Web developer job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed web developers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed web developers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Intellectual
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a web developer
Day-to-day, the duties and responsibilities of web developers include:
- Building user interfaces from wireframe designs
- Building products using different programming languages, including HTML, CSS, PHP, Java, SQL, and JavaScript
- Coding and deploying applications
- Understanding what functionality and design a client needs for their web-based applications and functional website
- Creating and managing relevant databases for web-based applications
- Debugging and testing for errors and client-side usability
- Implementing cybersecurity protocols
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
High paying
Individuals and organisations of all sizes usually require a web presence to stay afloat and benefit significantly from web-based tools like emails and cloud storage. This strong demand for web services means that web developers can expect to be well-paid.
Learning opportunities
There are always new developments in the world of tech. This state of flux is especially true for web-based applications, with different products available, upgrades, and recent trends in design. Web developers are always learning more to achieve the best outcomes for clients — and satiate their curiosity.
Flexible hours
Many web developer job opportunities allow you to work remotely, choose your hours, or even start your own business. This flexibility enables you to fit your work around family, hobbies, travel, or anything else you’d like to do.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a web developer
Given the importance of web-based applications to daily business, web developers are in high demand and expect high average salaries. The multimedia and web development industry has very strong projected future growth. As of 2020, the sector employs 21,700 people. This number is expected to grow to 27,100 by 2025.
Web developers work in any industry where websites and other web-based applications are needed. They can work at web development or IT firms and organisations that need in-house web development staff. You can also find work as a self-employed web developer.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
As you gain experience as a web developer, you may be able to move into higher-level roles, with potential career paths like:
Junior
-
Junior web developer
Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)
-
QA tester
Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)
-
Software tester
Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)
Mid
-
Frontend web developer
Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50120)
-
Web developer
Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50120)
Senior
-
Full stack developer
Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (ICT60220)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
People interested in web development jobs are already likely to love tech and are interested in all things design. Soft skills that you could already have (or can develop naturally from exploring your interests) include:
Problem-solving
Clients you work with have various web wants and needs, and it’s a web developer’s job to come up with ways to meet them. Often there’s no one answer, giving you the freedom to solve your client’s problems in ways that draw on your own experience, research, and ideas. When implementing these ideas, you can also test for bugs and errors and use your problem-solving skills to fix them.
Creativity
Particularly in front-end development, you design websites and applications that are striking and useable, working alongside web designers. Web developers draw on sources of inspiration to create wireframes and use lateral thinking skills to get an end product that meets your client’s unique requirements.
Organisation
As a web developer, you may be working on a range of projects — or many aspects of a single project — all simultaneously. This breadth means that you need to be adept at keeping track of multiple priorities, meeting lots of deadlines, and demonstrating that you’ve met key project milestones. You may also work in collaboration with other developers or web designers, which means you need to keep track of their workflows too.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
When looking to become a web developer, training comes in handy to develop the necessary technical skills, such as:
Research and analysis
As you understand your clients’ needs, you may need to research different ways of implementing them and compare other possibilities. This research requires strong analytical skills as you weigh up the pros and cons and tease out the client’s priorities.
General computer operation
Web developers know what’s possible on websites and web-based apps, so you can quickly advise clients what’s involved and how much work it will take to implement their briefs. You need to be a confident programmer in various programming languages and software packages. You also need to know how to use e-commerce platforms, content management systems like WordPress, Github, bootstrap, and more.
Design
Although you may work alongside web designers, web development is strongly related to design. You ultimately need to make a product that meets clients’ needs in a straightforward and user-friendly way. You also have a flair for making interfaces that look good.
How to become a web developer
-
Study
Get good foundational web development skills with a qualification like Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development) (ICT40120), or study website development, computer science, software engineering, or IT. Highly motivated people may also choose to self-study to pick up the relevant skills to put them on track for a web development career.
-
Get experience
Make your own website, or volunteer to make websites for friends starting a business. You could also offer to create a website for local community organisations. With experience, you can build a portfolio to show potential employers and clients.
-
Find work experience
You can find an internship or job placement with working web developers as you study.
-
Get a web developer role
Once you have a solid grounding in what a web developer does and have a track record of developing, you become e a strong candidate for entry-level web developer positions and be on your way to becoming a successful web developer.
Explore related qualifications
Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development)
Learn the fundamentals of managing website development projects, including designing a website, building wireframes, search engine optimisation, software development, responsive design, web frameworks, APIs, cybersecurity, version control, website accessibility, e-commerce, coding languages and scripting, and developing and maintaining websites and databases. You get a mix of theory and hands-on website building and collaboration experience. A certificate IV typically takes one year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) to complete.
2 providers offer this course
Related subjects
If you’re interested in being creative with technology, you may also be interested in:
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Jake
Nov 20 2021Generally it's a great job.
What are the best parts of the job?
Getting along with colleagues, they're great.
What's the most challenging part?
When customers come up with a new 'solution', and it's not very good, but they insisit on doing it their way.
Max
Nov 03 2021Challenges me to be creative.
What are the best parts of the job?
The best parts of the job are having the ability to create and solve problems that require creative thinking and experimentation.
What's the most challenging part?
The most challenging part is meeting certain deadlines on some projects.
Julian
Nov 13 2021Web dev is an awesome job.
What are the best parts of the job?
Everything! I love my job.
What's the most challenging part?
Nothing, really. I like it all.
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Job cluster: The Technologist
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Web developers and other technical roles are suited to the career personality of The Technologist.
Technologists love to tinker with code, websites, programs, and games. You love making and building things that solve problems, inventing, or taking things apart to see how they work. You also relish staying up-to-date with the latest innovations in software and gadgets.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a web developer?
It takes one year to complete a relevant certificate IV-level qualification, such as the Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development). However, you could take more or less time to learn web development, depending on what you already know and how quickly you pick things up. Many of the skills you need as a web developer you can teach yourself — even as a beginner. Or you can pick up skills through coding boot camps, open-source resources, or an online web development course. Suppose you want to deepen your knowledge before moving to full-time work. In that case, a three-year bachelor’s degree in web development, computer science, software engineering, or IT gives you a strong foundation for this role.
Is it hard to become a website developer?
Web developers have to pick up many soft and technical skills to be successful at their job. However, if you’re dedicated to learning these skills, there’s likely a web developer position out there for you.
Is web developer a good career?
Web developers are in high demand due to the business importance of the internet and web applications. It’s a job that pays well, has remote working and flexible opportunities, and even allows you to venture out on your own through self-employment.