Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 199,400 people employed as web developers and digital interface designers in the United States. The median annual salary is $77,200. Entry level employees earn approximately $40,750 per year and senior employees earn approximately $146,430 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
• Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
• Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
• Perform or direct Web site updates.
• Maintain understanding of current Web technologies or programming practices through continuing education, reading, or participation in professional conferences, workshops, or groups.
• Analyze user needs to determine technical requirements.
• Respond to user email inquiries, or set up automated systems to send responses.
• Renew domain name registrations.
• Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
• Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
• Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
• Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
• Confer with management or development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, develop content criteria, or choose solutions.
• Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware or software issues affecting Web sites.
• Collaborate with management or users to develop e-commerce strategies and to integrate these strategies with Web sites.
• Document test plans, testing procedures, or test results.
• Establish appropriate server directory trees.
• Recommend and implement performance improvements.
• Document technical factors such as server load, bandwidth, database performance, and browser and device types.
• Install and configure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) servers and associated operating systems.
• Research, document, rate, or select alternatives for Web architecture or technologies.
• Develop system interaction or sequence diagrams.
• Develop or implement procedures for ongoing Web site revision.
• Create Web models or prototypes that include physical, interface, logical, or data models.
• Provide clear, detailed descriptions of Web site specifications, such as product features, activities, software, communication protocols, programming languages, and operating systems software and hardware.
• Evaluate or recommend server hardware or software.
• Monitor security system performance logs to identify problems and notify security specialists when problems occur.

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