Choosing a career is never easy. You want to be sure you find a profession that suits your interests and abilities while still being able to pay the bills. So what about web development? Is it a good career choice in 2022 or should you check out other options?
The short answer is yes, web development is still an excellent career choice. Let’s take an in-depth look at web development and what makes it such an appealing career option for 2022.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is all the coding work that goes into the creation and maintenance of a website. The job of a Web Developer requires using a variety of coding languages to make websites that are functional, user-friendly, and visually appealing while also meeting additional project specifications. The websites that Web Developers create can vary in complexity from a simple, plain-text webpage to a complicated ecommerce or social networking site plus practically anything in between.
There are three separate specialties within the field of web development: front end, back end, and full stack development. Front end web development deals exclusively with the parts of a website that users interact with. Front End Web Developers use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to code all of a website’s visual elements, ensuring that the site is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. Back End Web Developers use advanced programming languages such as Java, Python, PHP along with frameworks like Django, Ruby on Rails, and Express.js to code and maintain the website’s database, server, and applications. Full stack web development is a combination of both front end and back end development, incorporating aspects of both types.
What Makes Web Development a Good Career?
Web development is considered an excellent career choice primarily because it’s a future-proof profession with high rates of pay but there are many additional reasons as well. Let’s take a closer look at what makes web development a desirable career:
Web Development Job Outlook
Now is a great time to start a new career in web development; the industry is experiencing tremendous growth and is in dire need of new recruits to help fill open positions. In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be 17,900 jobs opening up in web development every year from now until 2030. That equals a 13% job growth rate, which is significantly higher than the average growth for all occupations, which is predicted to be 8% over the next decade.
Earning Potential in Web Development Careers
Web development is also a great career choice for 2022 because it’s a very lucrative profession. There are various career routes you can take within the realm of web development, including Front End Web Developer, Back End Web Developer, and Full Stack Web Developer plus language-specific roles such as Python Developer, Ruby Developer, and Java Developer. Though the salaries for these positions vary depending upon where you’re located and how much experience you have, they tend to range between $100,000 and $130,000 per year. That’s about twice as much as the average wage in the United States, which was just over $56,000 in 2020.
Other Web Development Career Benefits
There are countless additional reasons why web development is an excellent career choice, such as:
- It’s an interesting field that allows developers to use their creativity to overcome coding challenges and create engaging websites
- Web Developers have flexible career options and can work in a variety of industries including education, manufacturing, retail, marketing, government, hospitality, finance, construction, and entertainment
- There’s a vibrant, active community of programmers who support one another and provide help when needed
- A large percentage of Web Developers report being satisfied with their careers
- Acquiring the necessary skills is easy; you don’t need a 4-year degree to work in web development
Qualifications to Work in Web Development
The number one qualification required to work in web development is the ability to code, though which programming languages you use will depend upon whether you’re working as a Front End, Back End, or Full Stack Developer. For Front End Web Developers, it’s vital to have in-depth knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
In addition to these front end languages, Full Stack Web Developers should also pick up at least a couple of back end languages such as Python, Java, Ruby, and PHP. Back End Web Developers are expected to know both HTML and JavaScript in addition to one or two back end languages.
Other technical requirements to work in web development include testing and debugging code plus knowing how to use version control software and other essential development tools like Git, VS Code, Node Package Manager (npm), and Chrome Developer Tools. Developers should also learn how to use the most popular libraries and frameworks in their area of expertise.
There are also a few key non-technical skills that many employers like to see in candidates for web development jobs. For instance, the ability to focus, pay attention to small details, and remain persistent when faced with problems are essential characteristics for Web Developers to have. Strong communication skills are also highly prized since web development is usually carried out by a team of contributors working closely together.
Start Your Career in Web Development
If you’d like to start a new career in web development in 2022, then you should consider enrolling in a web development bootcamp. Bootcamps are the ideal way to acquire the skills you need to embark on a new career path; they offer intensive skills-based classes on an abbreviated schedule, so you’ll be ready for your new profession in just a few short months. For maximum flexibility, you can even take a web development bootcamp live online.
If you’re not quite ready to complete a full bootcamp, another option would be to sign up for individual web development classes. That makes it possible for you to expand your skills and gauge your overall interest in web development before committing to a bootcamp. Depending on where you’re located, you might even be able to find some web development classes in your area. If none seem to be available nearby, you can always take web development classes live online without having to leave your home.