Web Developers and Digital Designers
1. OVERVIEW
Web Developers and Digital Designers design, develop, test, and maintain websites and digital interfaces. They combine technical expertise and creativity to ensure websites are functional, visually appealing, and user-friendly across devices.
2024 Median Pay:
Web Developers: $90,930/year
Web and Digital Interface Designers: $98,090/year
Job Growth (2023–2033): +8% (Faster than average)
Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree (Computer Science, Web Design, Graphic Arts)
2. ROLE BREAKDOWN BY LEVEL
ENTRY LEVEL
Job Titles: Junior Web Developer, Front-End Developer Intern, Junior UI/UX Designer, Web Designer
Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree (Web Development, Computer Science, or Digital Design)
Experience: Internships, coding bootcamps, or personal project portfolios
Certifications (Recommended):
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript certifications (e.g., freeCodeCamp, W3Schools)
Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
Core Duties:
Assist in designing and coding web pages and interfaces
Maintain content and troubleshoot bugs
Use CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Wix)
Collaborate with designers and developers on layouts and updates
Salary Range: $50,000–$75,000
MID LEVEL
Job Titles: Web Developer, Front-End Developer, UI/UX Designer, Digital Product Designer
Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience: 2–5 years of hands-on development and design
Certifications (Preferred):
Google UX Design Certificate
Certified Web Development Professional (CIW)
Core Duties:
Lead web development projects and interface designs
Integrate APIs and back-end services
Conduct usability testing and responsive design updates
Optimize performance, SEO, and accessibility
Salary Range: $75,000–$115,000
SENIOR LEVEL
Job Titles: Senior Web Developer, UX/UI Lead, Design Systems Manager, Creative Technology Director
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in relevant field
Experience: 6+ years with project leadership
Certifications (Preferred):
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Advanced UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Courses
Core Duties:
Oversee large-scale web projects from concept to launch
Mentor junior developers and designers
Set design standards and ensure brand alignment
Manage clients, stakeholders, or product teams
Salary Range: $115,000–$160,000+
3. HOW TO BECOME ONE
Education:
Varies: Associate, Bachelor’s, or coding bootcamp with portfolio
Skills Development:
HTML/CSS, JavaScript, UX/UI principles, responsive design
Portfolio:
Essential—build with GitHub, CodePen, Behance, or personal website
Licensure:
Not required, but certificates help job competitiveness
4. SKILLS & TOOLS
Core Skills
Coding (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python)
Design software (Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch)
Version control (Git/GitHub)
Responsive/mobile-first design
SEO, accessibility, and cross-browser compatibility
Tools
VS Code, Sublime Text
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator)
CMS platforms (WordPress, Squarespace)
Figma, InVision, Webflow
Google Analytics, Lighthouse
5. WORK ENVIRONMENT
Industries: Tech, marketing, retail, education, finance
Settings: Offices, fully remote, freelance, or hybrid
Schedules: Full-time; some freelance flexibility
Challenges: Tight deadlines, evolving tech standards, client needs
6. JOB OUTLOOK
Annual Openings: ~16,500 per year
Growth Factors:
Mobile-first design needs
E-commerce growth
Interactive web experiences
Career Paths:
Product Manager, Creative Director, UX Researcher
7. RELATED OCCUPATIONS
Role: Graphic Designers | Salary: $61,300 | Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Role: Computer Programmers | Salary: $98,670 | Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Role: Software Developers | Salary: $131,450 | Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Role: UX/UI Designers | Salary: $98,090 | Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Role: Information Security Analysts | Salary: $124,910 | Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
8. RESOURCES FOR LEARNING & ADVANCEMENT
Courses & Certifications
Google UX Design Certificate
Books
Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites by Jon Duckett
The Principles of Beautiful Web Design by Jason Beaird
YouTube & Communities
Traversy Media
The Net Ninja
Dev.to, Hashnode, and Stack Overflow
r/webdev and r/Frontend on Reddit
9. REGIONAL DATA & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Top-Paying Industries:
Finance and Insurance: $121,710
Computer Systems Design: $98,610
Hot Markets: California, New York, Texas, Florida, Washington
Remote Work Trend: Strong for freelance and contract developers
BLS Profile: Web Developers and Digital Designers
Projections Central: Employment Trends by State
