The job outlook for web designers depends on the specialty of the web designer. For instance, certain web design jobs focus more heavily on the coding and programming side, while others focus on the graphic design and visual side. Some types of web design jobs focus on the overall design and take care of every element of a website, while others are more focused technical wizards who do their best work as part of a web development team. Depending on which one you are, your field’s past, future and present salary information and job growth may vary.
Computer Scientists and Database Administrators – anyone who works with websites in an administrative or developmental faculty, including web designers, web developers and webmasters.
Desktop Publishers – individuals who write and publish regularly; includes prospects for bloggers and other online publications.
Writers and Editors – people whose main role in the web design world is the production of content for websites.
Computer Programmers – people working on complex, dynamic or interactive websites that require high levels of programming skill.
Graphic Designers – individuals whose primary skill is the artistic and design aspect of a website.
Web Developer Outlook
Past Growth
The number of web developers has grown tremendously over the past several years as major websites have become part of more and more individuals’ daily lives. Developing a website is now seen as imperative to a business’s success, whereas 10 to 15 years ago it was seen as little more than a novelty.
Present Status
Web developers earned a median salary of $66,310 in 2008; this is expected to rise with demand for talented professionals.
Future Growth
Web developers will enjoy excellent job opportunities in the future, with better jobs given to those with more education or work experience. Entrepreneurship will be a key factor in the growth of web developer jobs.
Web Publisher Outlook
Past Growth
Web publisher is a job title that didn’t exist 15 years ago, as the only people publishing on the web weren’t getting paid for it. Now, there are so many blogs that it is hard to keep track of them all. Web publishers and web writers share a niche, though typically web publishers work for news organizations to produce a regular, branded document.
Present Status
Web publishers’ current salaries vary but, in general, a successful full-time web publisher earned a median salary of $36,600 in 2008.
Future Growth
Future growth for web publishers looks average or uncertain; as major news organizations cut back their budgets, publishing jobs may be cut back as well.
Web Writer Outlook
Past Growth
Individuals who write exclusively for the web are growing in number, as people with English or Humanities degrees need to find some form of gainful employment in the wake of traditional businesses such as publishers or editors struggling in the recession. As a result, there has been a massive increase in the number of web writers working today.
Present Status
Web writers typically do freelance work, so salaries vary widely. The average is salary around $25,000.
Future Growth
The growth of web writer jobs is likely as full-time writing professionals are laid off from other businesses. The trend in jobs is toward outsourcing and freelancing, which is expected to make the web writer profession experience higher demand.
Web Programmer Outlook
Past Growth
Web programmers have grown explosively in number over the past several years as the experience of the Internet has gotten more nuanced and complex.
Present Status
Web programmers currently make around $70,000 per year according to the 2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Depending on your employer, location and responsibilities, you may make significantly more or less.
Future Growth
The growth of social media and major shifts online due to Web 2.0 makes the outlook for web programmers almost on par with web designers. Due to the nature of the job market, web developers may increase their chances of being hired with programming skills, and programmers may do the same with development skills.
Web Artist Outlook
Past Growth
The demand for web graphic artists has actually leveled out over the past several years as the focus has gone toward user experience. Still, there has remained a relatively constant demand, though the sector has switched toward freelance web artists rather than on-staff artists.
Present Status
Web artists earned a median wage of $42,400 in 2008, though entry-level and freelance web artists earned significantly lower amounts.
Future Growth
The growth outlook for web artists in the coming years is low to moderate due to fierce demand for a small number of available positions. Additionally, the fact that web developers are performing graphic design services themselves tends to take jobs away from graphic artists. Web artists should consider learning some programming skills to remain viable in the marketplace.