How Long Does It Take To Become a Web Developer?

With thousands of web development vacancies listed on Glassdoor and an impressive average base pay of $77,859 annually (from entry-level to high-ranking), web developers have plentiful and potentially lucrative employment opportunities.

But you must learn the technical and creative aspects of designing attractive sites using the different ways highlighted in this guide. So the question stands: how long does it take to become a web developer?

Key Takeaways

Learning web development may take shorter than you imagine if you're dedicated and committed.
You don't need a computer science degree to be a successful web developer.
Self-learning programs take longer than online courses and certification programs.
Certification programs take longer but are helpful for your long-term professional goals.

The entire learning process will take up lots of your time. Thus, you must plan adequately if you want to live your dream in the web development world.

So how long does it take to become a web developer with a remarkable portfolio? This detailed piece has everything you need.

What Is Web Development?

Web development entails designing, creating, running, and maintaining web applications and websites at its core. The scope may also comprise database management and web programming and can be classified into:

Front-end development – This specialization focuses on the user experience, like creating an engaging virtual environment and intuitive interfaces.
Back-end development – This field entails the nuts and bolts of websites, the crucial elements invisible to most users.
Full stack developer – Handling both front- and back-end functions, a full stack web developer views site creation from both angles.

As a web developer, your primary responsibility is site creation and maintenance. You'll handle technical aspects like site capacity and performance.

What's the Average Web Developer's Salary?

Full-fledged web developers have a median annual salary of $77,200. But according to Glassdoor salary insights, you may earn as much as $249,297 yearly. More specifically, the average front-end web development specialist may earn a base pay of $92,805 as of this writing. Your earnings will depend on your experience, industry, and where you work.

Who Can Become a Web Developer?

Web development success has no magic formula–anyone can learn it! However, keen problem solvers with the aptitude to build products and get them working will find themselves quite at home.

A comprehensive self-assessment will help you determine whether you're a good fit. But if you enjoy riddles, logical tests, or puzzles, you'll probably also enjoy web development. You also need perseverance and patience, as you'll spend most of your time hitting obstacles and fixing things that don't work. If such challenges motivate you, this could be your calling.

Strategic thinking, excellent communication, and creating beneficial solutions are also critical.

How Long Does It Take To Learn To Make Basic Webpages?

There is no fixed timeline that you can take before learning how to make basic web pages. Becoming a web developer may take as long or short as you wish, depending on the course you decide to explore, self-taught or in school. Also, your speed in acquiring skills determines how long you will take to be a seasoned web developer. So, how much practice time do you need to create a basic webpage?

The absolute gateway is learning a programming language such as JavaScript or Python and CSS and HTML, the markup coding languages developers use to determine a site's layout, colors, and font or define web page sections. You can create basic websites and handle paid tasks with these two skills. And here's the thing – depending on your approach and pace, you only need some weeks or even days to learn them.

After nailing the basics, you'll need to continue learning crucial skills to enhance your professional flexibility and relevance. That said, you can realistically achieve professional viability in months.

books and laptop on the desk in the work space

How Do I Become a Web Developer?

There's no standard method or timing for gaining the necessary web development skills that make you stand out. Rather, the required duration to learn the art and science will depend on:

Your end goal
Whether you want to master the art
Whether you're seeking an actual degree

While durations vary, coding bootcamps and short courses can help you gain the required skills and portfolio to pursue entry-level opportunities in as low as three months.

Of course, you must attend a thorough, full-time course to gain the skills outlined in most web design job openings. These include knowledge of visual design theory, understanding of user experience, and proficiency with CSS, HTML, Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop. A part-time course will likely take about 30 weeks.

Generally, here are the different ways you can become a web developer:

Learn and Become a Web Developer Independently

The dream of becoming a self-taught web developer is achievable, but it'll take longer. It could take years to learn the crucial skills and gradually grow your freelance portfolio. Going that route also requires sufficient web development resources for guidance.

Fortunately, numerous web development books, courses, and learning materials exist. Even then, most job postings require formal education or training.

Earn a Certification in Web Design

Certification programs are ideal if you don't have much money or time to study web development. The programs span a year or less and are available at multiple community colleges.

Those looking for single-subject certifications can find short-term courses online. But you'll gain more in the long run if you combine multiple subjects into a single credential. These programs can be your first step to earning your web design degree.

Leverage Free or Low-Cost Web Development Courses

One of the most remarkable aspects of web development is the ability to enter it immediately. But while you can enhance your professional skills through a web development boot camp, a development course is a simple way to test the waters.

laptop, earbuds, paper and pens on the table

So, where can you learn web development online for free? Here are some helpful courses:

1. HTML and CSS for Beginners - Build a Website & Launch ONLINE

The first step any aspiring web developer should take is to learn the two markup web development languages, HTML and CSS. With this knowledge, you'll easily bring out your personality via your website and create websites that stand out. And there's no better way to upskill than signing up for the HTML and CSS for Beginners course.

This course takes a dummy approach that allows anyone to learn how to code via HTML and CSS. Once you're done, you'll easily beat the crowd, make better project contributions, and get the opportunity to learn other languages. You'll also part with the necessary website-building skills and a printable certification.

2. Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding

Software engineers simply earn by expressing themselves creatively on the web. It's worth a try if you'd like to test a particular idea as you enhance your development skills, and this course makes it a fun, creative experience.

The course teaches how to leverage JavaScript programming language to make your web pages more interactive and how to describe the basics of CSS3 (Cascading Style Sheets). You'll also learn how to modify pages via the Document Object Model (DOM) and how to ensure responsiveness across multiple devices.

3. Responsive Web Design: HTML5 + CSS3 for Entrepreneurs 2018

Companies use popular programming languages CSS3 and HTML5 to create and deploy web content, and applications often prioritize accurate and refined pages and systems that function across web browsers, operating systems, and devices. If this is your entrepreneurial specialization, this single-subject web development course can be helpful.

The program takes a deeper dive into the fundamentals of markup programming languages, suitable for aspiring web developers who want to get the most from the free and simple. It spans 56 lectures and comprises six hours of content. The program is essentially designed to equip you with useful tips and tools to deliver exceptionally responsive web designs.

4. Introduction to Web Development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript

The world of web publishing is fast-paced, and you must always be on par with the constantly evolving standards to survive and excel. You must go beyond basic HTML skills to build sites like a pro.

Every budding web developer should take this introductory course that leads you through the necessary tools and basic languages to create your own Cloud Applications. You'll learn how clients and internet servers collaborate to deliver applications alongside the context of Cloud application development.

Once done, you'll easily design basic web pages using CSS and HTML and make them interactive using JavaScript. You'll also know the IDEs and tools every successful developer needs.

5. Become a WordPress Code Developer Course

The world of web publishing is fast-paced, and you must always be on par with the constantly evolving standards to survive and excel. You must go beyond basic HTML skills to build sites like a pro.

Once done, you'll easily design basic web pages using CSS and HTML and make them interactive using JavaScript. You'll also know the IDEs and tools every successful developer needs.

6. Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

Generally, your web development journey begins with learning the foundational concepts and how to address problems like a professional programmer. This programming course does just that, taking you through the basics of web development as you practice building pages using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to apply critical thinking when solving problems using programming. You'll also know how to write JavaScript programs and how to add images, paragraphs, lists, and links to your web pages using HTML.

The course also teaches you to adjust web page styles using CSS IDs and enhance interactivity using JavaScript commands like onChange, alert, and onClick.

Pursue a Computer-related Degree

You might want to consider a relevant degree if you're committed to limitless web design opportunities. Universities and colleges offer different classes of degrees depending on your qualifications for the specific program.

So, how long does it take to earn a degree in web development? Well, the duration varies across these levels:

Associate Degree

You need between 60 and 65 credits to earn an associate degree. You'll explore general subjects and some web-specific classes. Expect to study for about two years full-time and more for part-time studies.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree will take at least four years if you study full-time. You can choose between a bachelor of arts, science, or fine arts degree. However, a bachelor of science (BS) pays close attention to the technical part. On the other hand, the bachelor of fine arts and bachelor of arts major in the creative aspects.

Master's Degree

This ultimate level requires two to three years of work experience after earning your bachelor's degree. Pursuing a master's degree will earn you more advanced knowledge and skills in web design and development, and your capstone project may involve creating your own websites.

FAQs

Is It Difficult to Become a Web Developer?

It's quite easy to become a web developer, but the challenge is gaining basic knowledge.