Web Developer Salary: How Much Do Web Developers Make In 2024?

What Exactly Is A Web Developer?

In a web developer job description, the position is not a single job, but an umbrella term for a range of responsibilities and skills, all related to building a website.

While web designers deal with the aesthetic component of a website, web developers are programmers that take design and make it functional. So, say, if a website were a car, the web developer makes sure everything that’s underneath the hood is working together so that the car can run smoothly.

Of course, this analogy cannot possibly account for the sheer complexity of a web developer’s responsibilities. Web developers can best be categorized into three general groups; front end, back end, and full-stack developers.

Front-end developers are responsible for websites and applications. Their work--creating the visual elements and interactive parts of a website--is what we see when we visit a website. Front end development is an easy entry point for green developers, meaning front-end salaries are often on the lower end of the spectrum.

Back-end developers specialize in servers and databases. Their role is crucial yet often unnoticed. They make sure data flows seamlessly from the website’s front end to the back end. Back end developers generally tend to earn a higher salary than front end developers.

Full stack developers can implement and oversee both sides of web development. On average, full stack developers are the highest earning web developers.

Web Developer Salaries Depend On Experience

When researching the average salary of a web developer, you will find quite a wide range. Don’t be confused; this spread has much to do with the web developer’s level of expertise and accumulated knowledge.

Web development may have a lower barrier to entry than other technical fields that require many years of study and advanced degrees, but companies still value commercial experience and pay accordingly. Different companies use different metrics to assess programmer competency and skills acquisition.

Entry-level web developers (sometimes referred to as a junior-level developers) have just begun their career, often fresh out of university or coding boot camp. They have a basic knowledge of computer programming, can write at least one programming language, and can solve small errors in code. Naturally, their salaries start off the smallest, and grow as they accumulate skills.

Junior-level developers (considered mid-level developers, to some) have had a few years of web development experience. They understand how the industry operates and their designated role in the scope of a project, but still require supervision. Their income tends to represent the middle range of salaries. If you see an “average web developer salary,” you can assume it’s for a junior-level developer.

Senior web developers have extensive experience solving problems and are experts in their field. Their salaries represent the highest range in the business--and rightfully so, as they’ve spent years perfecting their craft.

How Much Money Do Web Developers Actually Make?

Demand for programmers is on the rise, and salaries are trending higher. Web developer employment is projected to grow 15 percent by the year 2026, much faster than other occupations.

This tremendous growth leads us back to the central question: “What is the average salary of a web developer in the U.S.?”

According to Indeed.com, as of December 2019, the average salary for an entry level web developer in the United States is $47,509 per year. This number increases to $54,793 for a junior front end developer, and $74,720 for a web developer (unspecified), and $99,085 for a senior web developer. 

Averages are by no means guarantees, but they do provide a ballpark for what you can earn as a web developer. Keep in mind these programmer salary averages span across the United States, and are compiled exclusively from jobs listed on their site. Some estimate that only 20% of jobs are actually advertised, and the rest are filled through networking.

These numbers are by no means specific to skillset or level of expertise, but are useful in gaining a sense of the nationwide web developer salary trends.

The Programming Language Affects Web Developer Salaries

When researching the average salary of a web developer, it may be more helpful to look at specific languages. Different web developer roles require a working knowledge of different languages. HTML was the very first to enter the scene in the early 1990s, and provides a basic structure at the core of every webpage. But in order to receive a competitive pay as a computer programmer, they’ll need to expand their repertoire beyond the basics of HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

These average web developer salaries will still vary between cities and companies. Even a simple change of phrase, from “web developer” to “engineer” to “programmer” can beget slightly different average salaries.

This chart contains more than 11 programming languages, but here are a few of the most popular salaries for JavaScript, Ruby, and Python.

Geography Impacts Average Web Developer Salary

Beyond the skills and experience of a web developer, salaries vary based on geography. As one might expect, web developer jobs in urban areas pay more than nonmetropolitan areas. Top paying states for web developers, such as California, report an annual mean wage of $86,160, well above the national average of $69,430. The high salaries on the coasts may be enticing, but the steep cost of living can deplete your actual earnings.

Below are the states with a high concentration of jobs and their corresponding annual mean wage. As you can see, there is a difference of over $30,000 between Vermont and Washington.

• Washington: $94,060

• District of Columbia: $87,320

• Utah: $69,940

• New York: $79,880

• Vermont: $60,790

According to recent labor market data, the country is experiencing a changing landscape of talent. While “superstar cities” like New York and L.A. still have a disproportionate share of high-tech startups and corporate headquarters, unexpected areas are making it onto the map as attractive regions for talent.

The high cost of living in coastal hubs motivate talent to look to unexpected places like Jacksonville, FL and Denton, TX for work and affordable housing. Large counties in the west, such as Idaho and Utah, have seen continued growth and served as a refuge from high-cost cities like San Francisco and Seattle.

Conclusion: Web Development Salaries

Web programming is meaningful work for more than just the monetary incentives. As software plays an increasingly vital role in how our society functions, web developers are key stakeholders in building a digital world from the ground up. But it is no secret that web developers can earn big paychecks, making it an attractive field for those in search of reliable income.

If you are hiring for a web developer and negotiating their salary, let these average salaries be your guide. Clinging to a single figure would be unwise, as the field is highly specialized and region-specific.