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<p>The digital forms you fill out, the websites you visit, the apps you use—for each of these things, you have <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/web-development-bootcamps/">web developers</a> to thank. However, you might not know them by that title. </p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>People who work on the back-end development of web infrastructure may go by many titles—web architect, webmaster, or <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/01/27/how-to-become-a-software-engineer/">software engineer</a>, to name a few. Each of these roles has a similar foundation: They rely on coding knowledge to plan, build, and maintain web infrastructure. No matter the exact title, the field is fast-growing: The number of web developers and digital designer occupations is projected to grow <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm">23%</a> between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and web developers in the U.S. earn an average salary of more than <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/web-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm">$72,000</a>, according to current data from Glassdoor.</p>



<p>Web developers are largely responsible for back-end development and build-out of websites, web apps, application databases, and interactive interfaces. They also evaluate code for structure and compatibility, optimize website performance, and even integrate websites with other computer applications. Though their duties overlap with those of web designers, web developers are responsible for more of the structure and coding of website and web applications, ensuring code is up to standard and that the website and its interactions will function properly. </p>



<p>Ankit Ahuja is a front-end software engineer working on the browser extensions team at Grammarly. “My day-to-day work centers around all things web development,” Ahuja says. “This includes everything from planning and building product features to software testing and infrastructure maintenance.”</p>



<p>Because web developers may be known by different titles and take on a wide array of duties across various organizations, the skills and experience required by employers may vary. That said, the following step-by-step guide is one way to break into a career as a web developer:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Decide on an educational path</li>



<li>Set yourself apart with self-study options</li>



<li>Build hard and soft skills</li>



<li>Get creative with career resources</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-decide-on-an-educational-path">1. Decide on an educational path</h2>



<p>Just as web developers may wear many hats, they may also come to this role from various educational paths. That doesn’t mean that there’s not extensive learning or experience involved. Rather, a career in web development may be more accessible to those people who are interested in self study, along with career-switchers and people with non-technical degrees. </p>



<p>The typical entry-level education of a web developer is a bachelor’s degree, with minimal work experience in a related occupation required. For those people interested in a formal education in web development, certificate programs abound, ranging from top schools like <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/cornell-university-johnson/">Cornell University</a> and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/george-washington-university/">George Washington University</a> to coursework on Coursera, Udemy, and at local community-level colleges. </p>



<p>With respect to graduate education, pursuing a master’s degree in areas like information systems or <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-computer-science/">computer science</a> will leave job applicants well-prepared for employment in web development. However, that level of education is flexible, as noted by the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm#tab-4">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, which states that web developers ”may not need specific education credentials if they can demonstrate their abilities through prior work experience or projects.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-set-yourself-apart-with-self-study-options">2. Set yourself apart with self-study options</h2>



<p>Even for people with a technical background, taking the initiative to learn new skills can be valuable in your career trajectory—and make you a more competitive applicant.</p>



<p>This was the case for Tonia Roganti, a software engineer at <a href="https://www.onaroll.co/">Onaroll</a>, who studied math in college. “Typically, if you don’t have a master’s degree, having some kind of science background in math or something like that will help you later on in web development,” she says.</p>



<p>Prior to working at Onaroll, Roganti was a web developer at Amazon, a role she earned through intensive self-study and online coursework, as well as decisive on-the-job impact. </p>



<p>She’s not alone; throughout their careers, Ahuja and Roganti have both taught themselves programming and web development skills in addition to what they learned in school or on the job. For Roganti, this meant studying additional skills like <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/python-courses/">Python</a>, Django, React, and even VBA to set herself apart from other candidates and help land her roles.</p>



<p>Roganti also recommends online resources like Udemy and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/these-4-online-courses-including-one-at-harvard-teach-computer-science-for-free/">Harvard CS50</a>. Udemy, the online learning and teaching marketplace, offers more than 200,000 video courses with robust web development and programming languages sections. Harvard’s online CS50 course, Introduction to Computer Science, teaches a broad understanding of computer science and programming in addition to lower-level topics not often found in other coding courses. </p>



<p>Similarly, to set himself apart, Ahuja works to maintain the browser extension he built a decade ago. “Doing so makes me a stronger, more well-rounded developer. The experience of building your own software also gives you a competitive advantage in job hunting,” he says.</p>



<p>Roganti agrees. “If you don’t use it, you lose it. So, as you’re learning, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience, build projects, because it’s very hands-on,” she says. “That helps if you don’t have experience or a CS background: build a project as you’re learning.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-build-hard-and-soft-skills">3. Build hard and soft skills</h2>



<p>Ahuja stresses the importance of mastering core programming skills and web development skills like HTML, CSS, and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/careers/how-to-learn-javascript/">JavaScript</a>. Some web developers even go the extra mile: “Familiarity with popular libraries like TypeScript and React isn’t a must-have, but it is a competitive advantage,” he adds.</p>



<p>While technical skills are critical for hands-on success, web developers should make an effort to master softer skills at the same time. </p>



<p>“Developers shouldn’t overlook soft skills—problem-solving and analytical skills are some of the most important,” says Ahuja. “Web development is a very fast-paced environment, and you often have to learn new technologies, so the best developers are adaptable, self-driven, and agile.”</p>



<p>The need for soft skills extends to on-the-job actions, says Roganti: “Advocating for yourself and knowing how to work with a team, I would say, are the most important things. And also [knowing] how to disagree, but in a kind way.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-get-creative-with-career-resources">4. Get creative with career resources</h2>



<p>When it comes time to apply for jobs in web development, leveraging your educational resources can be helpful. Roganti, for example, attributes her experience in the Harvard CS50 course to getting her up-to-speed for a strong start in her first software engineering job, even with her self-taught background.</p>



<p>And don’t expect the learning to stop when a job begins. “Being a developer means being a lifelong learner,” Ahuja says. “I’ve been in the industry for ten years now, and there is always something new to master.”</p>



<p>Finally, for those people coming into this career path without a broad educational background in web development, take heart: “As a web developer, so much learning happens on the job,” says Ahuja. “You may know how to write code, but it’s when working on a team at a company that you truly understand how software is released, tested, and managed at scale.”</p>



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To become a web developer: Decide on an education path, set yourself apart with self study, build hard and soft skills, get creative with career resources.

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