It’s a term thrown around often in the tech world, but what does it actually mean? What do web developers do? On a basic level, web development is the process of building and maintaining websites for use on the internet. Web developers are the people who carry out that process. Building a website involves a number of tasks: ranging from coding and writing markup, to network security configuration and content development. Essentially, web development is the behind the scenes work that allows a website to function properly for its users.

Web developers generally fall under three categories: Front-End, Back-End and Full-Stack. Front-end web developers are focused on the visual elements of a website that enhance the user experience. Back-end developers on the other hand, handle communication between the servers, databases, and applications that run the website. Finally, full-stack developers are a combination of both – working on the server and client sides of a website.

Why Become a Web Developer?

The opportunities facing web developers in today’s digital world are endless. As an increasing number of businesses undergo digital transformations, the need for web developers is higher than ever before. Those with the skills to build websites and software are highly attractive to employers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor projected the employment of web developers to grow by 13% between now and 2028 with a rate “much faster than the average for all occupations.”

Indeed.com estimates the average annual salary for an entry level web developer in the US to be $60,711 a year with the average salary increasing to $102,050 for senior web developers with more years of experience. We’ve found that number to hold true for our Momentum graduates. In fact, on average Momentum graduates make starting salaries of $65,236 a year. A career in web development will provide you with job flexibility, a great salary, and engaging work in a field that is constantly evolving. If you’re considering a career change, look no further than web development.

Becoming a Web Developer from Scratch

So, you’ve learned all about web development and have decided it may be the career for you, but where do you go from here? Entering the tech field with no experience can feel daunting, but there are plenty of resources out there to help get you started. Once you have familiarized yourself with the basics and have a general understanding of what software development is, it’s time to invest in a program that is right for you and become a certified web developer. Momentum offers both Immersive and Part-Time coding courses so you are sure to find a program that fits with your schedule.

Here’s What You Can Expect Throughout Your Immersive Momentum Course

The Immersive Course is broken into four 4-week phases. Phase 1 is an introduction to coding, i.e. all about web development, along with front-end development training. Phase 2 focuses on back-end development. These first phases are classroom oriented, so you will have plenty of time to ask questions and become comfortable with the content. At Phase 3, students choose to either specialize in front-end or back-end development and continue into advanced training for their chosen specialization. Phase 4 emphasizes agile development and students work in teams to complete projects that can be added to a portfolio to use in the career search. During this phase there is less organized instruction and instead demo days and check-ins as students work on gaining proficiency independently.

You can expect a consistent schedule each week with instruction and a lab from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday, with a one-hour lunch break. To learn more details about the course format and policies, you can request a Course Guide on the Momentum website.

How to Prepare for Your Course

Although no experience is required to enroll in a Momentum program, we suggest accessing free online tutorials and/or coding exercises to introduce yourself to the content. Your Momentum instructor may also assign pre-work depending on your coding experience to help you learn basic terms and concepts. Most importantly, we hope you will come to class with a positive attitude, eager to learn and embark on your path towards becoming a web developer!

Co-authored by Anna Blythe.