Web development is a broad term for any programming activity used to build a web site, but is usually understood to mean only the non-design aspects of website building. A web development specialist creates a website’s “back end”: the programming that builds what the web designer designs. Web development can range from programming a single page of text to complicated web-based web applications, electronic businesses, or social network services with many interactive elements. Web development specialists must be skilled programmers with knowledge of multiple programming languages, although specializing in a particular program or set of programs can also be an advantage. There are certificate and associate degree programs in web development, but the better jobs and higher salaries are awarded to those with a bachelor’s degree in web development, computer science, programming or software engineering.
Web Development Careers
Web developers enable companies, agencies, governments, schools, and hospitals (to name just a few) to process, store, retrieve, and share information, and allow website customers or visitors make online purchases, search for information, or communicate and interact with one another. Considering that there are more than 21 billion web pages from millions of web sites, your career in web development could be applied to a wide range of opportunities in online business, criminal justice, healthcare, media and communications, government, travel, entertainment, and higher education. Essentially, any organization that desires to have and maintain a web site will need a web developer.
What’s the Job Outlook?
The employment outlook for web development workers is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers web development to be part of the computer systems design and related services industry, which is projected to grow 45% between 2008 and 2018.
How Much Does Web Development Pay?
Web developers have skills and salaries comparable to those of computer programmers. The annual salary for a web developer is usually between $60,000 and $80,000.
