Web Designer Career

Among the many employment opportunities that have been created with the advent of the internet is that of a web designer. With hundreds of websites being created every day in the United States alone, a web designer career is considered to be one of the most lucrative and most in-demand. Individuals who are thinking about taking this career path can very well gain some useful insight from reading the following guide.

What is a Web Designer?

Put simply, a web designer is someone who designs websites. This person creates and arranges the web pages, and determines how a website should appear on the web. In a way, they are perceived as “architects” that operate on the internet. This profession is considered invaluable on the Internet and although there are DIY templates for those who prefer to design their websites on their own, the majority of individuals and businesses still rely on website designers to do the job.

Web Designer Job Duties

It may seem like a simple and easy job but when going into a web designer career, people would often find that things are a bit more complicated and there are many duties to take care of. Among the job duties of a web designer are: developing and designing applications that are suitable to the client’s preferences, creating web enhancements and programming features, applying current design trends and techniques, developing website functionalities and architecture, and many others.

Web Designer Skills

Web designers should possess computer programming and web developing-related skills. These include: knowing how to use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Flash. He or she should also have knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization), and at the same time, must have good design sense. Apart from these, web designers need to be very creative, disciplined, and motivated to work. Good interpersonal skills would also be advantageous.

Web Designer Education

The minimum requirement to become a web designer is a college degree in Computer Science or other related fields. However, in order to be employed in this profession, a person must be trained for web designing. There are two ways to do this: formal and self-training. There are certification programs that a person can attend, which may lead to internship opportunities. However, self-training is also possible and this can be done through various online programs. Studying videos and e-books can help a person gain the knowledge needed for this job.

Web Designer Salary

A web designer’s pay is commensurate to the level of expertise and years of experience working in this profession. Entry-level web designers are paid $37,000 annually on average however those that have at least five years experience can get as much as $60,000 or more. In fact, there are those who are earning as high as $100,000. One thing is for sure: web designers are earning way above the average pay in the country.

Web Designer Job Outlook

People concerned about the trending of the web designer career should put their worries to rest. The future of this occupation looks very promising and in the next 10 years, growth will continue to rise because there will always be a demand for websites to be created and developed. It is considered one of the fastest growing careers in the 21st century.

The need for web designers is projected to keep growing. However, competition will always be tough. Equipping yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills can improve your credibility and make you more marketable.