After the advent of technology, there is a high demand for job roles like web developers and web designers. Therefore, in recent times, many students have an interest in starting their career as a web developer. Unfortunately, most of the students are unaware of how to begin their journey as a web developer. Hence, they seek answers to questions like how long does it take to become a web developer, what should I learn to become a web developer, what is the average salary of a web developer, how long does it take to learn web development, and so on. If you are also one such person who aspires to become a web developer but has many doubts regarding it, then this blog is for you.
Especially, to help you out, here, we have provided answers to all the basic queries about web development and the career opportunities of web developers.
Continue reading and get clarifications.
What is Web Development?
Web Development is the process of developing and maintaining websites, web pages, and web applications for computers and mobile devices. Basically, the web development involves two things- front-end and back-end development. The front-end development focuses on creating and designing the user interface of a website whereas the back-end development focuses on everything that happens behind the website like database creation and maintenance, server-side working, application programming interfaces, and architecture.
Who is a Web Developer?
A Web Developer is a professional who develops websites using the source code of different programming languages. Basically, a web developer is responsible for transforming a human language into a language that a machine can understand. As new web technologies are emerging constantly, to stay in the field for a long time, web developers must learn more programming languages.
Wondering what a web developer should do? At first, web developers will have to gather the requirements and get to know the purpose of the website from business analysts or clients. Then, they will have to build a plan for the website, design wireframes, and write the source code. Particularly, to determine the flow of the website, what content to include in the website, and how the website will look, web developers can work with other team members such as graphic designers, user experience (UX) designers, and search engine optimization specialists.
Different Types of Web Developers
In general, different types of web developers are available for handling various tasks of web development. So, before you begin your career in the web development field, you must know what type of web developer you would like to become. The following are some common types of web developers.
Front-End Developers
The role of these developers is to improve the website’s design. They are responsible for solving all the issues that a visible in the website’s front-end. The ultimate aim of front-end developers is to build the website in a way that is easy for the users to access and interact with.
Back-End Developers
The role of these developers is to solve the issues that arise at the back end of a website. Some common problems that are related to the back end are security, speed, or performance. Generally, the back-end developers consider all the aspects and develop the back side of the website to make the front-end user experience better.
Full-Stack Developers
Full-stack developers are those who develop both the front-end and back-end of a website. To become a full-stack developer, one must have strong knowledge of different programming languages, extensive working experience, and should be highly efficient. The peak of the web development career is the full-stack developer role.
WordPress Developers
WordPress is one of the popular Content Management Systems (CMS) with which a website can be developed. To become a WordPress Developer high technical knowledge is not required. Generally, a CMS like WordPress comes with a variety of plug-ins for accessibility, SEO, e-commerce, etc. Therefore, with simple mouse clicks and drag-and-drop features of CMS, web development can be done easily. Those who develop websites using WordPress are called WordPress Developers.
No matter, what type of web developer you love to become, you must have good programming skills and strong knowledge of web development.
Benefits of Learning Web Development
If you learn web development, then you can earn the following benefits.
- Obtain skills necessary to qualify for a front-end developer, back-end developer, or full-stack web developer job position
- Start your own business
- Work as a freelance web developer
- Work with top MNCs in the world for a high salary
Where and How Can You Learn Web Development?
Basically, it is not so easy to become a web developer. To begin a career as a web developer, one must possess the strong knowledge and skills required for web development. Particularly, to learn web development and become a web developer, several options are available. The following are some simple options where you can learn web development.
Four-Year Degree
If you wish to become a full-time web developer, then you can very well enroll for a 4-year bachelor’s degree in web development, computer science, information technology, or computer programming from a reputed college or university. Some courses will help you learn two or three different programming languages while certain courses will help you learn CSS, HTML, and web technologies along with two or three programming languages. So, before taking up a program, check the course curriculum. By seeing the curriculum, you will get an idea about what programming languages are covered in the course.
It is not always necessary to have a college degree to take up the role of a web developer. However, it will add more value to your profile, if you have more education.
Coding Bootcamp
A 4-year degree program will take more time for you to become a web developer. But, you can complete a coding bootcamp at a cost and time less than a 4-year degree program. Moreover, when you take a bachelor’s course, you will have to learn various subjects included in the course curriculum whereas the bootcamps will teach only the technologies that are required for becoming a web developer.
Typically, a web development bootcamp takes 3 to 4 months to teach you HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. On the other hand, by attending Full-stack bootcamps, you can also learn Python, SQL, and other back-end coding languages.
Online Courses
On the internet, several websites, reputed institutes, colleges, and universities offer online courses on web development. You can take such online courses for a price less than the 4-year degree program or coding bootcamps. Moreover, online courses will help you learn at your own pace and improve your web development skills. Some YouTube channels also offer free online courses and tutorials on web development. But, the biggest disadvantage of online courses is that you may not get assistance immediately when you are stuck or have any doubts.
Web Developer Certification
To become a web developer, it is also good to have a web developer certification because it will help your resume stand out. Several organizations offer web developer certification. You can even obtain web developer certification through colleges, online courses, and bootcamp providers. The following are some popular web developer certifications.
- MIT x PRO Professional Certificate in Coding: Full Stack Development with MERN [Duration- 32 weeks; 15 to 20 hours per week]
- Web Design and Development: Cornell Certificate Program [Duration- 3 Months; 7 to 10 hours per week]
- W3Cx’s Professional Certificate in Front-End Web Developer [Duration- 7 months; 5 to7 hours per week]
How Long Does it Take to Become a Web Developer?
The options listed above will help you to learn web development and become a good web developer. But still, some students ask- how long does it take to become a web developer?
If you work hard, then you can definitely become a web developer within a few months. Especially, to know the basics of web development you must learn HTML and CSS.
Mostly, the time it takes for you to learn web development and become a web developer will vary according to your experience and the learner level you are in. Basically, the learner levels are of three types-Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
If you have no knowledge about programming, then it will take more time for you to learn all the concepts. But if you are an intermediate or an advanced level learner, then probably it will take only around a few months to one year for you to become a web developer. If you know the basics of programming, then by practicing the programs daily, you can easily improve your coding and web development skills.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Web Developer as a Beginner?
A beginner is a person who is new to the coding field. Also, they will not have any idea about web programming and how to do web development. So, for beginners, it will take more time to learn web development and become a web developer. If you are a beginner who wishes to become a web developer in minimum time, then follow the steps suggested below.
Steps to Become a Web Developer in Less Time
To become a web developer quickly, you must undergo two steps as listed here.
Step 1: Learn All the Web Development Concepts
First, to become a web developer, you must know what web development means, how to do web development, and what are the programming languages required for web development. In specific, every beginner must know all the below-listed web development concepts
- Overview of Web Technology
- HTML
- CSS
- Web Extensions
- JavaScript
- Web APIs
- Protocol for transmitting web resources
Mostly, it will take around 2 to 3 months for a beginner to learn all these important concepts. If you are a fresher, then make sure to learn all the web development concepts listed above; otherwise, it will be tough for you to learn and understand web development. Once you learn the basics of web development, move to the next step.
Step 2: Improve Web Developer Skills
For creating web pages, you must have good knowledge of HTML/CSS. HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the basic scripting language that web developers use to design a web page, structure the text in the page, and develop the connections that make the internet a ‘web’. In addition to HTML and CSS, you must also have knowledge of the following
- Database Management
- JavaScript
- Backend technologies
- Frameworks and Libraries
To learn all these concepts, it will usually take around 5 to 6 months. Once you obtain the necessary knowledge and skills needed for web development, try to design your own website. If you keep on practicing, you can become a good web developer in 9 months. But, to get a web developer job in a top MNC, it may take around 2 to 4 years.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Web Developer as an Intermediate and Advanced Learner?
Generally, intermediate-level learners will have good knowledge of web development concepts and the programming skills needed for web development. Therefore, for intermediate-level learners, it will take just 5 to 6 months to become a web developer.
On the other hand, it will take just 2 to 3 months for an advanced-level learner to become a web developer. One main thing required to become a web developer in minimum time is an interest in learning. If you are more passionate about learning and developing skills, then it will take only a few months for you to become an excellent web developer. Additionally, you must practice coding regularly.
What Programming Languages Should You Learn to Become a Web Developer?
To develop a simple website, a single programming language is enough. But to create a highly interactive website, you must have knowledge of several programming languages. However, you can even develop websites without programming by using code-free website-building tools. For instance, Elementor will help you to build a website without code using WordPress. Listed below are some major coding languages that will help you to develop an amazing website.
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Python
- Typescript
- Ruby
Average Salary of a Web Developer
According to the reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary a web developer earned in the USA during 2020 is $77,200 per year. Typically, entry-level web developers earn less whereas experienced web developers earn more. According to Payscale, in 2022, entry-level web developers have earned about $51,000 and those with 20+ years of experience have earned around $80,000.
According to BLS projections, employment for digital designers and web developers would rise by 13% between 2020 and 2030. This is a far greater rate of job growth than the average for all occupations in the country. By 2030, the BLS projects that 25,500 new jobs will be available.
Conclusion
Hopefully, by now you will have got answers to all the queries you have about web development and becoming a web developer. Currently, all organizations have a website, and those without are in the process of creating one. This implies that everyone requires a web developer to assist with the building of websites and web applications. If you want to become a web developer, then make sure to learn web development and improve your programming skills. While learning web development, you will definitely have to complete several assignments. In case, you experience difficulties in doing your web development project or assignment, contact us immediately .
