Web Developers
What Web Developers Do
Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 5.3%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.4/5
- English Languageimportance 3.5/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.4/5
- Communications and Mediaimportance 3.2/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.0/5
- Designimportance 3.0/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 2.6/5
- Telecommunicationsimportance 2.5/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- E-Mail4.8/5
- Spend Time Sitting4.8/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions4.4/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.4/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.3/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.3/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Software Developers94% skill match
- Aerospace Engineers93% skill match
- Database Architects92% skill match
- Database Administrators92% skill match
- Physicists92% skill match
- Computer Programmers92% skill match
- Medical Dosimetrists91% skill match
- Computer Systems Analysts90% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Programmingimportance 4.1/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.6/5
- Operations Analysisimportance 3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.4/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.1/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
- Systems Evaluationimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
In-Demand Technologies
- JavaScript framework software
- RESTful API
- Web application software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Adaptability
- Achievement Orientation
- Perseverance
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- InvestigativeHigh
- ArtisticMedium
- RealisticLow
- EnterprisingLow
- SocialLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where web developers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Morgantown, WV8.25× national avg
- 2Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA4.89× national avg
- 3Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT3.80× national avg
- 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA3.69× national avg
- 5Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV2.71× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Software DevelopersAdvancement
- Database AdministratorsAdvancement
- Database ArchitectsAdvancement
- Computer ProgrammersAdvancement
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Computer Science
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)grads earn ~$188,871
- University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO)
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)grads earn ~$204,379
- Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)grads earn ~$121,405
- University of Maryland-College Park (College Park, MD)grads earn ~$137,931
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$129,303
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$144,205
- University of Maryland Global Campus (Adelphi, MD)grads earn ~$130,314
- MyComputerCareer at Columbus (Columbus, OH)grads earn ~$58,108
- New York University (New York, NY)grads earn ~$152,422
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$129,737
- Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA)grads earn ~$40,186
- Northeastern University Professional Programs (Boston, MA)grads earn ~$158,542
- School of Visual Arts (New York, NY)grads earn ~$67,483
- George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)grads earn ~$162,691