A web developer writes the code that teaches websites and web apps how to function. Web developers often specialize in both the client and server sides of a website. Some highly sought-after experts are "Full-Stack Developers," who are proficient in both areas. To guarantee that a website looks good and functions well on every computer, mobile device, or device screen, web developers execute visual designs and layouts, integrate graphics and content, optimize performance and capacity, and test.

A day in the life of a web developer

The job of a web developer is extensive, critical, and rewarding. A day in the life of a web developer is productive, hectic at times, and even stressful. However, a passionate web developer knows how to make the most of his job.

The typical workday of a web developer can seem very different from one day to the next. A web developer can serve in a variety of capacities due to the wide variety of clients and online-based products they may work on and the wide variety of specialties available in front-end and back-end web development.

Types of web developers

It is not just one type of work that a web developer has to do. A lot falls under the umbrella of a web developer. There are various kinds of web developers.

Let’s briefly discuss what is a front-end web developer? What is a back-end web developer? And what is a full-stack web developer?

1- Front-end web developer

It is the job of the front-end developer to create an attractive and functioning user interface for a website. Their position in web development is sometimes misunderstood, and they are often even confused with that of a web designer.

What does a front-end web developer do?

The front-end developer is responsible for designing how a website's text, graphics, and colors will appear when viewed on a mobile device, tablet, or desktop computer. Have you ever noticed that a button on a website changes color when you move your mouse over it or that a pop-up window appears when you click a link? That’s the work of a front-end web developer. Everything you see has been meticulously planned to maximize efficiency, aesthetics, and utility.

How to become a front-end web developer

Here are a few tips if you are looking to become a front-end web developer.

  • Learn JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. These coding languages are like essential building blocks for web development.
  • Read and gather information about front-end web development. Gain the required knowledge about the skills, roles, and responsibilities of a front-end web developer.
  • Practice your newly acquired knowledge and skills thoroughly to achieve perfection. Start by building small parts of a user interface, and then move forward gradually.
  • Learn the command line. In the field of web design and development, it is important to understand basic concepts like file display, etc.
  • Learn version control. Be aware of the various version control systems that you can choose from at the time of need.
  • You can also enroll in a course or sign up for an internship. It will help you polish your skills, put them to the test, and gain more knowledge.

2- Back-end web developer

A back-end developer has the most crucial part of the job in the field of web development. What does a back-end web developer do? They develop and manage the underlying infrastructure of your website. People who work on a website's back end create server-side code so that the front end—the portion that users see and interact with—can communicate with the back end—the server, database, etc. An online shop is the best illustration of this type of business. A database housed on a server has the product prices and photos. Product data and pricing are stored in a database, where they remain until the time comes for a price change or the start of an automated holiday sale, at which point they are shown on the website. The developer working behind the scenes is responsible for everything going smoothly during the checkout and processing phases. They create the programs that allow us to enjoy (usually) intuitive features.

3- Full-stack web developer

A full-stack developer stands apart from other developers because of their expertise in both the front-end and back-end stages of website development. They are well-versed in both the front- and back-ends of web development and can, if they so choose, create a fully-functional, dynamic website from scratch. So, what does full-stack web developers do? Developers who work across the entire stack have extensive knowledge and expertise and are experts in many programming languages. As a result, they are able to collaborate effectively with both front- and back-end developers.

Many full-stack developers, despite knowing and being able to handle the work of both front-end and back-end developers, are not experts in any area. Certain developers tend to excel at either front-end or back-end work. Rare and difficult to find are full-stack engineers who are proficient in both the front and back ends of the development process. A full-stack developer is able to solve issues on the front and back ends of a website because of their extensive skill set.

Web content developer

A content developer is someone whose job it is to create material for a company's website, social media channels, and other digital properties in order to inform, engage, and entertain the company's intended audience.

What does a web content developer do?

A web content developer may manage a group of people who contribute content (such as writers, videographers, and artists). It needs to keep an eye on how search engines are evolving so it can adjust its content strategy properly.

Moving on, let’s take a look at how much do web developers get paid.

A web developer's salary

In case the question in your mind arises, do web developers make good money? Well, the answer is yes! The money you can make from web development is its most rewarding aspect. How much does a web developer make? Or what is a web developer's salary?

The information here comes from career sites that get their information from a variety of internal sources. Most of these numbers are for the US, and you should use them before taxes.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for all developers in 2018 was $69,430 per year, or $33.38 per hour.  In 2020, it was discovered to be $68,524 per year. Glassdoor's estimate is comparable at the time of writing, coming in at $68.5/year. What is the starting salary of web developers? That is not known with precision. There is a wide range of salaries for web developers, from $44,000 for those at the bottom of the pay scale to $154,550 for those at the top, such as Web3 developers.

The figures may differ slightly from one source to the next, but they all point to an annual salary of $60,000 to $75,000 on average. For a position that requires only an associate's degree, this is quite generous.

If you ask specifically, how much does a front-end web developer make? According to the survey, the starting salary for a front-end web developer at the entry level is $97,377. The lowest expected salary is $54k, while the highest can be $176k. Whereas, a back-end web developer can make, on average, $85,069 annually. Considering how much does a full-stack web developer make? Well, a full-stack web developer can make up to $66,000, according to PayScale.

Why become a web developer?

Web development is a fast-paced and difficult field that puts a lot of emphasis on finding new ways to solve problems. Working with designers, other developers, and even marketers, you'll see your ideas come to life as a web developer.

Learning to code has many benefits, but one of the most important is that it prepares you for a job that is challenging and always changing. Learning to code is an ongoing process because there is always something new to discover. Writing lines of code to address an issue is only part of what's involved in coding. It's an imaginative procedure that calls for ingenuity and originality of thought. Several approaches to the same programming challenge may yield different results. This means that programming is an area where one may exercise their imagination and devise novel approaches to solving difficulties.

Final thoughts

Although many people outside of the field may believe that a Web developer's job description does not necessitate any "soft" skills, this is not always the case. Web developers should view education as an ongoing process. A significant allure for many people in the workforce is the opportunity to keep up with the rapidly developing field of technology. The field of technology is similarly fluid and ever-changing. It is dynamic, constantly expanding and changing. It is crucial to always be aware of the most recent technical and industry advances.

The top web developers in the industry are employed here at Techfye. Our team of experts, which includes front-end and back-end web developers as well as full-stack web developers, is prepared to take on projects and deliver excellent results.