When browsing for remote work, you’ve probably come across many jobs in the web development category. You probably noticed that they pay amazingly well and thought, “Wow that sounds so hard and technical, I don’t think I could ever learn to do that!”
Not only can you learn to do it, it’s work that (in some cases) you can get hired for without a degree!
Many businesses need websites and online tools, so skilled web developers are currently in great demand. I see these jobs posted all the time when I’m hunting up remote work, but I don’t share them too often because not very many people ask me about them.
Today, I thought it would be a good idea to share more with you about web development, what it is, what it can pay, what is required of you to start the work, where to find the work, and much more!
What is Web Development?
A brief explanation of “web development” is that it involves websites and online applications — the building and maintenance of them.
There are three main types of web development. You’ve probably seen companies hiring for these specific positions (often remote work):
Front-end Development
The “front end” is what visitors of apps and websites see. This involves creating and tweaking the front-end design and layout of a website or app, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Back-end Development
The “back end” of a website or app is what makes it function. As a back-end developer, you would be responsible for tweaking coding that makes everything run, server management, database management, etc.
You would need to be familiar with programming languages like Node.js, Python, and PHP.
Full-stack Development
As a full-stack developer, you would handle both the front-end and the back-end of a website or app. Full-stack developers typically know how to build a website or app from the ground up, and they can command better pay.
How Much Do Web Developers Make?
Web developers usually make very good money.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), web developers were earning an average of $78,300 in 2023.
If you are an experienced web developer, earnings of over $100,000 per year are very realistic.
People going into full-stack development and software engineering tend to earn the most.
What Kind of Jobs Can You Get as a Web Developer?
Here is a list of the jobs to search for that fall under the “web development” category. And as stated above, these are OFTEN remote opportunities paying six figures yearly or very close to that.
When browsing remote jobs with an eye for web development opportunities, look for:
- Freelance Web Developer – Working on a freelance basis for multiple clients.
- Software Engineer – Similar to full-stack developer but with a broader scope — may also work on operating systems and software in addition to building websites and apps.
- Front-End Developer – Works on the front end of a website or app.
- Back-End Developer – Works on the back end of a website or app (databases, servers, etc.).
- Full-Stack Developer – Works on both the front and back ends of a website or app, can build a website or app from the ground up.
- Web Designer – Responsible for overall website layout and visual elements.
- E-commerce Developer – Building and managing online shops/stores.
- Mobile Web Developer – Work to make websites look good on mobile devices (including tablets).
What Does It Take to Become a Web Developer?
Contrary to popular belief, a college degree is not always needed for remote web development jobs. Some companies (even if they state you need to have a degree) will waive that requirement if you have the skills needed to do the job, or you’ve already worked in web development before.
It is completely possible to learn web development through online courses and self-study and practice.
That said, if you are enrolled (or about to enroll) in college and you know web development is what you want to do, check into the degree options I’ve listed below:
Possible Degrees That Help Land Web Development Jobs
- Computer Science Degree – Learn programming and software development.
- Information Technology Degree – Web technologies and networking.
- Web Development or Software Engineering Degree – Specific focus on website building and coding.
Self-Teaching Web Development
If you are more interested in just teaching yourself web development skills, you can do it all online. There are tons of resources for this!
Check out:
Note that the coding boot camps cost money, sometimes a fairly significant amount, and you can learn to do it on your own for free without paying.
I would say the boot camps would be worthwhile if you don’t trust yourself with a “go at your own pace” method of learning.
If you are someone who starts projects and then abandons them, the coding boot camps might be ideal so that you can challenge yourself to stick with it and get it done quickly as well.
More Recommended Online Courses for Learning Web Development
If you are serious about teaching yourself web development, here are some resources (some already mentioned above) that you might want to consider:
Freelancing vs. Full-Time Employment – Which is Best for You?
As with many remote jobs, you can choose to go either the freelance route or opt for full-time employment with a company who needs web development workers.
Freelancing as a Web Developer
As a freelancer, you can typically set your own schedule, choose what clients you do work for, and command more pay since you set your own hourly rate.
But, as any freelancer knows, keeping a steady stream of clients who will pay you can at times be challenging. Income and work is never a guarantee. Add to that you are getting no employment benefits and you have to handle your own taxes.
Working For a Company as a Web Developer
As someone who works full-time for a company doing web development, you’ll enjoy more job stability, a reliable weekly paycheck, plus you might qualify for whatever benefits the company offers like health insurance and retirement plans.
That said, you will not have as much control over your own schedule, and tasks will be assigned, not chosen by you.
Ultimately, it will just depend on what you need. Working as a freelancer to start could be a great way to gain experience if you are hoping to get hired by a company long-term.
Gaining Experience as a Beginner
Speaking of gaining experience as a beginner in web development, that experience CAN get you hired by some companies even if you lack the degree.
Below, I’ve listed out some ideas for you to get that experience after you’ve learned the necessary skills:
- Build personal projects – Create websites or apps to help in creating a portfolio, showing potential employers what you can do.
- Contribute to open-source projects – As mentioned above, you can contribute to open-source projects. There are some listed here and you can find more on GitHub.
- Freelance – Find your own clients to do work for. If you don’t feel comfortable marketing yourself, you can start small with freelance web development work on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
- Internships – Companies occasionally offer remote internships for web development. Some of these are paid and some are not.
- Hackathons – These are fun coding competitions that let you compete with other coders, test your skills, and also make connections in the coding community. DevPost has a list of some that are upcoming.
Where to Network and Find Web Development Communities
What I’m sharing today is a general overview of web development to help you understand what it is, what you do, and how to start.
As you may realize, the BEST and most valuable tips and information will come from online communities so you can network with people who are either trying to become web developers or are already working as web developers.
Below are some places you should start hanging out online if you’re serious about working as a web developer:
- Reddit (r/webdev) – Chat with other web developers, find useful resources, see occasional job postings.
- Dev.to – Share web development tips and experiences with 2 million other web developers.
- Discord and Slack groups – Both Discord and Slack have active chat groups for web developers.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn is one of the top places for professional networking, plus you can follow tech companies you may be interested in working for and attempt to get on their radar once you’ve fleshed out your own profile.
What You Need to Start as a Web Developer
Web Development is not something that requires a huge investment in equipment or software to start. While there are paid tools out there that web developers use, it’s completely possible to get what you need for free to start working.
Below are some free tools you can use to start working as a web developer:
- Code Editors – VS Code, Sublime Text, and Atom are free.
- Browsers & Dev Tools – Use Google Chrome + Dev Tools, Firefox Developer Edition, or Lighthouse for free.
- Version Control (for code backup and collaboration) – Use Git or GitHub free.
- Free Hosting For Learning – Netlify, Vercel, or GitHub pages will do for free.
- Design & UI Tools – Use Figma or Google Fonts. Canva is another great option, but it has a paid plan (although not expensive).
What Personality Type Is Ideal for Web Development?
Are you wondering if you’re even cut out for web development work? It’s not for every personality type.
Below are a few traits that good web developers will typically have:
- Problem-Solver – Natural problem-solving skills are needed because you will often be debugging and fixing website errors.
- Detail-Oriented – Small details are very important not to overlook when building websites and apps. Just one piece of code in the wrong place, or simply a character left off of code can break a website or app.
- Creative Thinker – Creative thinkers are great about keeping user experience in mind, ensuring the work they do will always benefit the user to make their experiences using a site or app better.
- Self-Motivated – It takes continual motivation and discipline to work as a web developer because technology is always changing and improving. You need to be willing to roll with and embrace those changes.
- Lifelong Learner – As I just mentioned, the tech world is always changing, so you will always need to be open to learning new things, even if those things seem intimidating on the surface.
What Companies Have Web Development Jobs Open Right Now?
Below is a list of companies that either now have, or often have, remote web development jobs available. Keep tabs on these:
To find even more job postings, I recommend keeping tabs on LinkedIn, We Work Remotely, Indeed, and of course FlexJobs which I frequently recommend here.
Don’t Be Intimidated – You Can Learn Web Development!
If you’re someone who thinks coding is just too hard and “technical” to learn, rest assured that you CAN learn it if you exercise lots of patience and practice.
And contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to be a math expert or have any past experience in tech to get good at it.
Just start small with easier projects, enroll yourself in some of the online courses or boot camps (or aim for a college degree that will help you get hired), and then start the process of learning step-by-step.
Remember that everyone who has ever achieved something was once a beginner, too.
Good luck!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.