There’s never been a better time to explore a career as a Web Developer. Here are the top 10 reasons why web development is considered such an exciting profession:
1. Money
One thing that makes web development such an exciting career is its high earning potential; many Web Developers earn six figures per year or more. Of course, the amount you earn can vary depending upon several factors including your area of expertise, job title, location, experience, education, etc. Let’s take a look at an example to illustrate.
Your area of expertise could be as a Front End, Back End, or Full Stack Developer. Among these three options, back end development is the most lucrative; in the United States, Back End Web Developers earn an average of $115,000 per year with Full Stack Web Developers making $107,000 and Front End Web Developers earning an average yearly salary of $102,000.
You could also choose to specialize in a specific programming language such as Ruby, Python, or JavaScript; Ruby Developers earn more than $131,000 per year on average while Python Developers earn an average of $108,000 and the average salary for JavaScript Developers runs around $111,000. While you might prefer to be a generalist, working as a Web Developer without an area of expertise will cost you; they only earn an average of $68,500 per year in the United States. Even though this is significantly lower than what you could potentially earn in web development, it’s still more than $10,000 higher than the average salary in the United States, which was $56,310 in 2020.
2. Opportunity
Web development is also considered an exciting field to get into because employment opportunities are plentiful. The current demand for web developers is already pretty high and it’s only expected to continue rising over the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development is projected to grow 13% over the next decade, adding approximately 17,900 jobs each year. This is substantially higher than the average rate of job growth, which sits at around 8%.
3. Security
The high demand for Web Developers makes it a “future proof” career path, meaning it will continue to be a valuable line of work for many years to come. That’s not a label that’s easily acquired; very few professions offer that kind of security, which is another factor that makes web development an exciting career path to pursue.
4. Creativity
Another thing that makes web development such an enticing profession is that it allows Web Developers to use their creativity and ingenuity. While some people may imagine web development as a dull desk job, that’s just an unfounded stereotype. In actuality, web development requires a mix of technical expertise and artistry. These two aspects of the job go together hand-in-hand; you can’t rely on one without also using the other. In fact, a major part of a Web Developer’s job is taking input from various sources and using their creativity, ingenuity, and technical expertise to bring those ideas to life. The opportunity to use creativity in the workplace is just one more reason why web development is considered an exciting career choice.
5. Flexibility
Another appealing attribute that web development has to offer is its flexibility. When you work as a Web Developer, there’s nothing tying you to the office — many companies offer remote development positions, so you can work from anywhere. It’s also considered a flexible career path because you don’t have to work as a full-time employee in order to make a good living; you can choose to strike out on your own as a freelance Web Developer or you could even start your own web development company — there are lots of options to choose from!
6. Variety
There’s also a considerable amount of variety within the realm of web development. For example, you could work in practically any industry imaginable, including education, manufacturing, retail, government, communication, marketing, transportation, hospitality, finance, construction, and entertainment. And don’t forget the many positions that you could qualify for as a Web Developer; you can work in front end, back end, or full stack development or specialize in a specific programming language by becoming a JavaScript Developer, Ruby Developer, Python Developer, or Java Developer.
7. Community
Another exciting aspect of working in web development is it gives you access to a strong community of developers, both on and offline. For those who like meeting face-to-face, there are plenty of opportunities to network in-person including through tech conferences and local Meet-Up groups. There’s also a thriving community of Web Developers online; you can find them in places like Stack Overflow, Reddit, and Dev.to. The best thing about these communities is that they’re very active and supportive. If you ever need help, just ask; chances are you’ll get a speedy response from your fellow Web Developers. Not many other professions offer access to such a vibrant, active community.
8. Enjoyment
Web development also gets its reputation as an exciting field because many programmers enjoy their work. In Stack Overflow’s 2020 survey of Web Developers, they asked respondents to weigh in on job satisfaction. Of the nearly 65,000 developers who responded, more than 63% of them reported being satisfied with their job. This could be thanks to 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. Job satisfaction might also be attributed to the security, flexibility, and community that are inherent in the field. Regardless of the cause, Web Developers tend to be more satisfied with their careers than people in other professions
9. Ease of Entry
Web development is also considered an exciting profession because the barriers to entry are low. Unlike a lot of other highly paid positions, Web Developers aren’t required to have a college education to qualify for entry-level positions. While there may be some employers that require a degree, most of them are only interested in whether you’re able to do the job. As long as you can prove that you have the necessary skills, you’re employable in the web development industry.
Acquiring the skills you need is also easy to do. There is a wide range of resources available, including free online tutorials, video lessons on YouTube, paid classes, bootcamps, and certification programs. The most comprehensive options by far are the web development bootcamps and certificates; with their intensive, skills-based curriculum, these programs get you career-ready in just a few short months.
10. Room for Growth
The potential for professional growth also makes web development an enticing career. Continuing your education and keeping up with changes in the tech industry are strongly encouraged in the field of web development. Many employers will even pay tuition for their development team to keep their coding skills sharp by taking additional classes.
This growth often translates into professional success; the most successful Web Developers are those who keep learning and growing throughout the duration of their career. It’s easy for programmers to progress from an entry-level position as a Junior Web Developer to a more senior role when they embrace learning, expand their knowledge base, and focus on improving their skills.
Start Your Career in Web Development
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.