Do web developers need a degree?

The return on investment of four-year college degrees is declining among both employers and professionals. Stack Overflow reports that fewer than half of developers have degrees in computer science or a related field. It is estimated that almost 70 percent of developers are at least partially self-taught, with 13 percent claiming to be exclusively self-taught.

There are many reasons to pursue a college education. Web development jobs are not obtained by getting a degree.

Web Development Degree

A career in web development does not require a specific "Web Developer degree" or a college or university degree.

Many aspiring Web Developers begin their careers with a bachelor's degree in computer science, with an associate's degree being the most common minimum educational requirement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Regardless of your educational path, learning to code will be a requirement since you will need to demonstrate a command of relevant programming languages in this field. Generally speaking, professionals in this field - more than in many others - must maintain a commitment to ongoing learning in order to stay current.

What are the benefits of a Web Development Certificate?

It is highly worthwhile to invest in a web development certificate, as you will be able to develop the skills employers are increasingly looking for. You will also have more career advancement opportunities and get paid more.

The Benefits of a Web Development Certificate

As demand for web development skills has increased, web development certificates, courses, and bootcamps have become more popular. In the best web development courses, students develop a solid foundation in HTML and CSS, before moving on to key development fundamentals:

Here are some reasons why a web development certificate is such a good investment right now.

There is a high demand for web developers

According to Indeed, Front-End Developers are the second-hardest to find in the tech industry, followed by Full-Stack Developers.

“The report concluded that such talent is clearly essential for many employers in today's digital age.

All labor forecasts have come to the same conclusion. The need for web development talent is expected to increase as businesses build websites, web and mobile applications, and other software programs.

By 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor expects the job market for Web Developers to grow by 15 percent, meanwhile, according to Mondo’s annual Salary Guide for Technology and Digital Marketing, “Web Developer” is among the top-paying tech titles in digital marketing, as well as the most in-demand.

Web Developers are in high demand throughout the industry, and it's easy to understand why. A recent study by Absolutet shows that eCommerce/digital influences more than 56 percent of in-store purchases and now accounts for nearly 10 percent of all retail sales in the United States.

Absolunet predicts that mobile eCommerce traffic will reach 70 percent by 2020 - eCommerce is not only becoming a point of focus for all businesses, but is growing at a rapid rate.

Companies that are slow to adapt still face a great deal of difficulty with mobile transformations in general. Globally, mobile traffic now represents 53 percent of all traffic (versus 43 percent on desktop), and as the scales continue to shift, companies around the world will need to reconsider their digital strategies. A crucial part of that process will be Web Developers.

With all of that demand for experienced Web Developers, an intensive web development bootcamp or course would be enough to prepare someone with no coding experience to fill those development jobs.

Salaries for web developers are rising

The average salary for Web Developers in the United States is $71,531, while the average salary for Senior Developers is $95,325. Web Developer salary ranges were compiled by Developers For Hire based on specializations if you are interested in knowing more.

These numbers are expected to rise in the future. Web Developers/Software Engineers are most likely to see their salaries rise over the next year, according to TEKsystems' annual IT Forecast.

This may be due to employers realizing that they can raise salaries now or pay the price later. In a recently published report, market research company Forrester predicted that employers who failed to attract in-demand digital talent would pay up to 20 percent more than market rates.

The importance of continuing education is being emphasized by employers

Newcomers to Web Development benefit greatly from taking a certification course, as they will gain the skills they need to get started on this rapidly evolving field. A web development certification isn't just useful for neophytes and career changers who want to become Web Developers.

In light of the rapid technological advancements - and beyond the shift to mobile, companies will soon also have to develop websites optimized for voice search, photo-based shopping, and app ordering - it's imperative that tech talent keep up. Despite the possibility of finding success as a self-taught Web Developer, continued upskilling is expected to complement individual training.

One tech certification raises base salaries by 7.6 percent on average, according to Foote Partners. TEKsystems' report reports that 90 percent of IT leaders intend to increase or maintain their investments in training and personal development.

“It seems as if change happens so quickly in that field more than many others – you constantly need to learn new skills to stay competitive,” Carlson said.

The fact that you're continually learning new skills shows an employer that you're not only transitioning careers, but also updating them. Your resume states that you are adaptable to new challenges and you are working to grow personally and professionally."