There are lots of reasons to get into web development. The industry is growing with more jobs being added every year, the average salaries are good, and it's generally a high-paying, low-stress job that some find challenging, fun, and interesting.
You wouldn't be blamed for wanting to get into web development, but how exactly do you do it, what does it take, and which web development roles should you be looking at.
Is Web Development Easy for Beginners?
Before you can consider starting a career in web development, you need to learn web development. While we've already briefly mentioned why this kind of work is appealing, we didn't mention whether or not the skills required are easy or not.
It's been suggested that even those from non-technical backgrounds can get started with a web development job. Everybody's different so we can't guarantee whether you'll find it easy or difficult, but there have been examples of people transitioning to web development without too much difficulty.
Some may find that the work of a web developer comes to them naturally whereas others may have to work harder at their career.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Web Development?
Again, everybody's different and learning web development is really about learning enough web development to find work in it.
Some courses aim to teach aspiring web developers all the skills they'll need to get started in a matter of months. Of course, this only works if you're available to commit all your time to them. While they can be completed in a few months, if you have a job, a family, or any other commitments that would likely get in the way, this could take longer.
Similarly, if you want a full college degree, then you're definitely looking at something like 4 years. With this, you'll also end up studying things related to web development as well as useful areas of study that could help specialize in web development or at least make you more resilient to changes in the job market.
Different degree programs offer different options even if they have the same name. Your career may depend on both the program itself and the electives you choose.
Is Web Development Easier than Coding?
Whether something is easier or not will certainly depend on the person, but as there are some technical overlaps between web development and coding, some think that web development might be an easier option for those interested in coding.
At the higher level roles, both are difficult, but web development does have the advantage of being simpler to pick up and more accessible for beginners. Web developers will develop coding skills as they progress, though.
Similarly, the work of a web developer differs to that of a programmer and other professionals so it will depend on the employer, the project, and the job itself and what kind of work it entails.
Can I Teach Myself Web Development?
We've already mentioned web development courses and college programs, but there's always the option for web developers to teach themselves.
With a course or a program, you'll learn the skills and end up with a qualification. These qualifications in web development and design are useful as they prove to potential employers that you have the skills you say you have.
Without a qualification, you'll have to prove you have these skills but you can, fortunately, do this in several ways and it's very common for interviewers to give applicants a task anyway.
With web development, there are so many resources out there online that you can teach yourself. As with becoming self-taught in anything else, however, it does take a certain type of person who'll be resourceful, dedicated, disciplined, and driven, but web development is certainly one of those skills that you don't necessarily have to go to school for.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Web Development by Yourself?
Much like the self-guided or online courses, the time it takes to learn web development will vary according to how much time and effort you can put into it, and the kind of learner you are.
Assuming that you're fairly driven and are used to teaching yourself new skills, you can likely learn the basics of web development in three to six months. This time can be reduced if you've already dabbled with some of the skills required or have a background or degree in a related field.
For example, somebody familiar with coding applications will probably pick up full stack web development more quickly than somebody completely new to everything. Similarly, somebody with more free time or fewer family commitments will be able to commit more time to learn than somebody whose married with kids.
What is the Lowest Salary for Web Developers?
If you're looking to get started in web development, you'll likely want to know what you're working towards, especially in terms of salary.
As with any other line of work, your salary when you start should be lower than your salary after a few years of experience and while the average web developer earns around $80,000 a year, entry-level web developers earn an average of $70,000 a year.
However, the low end of the range for web developer salaries is closer to $50,000 so some entry-level positions may pay significantly less than the average, too.
It depends greatly on where you're working, who you're working for, and the exact role as there are many different salaries for web development roles.
Certain employers will pay more if you have a degree whereas others won't even consider the educational background on the applications they see (as long as the applicant has the necessary skills).
What is the Highest Pay for Web Developers?
If you're willing to wait and looking to work your way up to the higher salaries, it can be nice to know what you're working towards.
The upper range for salaries reported by web developers is closer to $130,000 a year. Web developers usually reach the average salary by the 5-year mark and break $100,000 after ten years in the industry.
However, there are also options to move into management at larger companies and this can come with salaries greater than the $130,000 we just mentioned.
Don't forget that these are just the general amounts earned by web developers and certain specializations can bring much higher incomes.
Android app developers, cloud computing professionals, core Java developers, DevOps engineers, e-commerce professionals, and full stack developers can all command a higher salary than the average web developer.
How Do I Get into Web Development with No Experience?
Like every other job, web development has that vicious cycle of needing experience for a job but needing a job to get experience. For new or aspiring web developers, that's a problem. Fortunately, there are a few things they can do outside of having a job in web development.
For one, it's a good idea to put together a portfolio. In addition to a résumé, you need to be able to show off projects to prospective employers so they can see what you can do.
You also need to think about networking. It can help a lot in getting jobs if you know people already in the industry or people who can vouch for your skills.
Speaking of skills, you may also need to regularly hone or refine your skills since web development is an area that's changing all the time. If you studied web development or even taught yourself a few years ago, you may be interviewing for jobs that don't even need the skills you have. Make sure that you're keeping up-to-date with everything that you need to know.
There's also the common expression, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. This goes with interviews more than anything. Take the time to prepare for every interview by finding out about the company, what they need from you, and what you have that you can offer them as an employee.
It's also worthwhile even practicing some classic or commonly asked interview questions and even insisting on feedback from unsuccessful applications so you can improve for the next one.
How Do Beginners Get Web Developer Experience?
When the cycle of needing experience for a job and needing a job for experience strikes, it can be difficult to move forwards. Fortunately, web developers have ways outside of jobs to gain experience.
For one, they can just develop in their own free time with sample projects that they can include in their portfolio. If you see the same things coming up again and again in interviews, it's worthwhile taking the time to complete sample projects that align with the skills that employers are looking for.
You can also go to tech meetup groups, participate in hackathons, and freelance. While you mightn't end up doing an entire project with the latter, filling your portfolio with tasks you did on a freelance basis can help show that you have the skills required and are driven enough to work on your own.
When Is It Too Late to Become a Web Developer?
It's never too late to become a web developer. As long as you're driven enough to learn the skills required, the barrier to entry is quite low.
From there, you can start applying for jobs, networking, developing your skills, and putting together portfolio materials to get you started.
Whether you're teaching yourself or learning in class, don't forget that help is out there in the form of private tutors, web development sites, and even through friends and family on social media!
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