Web Developers
Also called Web Architect, Web Design Specialist, Web Developer, or Webmaster
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Web Developers do
You build the websites and web apps people use every day, writing the code behind the buttons, pages, and data they never see.
Web developers build and maintain websites and web applications. That means writing code, designing how pages are put together, and building the databases (organized stores of information, like user accounts or product lists) that sit behind them. You also check your code: does it follow industry standards, and does it work in different browsers and on phones as well as laptops? You test after every update and keep backup copies of files so a broken site can be restored quickly.
The work mixes logic and design. You solve puzzles when something breaks, and you make choices about how things look and feel. You also talk with people to figure out what they actually need before you build it. Technology keeps shifting, so reading and learning is part of the job, not something extra.
A day in the life
You sit at a computer indoors for most of the day. Morning starts with email and a short team check-in about what work needs to be finished and released to users this week. Then you write code, fixing a page that behaves oddly on phones but fine on a laptop. Mid-morning you meet face to face with a colleague or a client to understand what a new feature needs to do, and you listen carefully, because a vague request turns into wasted work. After lunch you run tests on a recent change, back up the site files, and update a database that feeds the homepage. A deadline is coming, so you focus. You end by reading up on a tool you might use next.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Enjoy figuring out why something broke and chasing it down
- ✓Like making things that other people will actually see and use
- ✓Can keep files, versions, and schedules orderly
- ✓Are comfortable asking questions until you understand what someone needs
- ✓Don't mind learning new tools throughout your career
You might not like it if you…
- –Want to be on your feet and outdoors rather than sitting at a desk
- –Get stressed by deadlines and last-minute changes
- –Prefer work that stays the same once you have learned it
- –Would rather avoid meetings and client conversations entirely
How people get in
- 1Start coding now with free online tutorials and build a small website of your own, even a simple one.
- 2Take math, English, and any computer or design classes your school offers, since clear writing and clear code both matter here.
- 3Most people enter with a bachelor's degree; common paths include computer science, computer programming, web page and multimedia design, or web and multimedia management.
- 4Build a portfolio of projects you can show, with links to live sites and the code behind them.
- 5Look for internships or part-time work building or updating sites for a club, small business, or nonprofit to get real users and real deadlines.
- 6Keep learning after you are hired, through reading, courses, workshops, or developer groups, because the tools change.
Who tends to enjoy it
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Creative
People who like making things, design, writing, music, and self-expression.
Official task list
Web Developers 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. (O*NET)
- Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
- Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
- Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
- Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
- Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
- Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
- Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
- Perform or direct Web site updates.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Operations Analysis
- Active Listening
What you'll need to know
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
How much Web Developers make
The median pay for Web Developers in the U.S. is $92,650 a year ($44.54 an hour). Most earn between $48,100 and $162,290. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in Washington ($130,440) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($46,020).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $76,230 | 1,010 |
| Arkansas | $50,550 | 400 |
| California | $119,570 | 7,320 |
| Colorado | $85,950 | 1,680 |
| Connecticut | $85,930 | 750 |
| Delaware | $76,020 | — |
| District of Columbia | $114,690 | 430 |
| Georgia | $90,340 | 1,500 |
| Idaho | $79,290 | 220 |
| Illinois | $84,820 | 4,310 |
| Indiana | $80,870 | 860 |
| Iowa | $64,210 | 420 |
| Kansas | $73,590 | 500 |
| Kentucky | $82,630 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $85,330 | 490 |
| Maryland | $112,690 | 1,960 |
| Massachusetts | $98,470 | 1,940 |
| Michigan | $98,470 | 1,580 |
| Minnesota | $101,020 | 1,200 |
| Missouri | $103,750 | 1,160 |
| Montana | $62,060 | 550 |
| Nebraska | $80,350 | 230 |
| Nevada | $83,220 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $78,260 | 470 |
| New Jersey | $95,180 | 2,250 |
| New Mexico | $68,120 | 130 |
| New York | $98,580 | 3,990 |
| North Carolina | $96,610 | 2,030 |
| North Dakota | $72,190 | — |
| Oklahoma | $78,580 | 410 |
| Oregon | $64,460 | 1,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,380 | 1,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,020 | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $98,140 | — |
| South Carolina | $78,190 | 710 |
| South Dakota | $51,100 | 390 |
| Tennessee | $74,760 | 1,620 |
| Texas | $85,800 | 4,910 |
| Utah | $100,170 | 1,280 |
| Vermont | $84,550 | 70 |
| Virginia | $128,380 | 4,590 |
| Washington | $130,440 | 4,430 |
| West Virginia | $78,240 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $90,630 | 1,180 |
| Wyoming | $68,410 | 50 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Computer Science 1,091 colleges
- Computer Programming / Programmer 489 colleges
- Web Page, Digital / Multimedia and Information Resources Design 496 colleges
- Web / Multimedia Management and Webmaster 149 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 15-1254.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 15-1254. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.