Web Developer Job Description
What does a web developer do?
A web developer makes and maintains websites. They are in charge of a site’s overall look and feel. Web developers also handle the technical aspects of a website, including its performance (website speed) and capacity (the maximum amount of traffic the site could handle at a given time). A web developer is usually knowledgeable in both graphic design and programming.
Web developers deal with different kinds of websites, including e-commerce, gaming, and news sites. These different website types have certain requirements. For instance, a gaming website must deftly handle advanced graphics. Ecommerce sites, on the other hand, would require the integration of a payment-processing feature and the capacity to deal with stock coming in and out. A web developer decides a site’s applications and designs accordingly.
Certain web developers handle all aspects of creating a website. Some specialise in specific facets of website construction. Specialised web developers are usually categorised as back-end developers, front-end developers, full-stack developers and webmasters.
A back-end web developer handles a website’s technical or construction aspects. They make the site’s basic framework and ensure it functions properly. They create the programs and code that power the website’s databases, server, and any other applications it could contain. Since back-end coding has a major role to play in a site’s speed and performance, the groundwork for the site’s SEO (search engine optimisation) is essentially laid at this stage. These developers also enable others to add fresh pages to the site.
A front-end web developer is responsible for a website’s appearance. They make the website’s layout and integrate applications, graphics, and other content. In certain cases, a front-end developer could also write content for the site. A web developer who functions as both a front-end and back-end developer is called a full-stack developer. Generally, small websites that do not boast a large development budget employ full-stack developers to build their sites.
Webmasters maintain a site and keep it updated. They make sure the website functions as the back-end developer intended it to and test for broken links and other site errors. Webmasters also correspond with users via comments or direct messages.
What are the different types of web developer?
There are essentially three types of web developers, differentiated by the parts of the website they work on:
- Front-end developer - develops the visuals or interfaces using JavaScript, HTML and CSS
- Back-end developer - develops the actions on a website or web applications using programming languages such as Python, PHP, Ruby etc
- Full stack developer - develops all layers of the software
Web Developer responsibilities
The following are the common tasks a web developer is expected to perform:
- Meet with clients to discuss their website design and requirements
- Create and test apps for the website
- Code for the site using HTML or XML and/or other programming languages
- Engage with members of their team to ascertain the kind of information the site should contain
- Work with designers, such as graphic designers, to determine the site’s layout
- Integrate audio, video, and graphics into the site
- Quality-test and troubleshoot the website and/or its applications in various browsers
Outside the realm of their actual work, web developers are expected to stay updated with market trends and learn new programming languages, frameworks, and technologies.
What skills does a web developer need to have?
Web developers need to be proficient in technical skills, but also have the soft skills to work effectively with other team members:
- HTML
- HTML5
- CSS
- CSS3
- JavaScript
- jQuery
- Adobe Suite
- Cross browser compatability
- Object-Oriented Design
- User Interface Dwsign
- User Experience Design
- Multimedia content development
- APIs
- Understanding of SEO
- Good communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks at once
Career path of a web developer
Right at the bottom of the web development career ladder is the apprentice web developer or junior position. Sitting at the top is the technical director. At the apprenticeship level, aspiring developers spend most of their time learning from their seniors and usually are tasked with small development projects.
Above the junior developer sits the mid-weight developer, also known simply as a developer. At this level, web developers are seen working on more challenging builds, in addition to advising and collaborating with junior members in web builds.
Senior developers often work autonomously. They take on extremely challenging web builds, often completing different web development projects with significant aplomb. The senior developer usually leads a team and handles overflows or throws in a helping hand whenever required.
Lead developers are the senior-most senior developers. Besides shouldering the responsibilities of being a senior developer, lead developers also coordinate with technical directors and work as a bridge between the head of development and other members of the team.
A technical director, or head of development, is in complete charge of a web development project. Besides making technical decisions, the head also manages salaries, scheduling, hiring and terminating, budgets, forecasting, and other duties.
Common web development terms
API
Application
Adaptive design
Bootstrap
Backend
Browser
Bug
Cache
Code
CSS
Domain
Frontend
Fullstack
HTML
JavaScript
jQuery
Mobile-first
MySQL
Operating system
PHP
Plugin
Python
Responsive design
Site map
Stack
SSL
UI
UX
Wireframe
FAQs
What are the skills and qualifications needed to become a web developer?
To become a web developer, one should have an aptitude for and good understanding of computer programming languages, be able to take a detailed approach to projects, and they should possess good communication skills. As far as educational qualifications are concerned, a university degree is not required to be successful. However, most companies prefer applicants with a computer science degree (at least). Degrees in software engineering or informatics or a diploma in web development or design are also usually considered.
What's the difference between a web developer and a web designer?
A web developer is primarily concerned with a website’s features and functionality. A web designer is more focused on the art direction and aesthetics of a site. They create the graphics, logo, and layout that convey a website’s look and feel. Web developers usually dabble with computer languages, such as HTML, JavaScript, Python, and PHP. Web designers typically employ software tools, such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, for their work. Though a web developer could design a site too, a web designer is a specialist.
Are web developers software developers?
A web developer is a kind of software developer. Software development is a much broader field. Software developers make standalone software programs, such as mobile and desktop applications. The Photoshop tool and the Instagram mobile app are examples. Web development, on the other hand, is purely web-based.
Who do web developers work for?
A web developer could work for different employers in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors. The companies hiring them are usually specialised in IT, software development, or computer consulting. Many developers also operate as independent contractors.
Why are web developers continually learning?
A website is never finished or complete. Though a website creation project has a definite start and end date, a website needs constant nurturing. Just when a site looks perfect, a glitch shows up from nowhere. Many times website owners want fresh elements to be added to their sites. To serve their clients better over a period, web developers have to constantly learn and evolve.
Web Developer Salary
Web developers in Australia earn anywhere between AUD50,000 and AUD105,000. The average salary is AUD90,000. The salaries vary between roles and across organisations and cities. The following are the average web developer salaries in major Australian cities:
- An entry-level developer may earn AUD66,350 in Sydney.
- The same developer would earn AUD63,000 in Melbourne.
- Brisbane-based web developers take home AUD58,800 annually.
- Web developers in Perth and Newcastle make AUD59,000 and AUD60,000 respectively.
Sydney
| Development | ||
| Web Developer | 80 – 110 | 70 – 90 |
| UX and Digital Design | ||
| Web Designer | 65 – 110 | 50 – 85 |
Newcastle
| Development | ||
| Web Developer | 75 – 120 | 55 – 85 |
| UX and Digital Design | ||
| Web Designer | 70 – 100 | 50 – 70 |
This salary guide is a compilation of salary and market information provided by Hudson consultants, clients, candidates and other sources across Australia. Information was gathered by drawing on the extensive knowledge of our specialist recruitment consultants across Hudson's specialist practice groups. Salary ranges are approximate guides only.
They relate to base salaries and exclude superannuation/bonuses/incentive schemes/stock options.
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