Web Developer or Digital Designer
Web Developer or Digital Designer
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What Web Developers and Digital Designers Do
Web developers create and maintain websites. They are also responsible for the site’s technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website’s speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability. They are responsible for the look and functionality of the website or interface.
Duties
Web developers and digital designers typically do the following:
- Meet with clients or management to discuss the needs, design, and functionality of a website or interface
- Create and test applications, interfaces, and navigation menus for a website
- Write code for the website, using programming languages such as HTML or XML
- Work with other team members to determine what information the site will contain
- Work with graphics and other designers to determine the website’s layout
- Integrate graphics, audio, and video into the website
- Monitor website traffic
- Create prototypes and mockups of websites or applications
- Design and develop graphics
When creating a website, developers and designers have to make their client’s vision a reality. They build particular types of websites, such as ecommerce, news, or gaming sites, to fit clients’ needs. Different types of websites require different applications. For example, a gaming site should be able to handle advanced graphics, whereas an ecommerce site would need a payment-processing application. The developer decides which applications and designs will best fit the site, and the designer focuses on the look and usability of these elements across browsers or devices.
Some developers and designers handle all aspects of a website’s construction, and others specialize in a certain aspect of it. The following are examples of types of specialized web developers or digital designers:
Back-end web developers are responsible for the overall technical construction of the website. They create the basic framework of the site and ensure that it functions as expected. Back-end web developers also establish procedures for allowing others to add new pages to the website and meet with management to discuss major changes to the site.
Front-end web developers create the technical features for a website’s look. They develop the site’s layout and integrate graphics, applications (such as a retail checkout tool), and other content. They also write webdesign programs in a variety of computer languages, such as HTML or JavaScript.
Web and digital interface designers are responsible for creating the look and feel of a website or interface with regard to photos, color, font type and size, graphics, and layout. They also are responsible for the functionality, usability, and compatibility of the website or interface.
Webmasters maintain and update websites. They ensure that websites operate correctly, and they test for errors such as broken links. Many webmasters respond to user comments as well.
Work Environment
Web and digital interface designers held about 117,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of web and digital interface designers were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 17% |
| Self-employed workers | 13 |
| Retail trade | 7 |
| Finance and insurance | 5 |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 4 |
Web developers held about 98,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of web developers were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 21% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 7 |
| Self-employed workers | 7 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 6 |
| Software publishers | 6 |
Work Schedules
Most web developers and digital designers work full time.
Getting Started
How to Become a Web Developer or Digital Designer
Educational requirements vary for web developers and digital designers, based on work setting and other factors.
Education
Educational requirements for web developers and digital designers range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree.
Some employers prefer to hire web developer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, such as computer science or programming.
Web developers need to have a thorough understanding of HTML programming. Many employers also want developers to understand other programming languages, such as JavaScript or SQL, and have knowledge of multimedia publishing tools, such as Flash. Throughout their career, web developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.
Employers of digital designers may prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as web design, digital design, or graphic arts.
Web developers and digital designers may not need specific education credentials if they can demonstrate their abilities through prior work experience or projects.
Advancement
Web developers and digital designers who have a bachelor’s degree may advance to become project managers. For more information, see the profile on computer and information systems managers.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 19,000 openings for web developers and digital designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow as e-commerce continues to expand. As retail firms keep increasing their online offerings, demand for these workers is expected to grow. In addition, the continued use of mobile devices to search the web is expected to generate demand for web developers and digital designers to create websites and interfaces that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about web developers and digital designers, visit
World Organization of Webmasters
For more information about computer careers, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
Computing Research Association
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of web developers and digital designers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Computer and Information Systems Managers |
Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. |
Bachelor's degree | $164,070 |
|
Computer Programmers |
Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly. |
Bachelor's degree | $97,800 |
|
Computer Support Specialists |
Computer support specialists maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users. |
See How to Become One | $59,660 |
|
Computer Systems Analysts |
Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency. |
Bachelor's degree | $102,240 |
|
Database Administrators and Architects |
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure data. |
Bachelor's degree | $112,120 |
|
Information Security Analysts |
Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. |
Bachelor's degree | $112,000 |
|
Graphic Designers |
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. |
Bachelor's degree | $57,990 |
|
Special Effects Artists and Animators |
Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. |
Bachelor's degree | $98,950 |
|
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers |
Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects. |
Bachelor's degree | $124,200 |