Web Designer Jobs: Salary and Career Facts
Read about degree and certificate options for aspiring Web designers, and find out what you'll learn during these programs. Check the typical salary and job outlook for the Web design field, and explore career advancement options.
What Is a Web Designer?
Web designers, also known as Web developers, oversee a variety of tasks in the creation of a Web page, including writing code, coordinating with other designers, testing applications, and monitoring site traffic. Some Web designers freelance, which means they are self-employed and offer their services to numerous clients. Others work in-house at a specific business or corporation.
Learn what it takes to become a Web designer and use the chart below to find out about jobs in Web design and their outlook.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Associate's, bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Web design</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities</b></td><td>Write code for websites, monitor Web traffic, develop applications, coordinate with team members</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td>13%*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$77,200*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfEducationDoINeedToBecomeAWebDesigner">What Kind of Education Do I Need to Become a Web Designer?</h3><p>While there are a plethora of online sources claiming to offer quick instruction in <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Bachelors_Degrees_in_Web_Design_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html">Web design</a>, most employers prefer that you have formalized training. Many local community colleges offer either certificate programs or associate's degrees in Web design. These programs, which are available online or on-campus, will provide you with both the creative abilities and the technical skills necessary to become a successful Web designer.
</p><p>A certificate in Web coding or Web design usually takes 1-2 years to complete. You'll learn the basic principles of software and coding, how to cross-code for popular browsers, and how to add code for sound, video and animation. You'll also become fluent in programming languages such as HTML, XML, XTML and Java, and you'll be comfortable with commonly used software programs like Photoshop and Illustrator.
</p><p>An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Web Design is a 2-year program that combines core curriculum courses with general education requirements. Instructors will cover advanced topics in image manipulation, security issues, database management, programming Visual BASIC and usage of Dreamweaver. Typical classes you might find in an A.A.S. in Web Design program include:
</p><ul><li>AJAX and Web services
</li><li>Microcomputer operating systems
</li><li>Client-side scripting
</li><li>Flash programming
</li><li>Web servers and platforms
</li><li>Programming in C
</li><li>E-commerce
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatSMyPotentialSalary">What's My Potential Salary?</h3><p>According to <i>PayScale.com</i>, in 2019, entry-level Web designers -- those with 1-4 years experience -- earned a median annual salary of $46,739. <i>PayScale.com</i> also reported that the vast majority of Web designers earned between $34,000 and $74,000. Location can greatly affect the average salary. In 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Washington as the top-paying state, with an average wage of $94,060.
</p><h3 id="section---HowIsMyJobOutlook">How Is My Job Outlook?</h3><p>While graduates of a certificate program are qualified for entry-level positions in Web design, those with a 2-year degree will have better career opportunities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS also reports that the job outlook for Web developers is excellent with an expected 13% employment increase from 2020-2030.
</p><h3 id="section---HowWillIAdvanceInMyCareer">How Will I Advance in My Career?</h3><p>As an entry-level website designer, you'll generally work with a more experienced programmer to write simple programs, update existing code and perform general website maintenance. With time and experience, you may eventually design, code, launch and maintain entire sites with little supervision. Promotional advancement may include project supervisor or project management positions. You may also choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in computer programming to further your employability in the field.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Multimedia artists and animators and graphic designers are two alternative career fields for Web designers. Both of these careers require a bachelor's degree to start. Multimedia artists and animators take their artistic skills and add computer animation to the mix. These digital artists create special effects and animation features for films, Web videos and television. Graphic designers use the latest in software to create original artwork for web page layouts, newspaper ads, internet corporate reports or magazine articles. Another related career for Web designers might be computer programming, in which coding skills come in handy. These positions need bachelor's degrees and require the programmers to work for clients coding websites, software, gaming programs, or various other computer-based work.</p>