How to Become a Web Developer: A Comprehensive Guide for 2023

by Hiration

Web development is the most demanded skill in 2023.

According to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of web developers will grow by 23% from 2020 to 2031, which is higher than the average of all other job fields.

The modern world cannot exist without the internet, and companies cannot flourish without a website. A website is needed to retain customers' trust and expand the business. Guess who creates the websites?

A web developer. Developers build any piece of software that you encounter on the web. They create websites for their clients or companies.

Web developers are rewarded heavily for their work as they are employed by high-paying industries such as advertising companies, digital marketing agencies, and computer system design industries.

Are you wondering how to become a web developer? Are you interested to know more about it? Then you are at the right place.

Here we will find answers to the most common questions related to web development to give you an in-depth understanding of it.

Who Is a Web Developer?

Imagine if you have to apply for a job, your first instinct will be to search for information about the company. You will do this by visiting the website of the company. The simple answer to who is a web developer is that they are a wonderful person who builds and looks after websites.

Web developers are responsible for giving you a user-friendly experience with the websites. Web developers use coding in different programming languages to design and develop websites. They can work on the front-end or back-end or, at times, unite both.

What Are the Different Types of Web Developers?

There are three major types of web developers: front-end developers or the client-side, back-end developers or the server-side, and full-stack developers. A web developer can choose to engage in any type and grow expertise in it.

Front End Developer

Front-end development or client-side refers to everything you see as user experience on the website. A front-end developer is a reason for everything visible to you like menus, texts, images, navigation bars, and everything else you encounter on a website.

A front-end developer reads the design and creates a code to execute it on the website. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the most common programming languages that front-end developers work with.

Back End Developer

Back-end development or server-side refers to everything that goes behind the scene. Back-end developers write codes so that they can use the codes to interact with the database. In simple words, they read algorithms and optimize complex systems.

For example, when you sign up on a website and give details, the verification email you receive is back-end developers' work. They are responsible for the whole of the website architecture, scripting, and database interaction.

According to Indeed, back-end development is the fastest growing job area in 2023.

Also Read: What are the top interview questions for web developers?

Full Stack Development

A full-stack developer does the combined work of front-end developers and back-end developers. They know various programming languages, frameworks, servers, networks, and hosting. They are proficient with the works of both specializations to develop complex software applications from scratch.

What Does a Web Developer Do?

Web developers build and maintain the websites. But is that all that they do? Let us look at the most common roles and responsibilities of a web developer.

Web developers build websites by giving life to what web designers have imagined using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
They look after the needs of both clients and customers and create a website accordingly.
Web developers create and maintain software documentation.
They scale the website, eventually bringing more traffic and business to the companies.
A web developer stays updated with the latest technological advancements and incorporates the same into the websites they build.

Also Read: What is the salary trend of a web developer in 2023?

How to Become a Web Developer?

Like any other job profile, aspiring web developers too, need to focus on three essential requirements of web developers. You can become a web developer with the proper education and enhance your performance and salary with the right certifications and experience.

Education to Become a Web Developer

The minimum requirement to become a web developer is a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. As a web developer, you must have studied mathematics, programming languages, database management, web designing, and networking.

Certifications to Become a Web Developer

Some certifications can enhance your performance and put you ahead of your competition. You can either pursue these certifications as you start working or pursue your education. A list of certificates that can give you a leg up for job hunting while grooming your skills is given below.

Experience to Become a Web Developer

Many companies seek out employees who have some years of experience. The reason is with experience, you become an expert in your field. Although there is no hard and fast rule for web developers to have experience, the pay of experienced web developers is a lot more than their counterparts.

According to Payscale, web developers with 20 or more years of experience earn 33% more than the average. The average salary for an experienced web developer is $78,953, while an entry-level web developer is $51,176.

Also Read: How to make the best web developer resumes in 2023?

What Are the Steps to Become a Web Developer?

If you are still wondering how to become a web developer, we have compiled a step-by-step guide to ease the process. There are eight steps to becoming a web developer. Following these steps and becoming a web developer will be a piece of cake.

Complete Degree

It is essential that you complete your graduation degree in computer science or a relevant field. So first and foremost, finish your education so that you have a basic understanding of all the terms that you would face time and again in the world of web development.

You can opt for a web development boot camp to enhance your skills after graduation. They usually last for 3-12 months.

Enhance Knowledge of Coding and Programming Languages

One of the critical requirements of a web developer is knowledge of programming languages. Whether HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, you must be aware of these coding languages.

While HTML is a markup language that gives a skeleton to the website, CSS adds style to a website. On the other hand, JavaScript makes the whole website function through the elements you want to add.

Learn about WordPress

Knowledge of WordPress is vital for web developers. According to Web Technology Surveys, 65% of all websites make use of WordPress.

If you know how to set up WordPress, it will be effortless for the clients to add the content themselves. You can easily install it on any web host. It is this feature that makes it a top-rated open-source software.

Build a Portfolio

You are in the market to grab the best web developer job offer. To get that, you will have to offer something valuable. Building your portfolio would showcase your expertise as a web developer.

By visiting your portfolio, clients will get an idea about your quality of work. It will evidence your skills, making you the best catch for them.

Get Professional Certifications

Certifications add value to your skill set and often empower you with the needed skills. The certificates will help you understand coding and web development with hands-on experience as a web developer.

Learn UX and UI

As a web developer, your knowledge about user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) must be thorough. UX and UI understanding will help you navigate the demands of the users who visit your websites. It is what users are looking for and how you deliver it to them that will count.

Brush Up the Basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

It is widely known that SEO is responsible for bringing more traffic to any website. It increases the ranking of the website for search engines like Google. Although it is the work of content creators, if you create a website keeping in mind the SEO requirements, the chances are high that your website will rank.

Find the Job

The last step in becoming a web developer is finding a job. As exciting as it may sound, remember it is the final step, and so you must be thorough with the previous actions. Once you feel confident, you are ready to apply to job search portals like Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, etc.

How to Become a Freelance Web Developer?

To become a full-time web developer, you may need to make cold calls, exhaust job searching portals, and reach out to hiring managers. But successful freelance web developers find clients' attention by showcasing their skills on portfolio sites.

The significant advantage that a freelance web developer enjoys is the flexibility of working at their preferred time and location. Once you are an expert freelancer, the chances are high that you will be paid even more than a full-timer.

Now that you are wondering how to become a freelance web developer, keep reading. You will need to take three significant steps to become a freelance web developer, and it won't be much different from what it is for a full-time web developer job.

Get on Job Searching Portals

Register yourself on a job searching portal like Upwork, LinkedIn, or SimplyHired and gain experience in the beginning stages. While it may not be the pay you desire, it certainly can be a good starting point.

Eventually, you can create inbound marketing for your portfolio and land good-paying clients for yourself.

Make a Portfolio

Putting your skills on display is extremely important if you want to grab your client's attention. Portfolios do that for you as they exhibit your expertise through your work. Use testimonials, incorporate the correct details, and express why the clients should choose you.

Network

Networking can play a vital role in getting you good pay gigs. We know how important it is to create a strong network to land a good job. Make sure to attend networking events and market yourself among potential clients.

Also Read: How to make a freelance web developer resume in 2023?

How to Become a Web Developer Without a Degree?

Becoming a web developer is possible. All you need to do is put in extra effort and hone your skills to match those who have acquired a full-time degree. Other than the steps mentioned on how to become a web developer, you will need to keep these points in mind.

Specialize in One Type of Web Development

It is not possible to become a coder overnight. Hence, take time, practice, get hands-on experience and master the skill of one type of web development. Decide if you want to work as a front-end developer or back-end and develop your skills accordingly.

Hold on to Your Passion

You will acquire the needed skills with practice and time, but the most important aspect of self-learning is to fuel your passion. You need to be passionate enough to become a self-taught web developer. Be hungry for opportunities to learn and grow.

Accept as Many Projects as You Can

Be open to different projects as they will allow you to enhance your skills and get practical experience. In the beginning, you might not find paid gigs or less-paying ones; always be okay to accept that as a doorway to immense learning.

Stay Updated

Since there is no formal environment to update you with the latest ongoings in the web development world, it is ultimately your responsibility to update yourself with the same.

For example, a few years ago, PHP was the go-to language for web developers. Things have taken a turn with the advent of JavaScript, and now it has turned out to be the most preferred language to build server-side.

Also Read: How to create a professional junior web developer resume?

FAQs About "How To Become a Web Developer?"


How long does it take to become a web developer?


The time to become a web developer varies, but it often takes several months to a few years of consistent learning and practice.

Do web developers make good money?


Web developers can earn good money, with salaries varying based on experience, skills, location, and the specific role they're in. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, web developers and digital designers typically receive a median annual wage of $78,300, surpassing the average national salary of $45,760 across all occupations.

Can I become a web developer with no experience?


Yes, you can become a web developer with no experience by starting with self-learning, online courses, and practice, gradually building your skills and portfolio.

What are 3 types of web development?


Front-end development, back-end development, and full-stack development are three types of web development.

Are web developers in high demand?


Yes web developers are high in demand as the overall employment of these professionals is projected to grow by 23% by 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Being an active job seeker, you might also be looking for resume-building assistance because of tough competition for web developers across the globe.

Hiration's ChatGPT-powered Resume Builder is the best pick for such cases, as it comes with 24/7 chat support and professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

Alternatively, you can also write to us at support@hiration{dot)com.