to another, you have to take care of widely varying responsibilities; you not only need to deal with your current job and remain productive there, you also have to acquire the skills necessary for your new career then search for a new job. And if you add family responsibilities to that, the burden only increases. With so much to juggle at once, it’s no wonder changing careers is considered one of the biggest stressors people go through during their lives.
Why a Web Developer Career Is Worth the Effort
The good news is that all the challenges you have to face to become a Web Developer are worth it. Here’s why:
Job Outlook
Web development is a promising career with great potential. Every company needs a website to reach their customers but few business owners have the ability to create one, which means those with web development skills are in high demand. In fact, career opportunities in web development are expected to grow in the U.S. by at least 13% each year between now and 2030 — that's significantly higher than the average job growth rate of 8% for all occupations. That high growth rate equals roughly 17,900 open jobs every year for the next decade, which means now is a great time to transition to a new career as a Web Developer.
Income Potential
Thanks in part to the immense demand, web development salaries are quite high, often reaching more than six figures. For example, the average salary for a Full Stack Web Developer in the United States is $107, 000 per year. The annual salary for a Back End Web Developer comes in a bit higher at $115,000 per year while Front End Web Developers earn a little less with $102,000 per year on average. Of course, the amount you earn can vary depending on your location, education, and years of experience, but even when you take these factors into account, web development still pays a lot more than the average salary in the United States, which was $56,310 in 2020.
Flexibility
The effort you put into becoming a Web Developer is also worth it because it’s a career that offers you a considerable amount of flexibility, something that’s not always available in other professions. For example, you could put your web development skills to use as a salaried employee, freelancer, or business owner. You also have the option to work for almost any industry imaginable — organizations in education, manufacturing, retail, marketing, government, communication, transportation, hospitality, finance, construction, and entertainment all need a skilled Web Developer to develop and maintain their websites. Your location can likewise be flexible; whether working for a company or self-employed, Web Developers are able to do their job from practically anywhere that has an Internet connection.
Satisfaction
A career in web development is also worth the effort because many in the field report high rates of satisfaction with their chosen profession. In Stack Overflow’s 2020 survey of Web Developers, more than 63% of the nearly 65,000 respondents reported being satisfied with their job. This could be caused in part by the high salaries that often accompany web development positions; according to Pew Research, people who earn $75,000 per year or more report higher rates of job satisfaction compared to those who earn less than that amount. Regardless of the cause, Web Developers tend to be more satisfied with their careers than people in other professions.
Start Your Journey to Becoming a Web Developer
Are you ready to start your career in web development? The best way to do this is by enrolling in a web development bootcamp. Bootcamps are specialized skills-focused programs that operate on an abbreviated schedule; they’re considered an excellent alternative to university education because they can get you career-ready in several months as opposed to the 4 years required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Depending upon your location, you may be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area. If there are none available, a viable alternative would be enrolling in an online web development bootcamp. By taking your bootcamp online, you get the same expert instruction and live feedback as you would from an in-person class except you don’t have to deal with troublesome traffic.
If you’re not quite ready for an immersive bootcamp, another possibility would be enrolling in individual web development classes. That way you can get started on your learning journey while testing your interest in pursuing web development as a career. If you’re trying to fit your education in with a full-time job or busy home life, then online web development classes might be the best choice for you. They offer you maximum convenience with the same high-quality curriculum as in-person classes.