Is Web Development Right for Me?

In our increasingly digital, online, and interconnected world, web developers play a key part in creating the infrastructure of our society. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the number of web development careers is expected to grow much faster than the national average growth. BLS predicts a 27% increase in web development positions from 2014 through 2024.

Not only that but the BLS states the median income for a web developer is $64,970. With these facts, it’s clear that web development can be an attractive career. But is web development right for you?

What does Success Look Like in a Web Development Role?

Web developers are responsible for the logic and behavior of a site. Some roles may also require them to work with a site's appearance, layout, and content, though these are often separate domains. Web development positions may be classified as front-end, dealing more with how a site visitor experiences and interacts with the website, or back-end, dealing more with how a website interprets data, communicates with databases, performs calculations, or interfaces with other websites.

A successful web developer has a strong grasp of formal logic and algorithms. They are also open to learning new technologies, tools, and approaches as needed. The web development field is constantly evolving and there's no guarantee that top-tier skills and best practices today will still be in vogue a few years from now, so it helps to be curious.

Web developers frequently work on teams, often in agile work environments where emphasis is placed on communication and collaboration. So a successful web developer should understand how to communicate effectively and enjoy working with others. Some web developers, generally at small or new companies, may work alone, in which case a high degree of initiative and attention to detail become more important.

What Skills and Education are Necessary for Web Development?

Even though new technologies are constantly being invented, a solid grounding in web development will grow with a successful web developer instead of holding them back. A degree in web development should stress the theory behind concepts such as object-oriented programming, programming logic, and database design. Learning how to program in well-regarded programming languages such as C++ and Java is also important, as skill in these languages enables a web developer to pick up other languages more easily.

Web developers should also have some familiarity with other web technologies, such as HTML and CSS. Scripting languages such as JavaScript are also important for front-end developers and frameworks – coding abstractions, which give developers a common set of tools, best practices, and pre-made functions, which accelerate web development – are also good to know.

Employers typically want to see an associates or bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field on your résumé. During a web development interview, you can often expect to demonstrate your coding ability by writing code on demand to address a problem posed by the interviewing team. Having a portfolio of coding projects available can also help to demonstrate your skills.

How do you Become a Web Developer?

First, a solid background in web development skills is necessary. While it's possible to acquire these skills on your own, having a defined curriculum and the support of an educational track ensures that you'll have a well-rounded education. In addition, it increases employer confidence to see that you've taken all the courses required for a degree.

Because the tech industry is growing so rapidly, many companies compete to draw web developers. And while New York City and Silicon Valley may be the most well-known web development hubs, cities from Nashville, Tennessee to Eugene, Oregon are experiencing a growth in the technology sector. Remote work is also a possibility at some companies.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a successful web developer? If you’re researching how to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science degree with a concentration in Web Development degree, consider ECPI University for your educational needs. If you’d like to learn more, contact an ECPI University admissions advisor today in order to discuss your options.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Web Development - Bachelor’s

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