Web developer

Web development is a fast-growing career, as almost every organisation needs an online presence and skilled developers to build and maintain websites and applications

Your main task as a web developer is to use programming languages to create secure, reliable and user-friendly websites and web applications.

You could work in an agency or as a freelancer creating products for a range of clients or in-house developing and maintaining your employer's own website and applications.

The work is varied, and you may have several projects running at the same time. You'll usually have regular meetings to update employers or clients on progress and to discuss changes.

Types of web developer

Web developers usually specialise in one of three main areas:

• back end developer - focusing on the underlying software, databases and functionality
• front end developer - designing the interface and visual elements, ensuring that websites and applications are attractive, user-friendly and responsive
• full-stack developer - working across both front end and back end, handling the complete development process.

Job titles can vary between employers. As well as web developer or front-end, back end or full-stack developer, you may also see job ads for a software developer or software engineer.

Responsibilities

As a web developer, you'll need to:

• write clean, efficient code in one or more programming or scripting languages, such as JavaScript, Python, PHP or Ruby
• plan and prototype new applications
• design the architecture (technical structure) of the components of an application
• design information architecture (content structure and UX) within a website or application to ensure content is structured and easy to navigate
• decide on the best technologies and languages for the project
• test sites and applications in different browsers and environments
• problem solve and fix bugs in existing projects
• test new features thoroughly to ensure they perform the correct task in all cases
• run performance benchmarking tests
• review colleagues' code
• build and test Application Program Interfaces (APIs)
• research, use and contribute to open-source projects
• meet designers, developers and project staff for progress updates
• gather requirements from clients and users
• keep up to date with new technologies, frameworks and tools
• build and maintain databases
• optimise existing code to improve speed and efficiency
• document code for other developers to understand and use.

Salary

• Junior or entry-level web developers usually earn between £22,000 and £28,000.
• Mid-level developers typically earn between £30,000 and £45,000.
• Senior or lead developers can earn £50,000 to £70,000+, with higher salaries possible in London or for specialists in high-demand technologies.

Contractor and freelance rates vary depending on experience, location and technical skills. Income can be higher but less predictable.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Agencies or client-facing roles may involve longer or irregular hours, especially when working to tight deadlines or with clients in other time zones.

What to expect

• You may work in an office or remotely - many roles are now advertised as fully remote.
• The job involves spending long periods at a computer, so regular breaks are important.
• Women are currently under-represented in tech, but organisations such as Code First: Girls,ÌýWomen in Tech,ÌýRails GirlsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýSheCanCode provide communities, vacancies and educational tools for women wanting to work in web development and IT.
• There is a global digital skills shortage, so opportunities are good if you have the right mix of skills.
• You may travel to meet clients or attend industry events, conferences and hackathons.

Qualifications

You don't need a formal qualification to become a web developer in the UK, but some employers may look for applicants with a technical degree. Relevant subjects include:

• computer science
• software engineering
• web design and development
• digital media development.

A relevant degree can give you a strong foundation in programming and application design, but it's common for developers to enter the field through alternative routes.

Knowledge and experience are usually the most important requirements - often evidenced through a portfolio.

It's sometimes possible to find entry-level positions that don't require any prior experience. If you take this route, you'll be trained on the job in the specific languages and technologies used by the organisation.

Although employers occasionally look for a postgraduate qualification, this is rare and usually only applies to senior roles.

Search postgraduate courses in web development.

Short university courses and HNDs in subjects such as computer science or digital technologies can help you build relevant skills, particularly when combined with hands-on experience.

Intensive coding bootcamps and courses from private training providers delivered online, in person or as short weekend programmes, are a popular way to develop skills. They usually focus on areas such as JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, Node.js), Python and full-stack development. These courses can provide a faster route into the profession and are often designed around employer needs.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• strong technical knowledge of both client-side (front end) and server-side (back end) development
• experience with modern frameworks and libraries, such as React, Angular, Vue.js, or Node.js
• knowledge of databases (SQL and NoSQL), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and web security
• experience with version control systems such as Git
• the ability to teach yourself new technical skills quickly
• attention to detail and analytical thinking
• a logical approach to problem solving
• the ability to work independently and in mixed teams
• experience of development methodologies such as Agile or Scrum
• good communication skills, particularly when explaining technical concepts to non-technical colleagues
• time management skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines.

Work experience

Having practical coding experience is highly valued. Employers often want to see examples of websites, apps or projects you’ve worked on. A strong portfolio, ideally hosted on platforms like GitHub or GitLab, is often just as important as your CV.

You can build experience through:

• degree placements or year-in-industry schemes
• internships or graduate programmes
• volunteering to build websites for student societies, charities or small businesses
• contributing to open-source projects
• attending hackathons, coding challenges or tech meetups.

Freelance projects and personal side projects are also excellent ways to showcase your skills. Positive client or collaborator feedback can strengthen your portfolio further.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Almost all organisations need web development at some stage. Typical employers include:

• specialist web or digital agencies - where you'll work on a variety of client projects
• in-house development teams - in which you'll maintain and improve a company's own websites and applications
• freelance or self-employed roles - working for yourself brings flexibility, variety and a greater degree of control, but can be less predictable in terms of workload and income.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BCS: The Chartered Institute for IT - requires membership for access to the jobs board.
• Bubble Jobs
• CWJobs
• Freelancer - for freelance positions
• SheCanCode - tech jobs for women
• Technojobs

Recruitment firms such as VIQU specialise in IT roles.

Professional development

At the start of your career, you'll often learn from more experienced developers. In smaller organisations or freelance work, you may rely more on self-study.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is vital because technology changes rapidly. You can develop your skills by:

• attending coding bootcamps, conferences and workshops
• joining coding meetups or online communities
• gaining certifications in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, agile development, DevOps, AI and machine learning
• learning new programming languages or frameworks
• mentoring junior developers or contributing to open-source projects.

Employers may support you in gaining professional certifications from organisations such as BCS: The Chartered Institute for IT. These can strengthen your credibility and improve your career prospects.

Career prospects

Most developers start as junior or entry-level developers. With experience, you can progress to mid-level and senior roles within a few years. Senior developers often lead projects, mentor junior colleagues and manage client relationships.

The next step could be lead developer, technical architect or head of development, where you’ll focus more on strategy, management and system design rather than day-to-day coding.

Some developers specialise in particular industries, such as finance, healthcare or e-commerce, while others move into related areas like data science, UX design, project management or IT consultancy. You could also choose to teach, become a trainer, or start your own web development business.

With the demand for digital skills continuing to grow, career prospects for web developers remain strong.

Find out more about Information Technology careers.