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Job outlook for web design/development in the United States
Web design/development job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected web design/development job growth rate is 13% from 2018-2028.
About 20,900 new jobs for web design/development are projected over the next decade.
Web design/development salaries have increased 11% for web design/development in the last 5 years.
There are over 172,141 web design/development currently employed in the United States.
There are 184,573 active web design/development job openings in the US.
The average web design/development salary is $69,901.
Are web design/development jobs in demand?
Web design/development job and salary trends over time
Web design/development jobs over time
Web design/development job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 172,141 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 163,773 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 66,837 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 51,856 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 51,398 | 0.02% |
Average web design/development salary over time
Web design/development salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $69,901 | $33.61 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $67,598 | $32.50 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $66,067 | $31.76 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $64,697 | $31.10 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $62,927 | $30.25 | +1.8% |
Web design/development jobs by state
Most common states for web design/development
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 717 | 103% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 457 | 44% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 312 | 41% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,223 | 40% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 407 | 38% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 361 | 38% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 226 | 36% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 673 | 35% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,051 | 34% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 293 | 34% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 252 | 34% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,754 | 33% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,186 | 32% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,336 | 32% |
| 15 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 631 | 30% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 858 | 29% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,622 | 28% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 881 | 28% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 378 | 28% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,903 | 27% |
Most common cities for web design/development
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati | 2 | 1% | $64,485 |
| 2 | Overland Park | 2 | 1% | $59,781 |
| 3 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $59,341 |
| 4 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $59,869 |
| 5 | Portland | 1 | 1% | $62,514 |
| 6 | Raleigh | 2 | 0% | $78,571 |
| 7 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $80,846 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $84,280 |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $84,033 |
| 10 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $65,082 |
Web Design/Development job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of web design/development experts
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Mount St. Joseph University
University of Richmond
Idaho State University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Tulsa
Gannon University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Keiser University Latin American Campus.
Bucknell University
Florida Atlantic University
Auburn University at Montgomery
University of New Haven
University of Central Missouri
Furman University
Murray State University
University of South Alabama
Junping Sun Ph.D.
ProfessorNova Southeastern University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What Web Design/Development skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Junping Sun Ph.D.: Computer Science and its applications in various fields are very dynamic and constantly evolving, and anyone in the fields needs to prepare to be adaptive by lifelong learning.
What will help Web Design/Development increase their earning potential?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: As we look toward the future of careers in Computer Applications, several skills stand out for their growing importance. These skills revolve around specific technologies that are expected to continue to grow and evolve. Technologies related to Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Data Science are quickly evolving and being applied across the technology sector. Cloud Computing: Given the widespread adoption of Cloud services, Cloud computing expertise is indispensable. Understanding how to leverage platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud is crucial to developing scalable, efficient solutions that meet business needs. Artificial Intelligence: AI and Machine Learning are transforming the world. Skills in these areas to solve real-world problems will be even more critical in the future. Cybersecurity: Digital threats are becoming more sophisticated. Safeguarding data, networks, and systems will require encryption, intrusion detection, development, and regulation skills. Data Science: Skills in Data Science will be increasingly sought after as businesses embrace data-driven decision-making. Extracting meaningful insights from extensive datasets and effectively communicating these findings will be essential. Soft skills: Finally, soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication cannot be overlooked. Adapting, communicating, and leading will be essential for success.
What will help Web Design/Development increase their earning potential?
Ahmed Imteaj PH.D.: Research Salary Trends: Before entering the job market, research salary trends for entry-level positions in your field and location. Websites like Glassdoor, PayScale, and LinkedIn Salary can provide valuable insights into typical salary ranges for different roles.
Acquire In-Demand Skills: Identify in-demand skills and technologies in your field and focus on acquiring them through coursework, certifications, internships, or personal projects. Skills such as machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data science are highly valued and can command higher salaries.
Gain Relevant Experience: Prioritize gaining relevant experience through internships, co-op programs, part-time jobs, or freelance projects. Practical experience can significantly increase your market value and make you more attractive to employers.Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the job requirements. Highlighting your unique qualifications can increase your chances of landing interviews and negotiating a higher salary.
Prepare for Salary Negotiations: Before entering salary negotiations, research the typical salary range for the position and location, considering factors such as cost of living and industry standards. Practice articulating your value proposition and be prepared to negotiate confidently for a salary that reflects your skills, experience, and market value.
Consider Additional Benefits: In addition to salary, consider other benefits and perks offered by employers, such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and bonuses. These benefits can add significant value to your overall compensation package.
Rebecca Allen
Mount St. Joseph University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to a Web Design/Development?
Rebecca Allen: AI, for sure. I have heard it said that AI might not replace humans, rather humans who know how to use AI well may replace humans who don't.
Ahmed Temani
Senior InstructorUniversity of Richmond
Computer/Information Technology Administration And Management
What Web Design/Development skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ahmed Temani: This one I'm not sure how to answer as it is too broad. I would say work hard and do quality work, but that seems obvious.
What Web Design/Development skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikyra Capson: Don't be afraid of being rejected. If they see a job they want, apply. Even if they don't think they'll get it, still apply. The worst thing that could happen is being told no. Not applying is an automatic no, so they might as well try.
Travis Mandel Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
Department of Computer Science
What soft skills should all Web Design/Development possess?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: Although computer science seems like a highly technical field, soft skills are really what differentiates software engineers. One of the most important qualities of any software engineer is explaining their code clearly at various levels of technical depth and explaining why certain design decisions were made. You could write code that does amazing things, but if that code consists of snippets you pasted from StackOverflow without really fully understanding them, it will be a huge headache for anyone who needs to come into the codebase later and maintain or update it.
Another one is asking the right questions. Imagine you are dropped into a huge codebase and asked to add a new feature (very common!). There's no time to understand everything that is going on, but on the other hand, you need to understand enough of the code to do your task effectively, which involves asking questions. A failure to ask questions will likely result in you wasting a huge amount of time working on something that is ultimately not useful, for instance, re-implementing a complex function that already exists somewhere in the codebase.
What skills stand out on Web Design/Development resumes?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: The number one thing that employers typically look for is a project that demonstrates your ability to program something new and useful. The best projects are ones that someone undertakes independently or with a small group of others - if it is the latter, you need to clarify what you contributed. It's even better if you include a link to public code on Github so that employers can look around your Github page and get a sense of your coding style. A working demo is also very impressive. Ideally, this wouldn't be something you were forced to do for a class but rather something you took the independent initiative to do.
College GPA doesn't matter as much as people think it does - most companies care much more about what you can do than how well you did in class. Unless it is extremely low, it shouldn't be a problem. Listing courses can be useful, but even better would be listing skills you learned in classes. For instance, the class "Artificial Intelligence" means completely different things at institutions. So employers may not necessarily understand what skills you learned in that class unless you highlight them.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Web Design/Development?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: Being comfortable with refactoring code is definitely one of the big ones here. Absolutely no one writes perfect code right off the bat - a good software engineer should recognize that and always be open and receptive to suggestions about improving their code. Even in the absence of such suggestions, a software engineer must be able to independently recognize that "the tower is about to fall over"! Meaning, if the code is turning into a real mess, a good software engineer will be able to realize that and independently begin refactoring it into a better state, even if that takes time away from implementing new features.
Another one I'll mention briefly is designing class inheritance diagrams to solve a new problem. The right structure here can allow components to be easily re-used and extended. But the wrong structure can lead to disastrous consequences, so it requires a lot of thought about how things will likely evolve in the future.
What skills will help Web Design/Development earn the most?
Travis Mandel Ph.D.: Solid foundational skills in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Even if you are not an AI researcher or machine learning engineer, with AI becoming so pervasive, chances are your code will have to interact with it at some point. Although listing many of the latest technologies (Tensorflow/Keras, Pytorch) looks great on a resume, what is even more valuable is a solid grasp of the fundamentals that transcend specific libraries. Employers will be impressed by someone who can analyze large data sets in languages like Python, communicate effectively with the machine learning teams, and identify new potential ways to integrate machine learning into the product. This is a highly in-demand skillset that can easily help unlock higher-paying positions.
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.
Professor of Computer ScienceSoutheastern Louisiana University
Department of Computer Science
What soft skills should all Web Design/Development possess?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: The most important soft skills are how to elicit requirements from clients and how to present the developed software to non-Information technology professionals.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Web Design/Development?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: Analytical and programming skills to solve problems at hand.
What skills will help Web Design/Development earn the most?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: Web and Mobile App development will help you earn the most.
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.
Associate Professor of CIS, J. Bradley Oxley Professor of Computer Information SystemsUniversity of Tulsa
School of Accounting and CIS at the Collins College of Business
What skills stand out on Web Design/Development resumes?
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.: We constantly work with employers that recruit our students, and for the past several years, there has been an almost insatiable need for workers with skills in data analytics & visualization, agile software development, cloud system architecture and administration, and cyber security.
What soft skills should all Web Design/Development possess?
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.: All the soft skills are important, but a few are absolutely critical in today's hybrid workforce. With the uncertainty of COVID delaying the return to the office, many companies are embracing hybrid work and/or 100% remote for some or all of their employees. Today's employees must be able to effectively communicate over a range of different modalities, both synchronously and asynchronously, while still being able to actively build and maintain relationships as they participate in one or more teams of coworkers, customers, and other stakeholders. Today's IT workers need to be honest with themselves on the work environments they can and cannot succeed within.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Web Design/Development?
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.: Students graduating with Information Systems and related degrees usually have little problem finding employment upon graduation. However, the pandemic upended that paradigm for some. For those who recently graduated and are still looking for employment, keep the faith and develop your technical skills. Developers should show prospective employers that they are familiar with agile programming methodologies and modern DevOps stacks and processes. Data analysts should be focused on presenting their ability to work with structured and unstructured data, effectively query data using SQL & NoSQL, and, most importantly, provide actionable insight by making data accessible and relatable to decision-makers at all levels of an organization. Those interested in cloud architecture and cyber security careers have to keep current on their skills and certifications. Cloud engineers need to stay aware of the constant changes happening at the major providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and, as with all other IT fields, provide tangible evidence of your skills via real projects that you have worked on. Prospective cyber security analysts should first focus on identifying their first specialization because there are too many security roles to learn them all at once, especially as beginners. Two popular entry-level cyber security jobs include information security consultant and Security Operations Center (SOC). Both of these roles require a sound foundation in networking fundamentals, vulnerability identification and mitigation, and an understanding of organizationally relevant security and privacy frameworks and regulations.
What skills will help Web Design/Development earn the most?
Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.: Each of the areas and skills mentioned above is important. The way to earn the most in any of the varied specialties in IT depends on having the right blend of technical and soft skills for a particular employer and, frankly, being the right person at the right time for the right employer. That sounds ambiguous, but the point is that those looking for IT work need to research which companies, locations, and specific jobs pay the most with open positions that match their skillset. And, if you find that dream job with the dream pay but you don't have the requisite skills, there are plenty of opportunities to show a potential employer that you are willing to learn the skills to succeed in that position.
What type of skills will young Web Design/Development need?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: New computing graduates, more and more, need to understand the delivered value. Software is becoming ubiquitous: the breadth of industries and the depth of industry needs continue to expand. More than ever, the skills and competencies to reliably design, implement, and deploy software solutions are becoming paramount; it is not enough to be good with IT solutions or programming.
The need for computing graduates to be themselves adaptive, to work creatively to see and capitalize on opportunities, not just solve tech problems, is expanding. What is wanted are students who want to be computing professionals, women and men prepared to work together to deliver value to their organization, customers, and the world.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Web Design/Development to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Computing is ubiquitous, and with more industries moving to remote work, location is becoming less critical. If the internet reaches a place reliably, computing jobs can be located there.
How do you envision technology impacting Web Design/Development in the next 5 years?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: Breadth and depth: Computing is becoming more like engineering; where the value of the product, its lifetime risks, costs, and benefits are more critical than just it's roll-out. So the engineering competencies that have always been a part of computing will become more central. Computing is also expanding; the role of data and the shift of once-research technologies (like machine learning) into production applications will continue to require computing graduates to broaden their base and continue as learners. This will cause shifts in what is considered 'fundamental' and the need for professionals to continue to hone and redevelop their technical skill sets.
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.
Director, Dual-Degree Engineering Program, Assistant Professor of PhysicsXavier University of Louisiana
Department of Physics and Computer Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Design/Development?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: The coronavirus pandemic has made a substantial impact on every industry across latitude and longitude. It adapted us to the new normal, which some industries see as a boon and others as bane. HigherEd, which happens to be the oldest and mature industry, is no exception. The cohort of graduates who are very special because they are flexible, comprehend concepts via simulations, videos and peer mentoring. The benefits of these pedagogies are unique, thought provoking and content rich. Subsequently, our conventional methods to calibrate or gauge student's learning outcomes were fine-tuned to current circumstances. Moreover, the prominence of online learning has also enabled us to bridge the gap. So, the repercussions of pandemic on current graduates would be narrow and low-gravity.
What's a good job out of college for Web Design/Development?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: With increasing unemployment rates, it would be challenging for most of the graduates to find suitable and relevant jobs. More precisely, the pandemic has increased the competition by reducing the number of job vacancies. However, the students with prior internships and research experiences have an advantage to be absorbed quickly but the majority would still be on a hunt mode. In this perspective, they may want to be strategic and pursue jobs that are at a junior level but aligned with their strengths and passion. Self-employment could be other means where they could be on the learning curve and hone skills that are desired. Volunteering has always rewarded those who have embraced it. In short, graduates have to digest the current scenario and strategize their skill sets to land in their dream job.
What technical skills for a Web Design/Development stand out to employers?
Ashwith Chilvery Ph.D.: In any job market, employers always desire graduates with sound technical skills that complement their teams. For instance, graduates may want to be cognizant of disruptive technologies in their fields such as software programming, coding, designing, 3d printing, project management, digital marketing, technical writing, data analytics and etc. In addition, employers have special fondness for graduates with multidisciplinary capabilities and skills. Having such sound skills would enable them to evolve as an independent thinker and thrive as a team player.
Elio Rivas
Department Chair – Software Engineering & MIS Keiser University Latin American CampusKeiser University Latin American Campus.
Software Engineering and Management Information Systems (MIS) Department
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Design/Development?
Elio Rivas: English is 95% percent required in most of the applications. The new graduates face the challenges to know and have experience in almost all the programming languages and companies ask to be certified in most of the cases.
Companies in Nicaragua don't have a culture for training their workforce. This means that neither new graduates have the budget to get certified nor experienced workforce.
What soft skills should all Web Design/Development possess?
Elio Rivas: All the graduates should have customer services-oriented, teamwork, emotional intelligence, patient, persistency, audacity. Negotiation skills to get better paid.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Design/Development?
Elio Rivas: Of course, due to the pandemic impact, a lot of companies have been forced to downsize. Nowadays the companies are looking for highly experienced professionals instead of new graduates. Even though the working modality has changed to remote, the exigencies/requirements for job applications are getting harder for new graduates.
What's a good job out of college for Web Design/Development?
Alan Cheville Ph.D.: A good job is always one that aligns with a student's interests and has the possibility for advancement. There are so many individual factors unique to each graduate that it is nearly impossible to broadly identify "a good job". Students come out of college with different levels of debt, ability to relocate, etc. so what may be a good job for one is not for another.
What technical skills for a Web Design/Development stand out to employers?
Alan Cheville Ph.D.: Technical skills stand out to employers if they are the ones their organization needs. So understanding an employer and their needs is quite important - internships are a good way to gain such understanding and build relationships. More generally being able to show that you understand the underlying theory but also have the skills to put that theory into practice along with a demonstrated capability to continue to learn on one's own are highly sought after in technical areas that are changing rapidly.
Maria Larrondo Petrie Ph.D.
ProfessorFlorida Atlantic University
Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
What's a day at work look like for a Web Design/Development?
Maria Larrondo Petrie Ph.D.: I teach engineering and computer science, these areas are less prone to the pandemic as they lend themselves to transfer well to virtual work employment. The President's focus on building the infrastructure also is great for these majors.
What technical skills for a Web Design/Development stand out to employers?
Maria Larrondo Petrie Ph.D.: The potential employee needs to be comfortable and flexible to learn different technologies needed to be successful in the virtual work environment. More importantly than the technical schools are the soft skills that give the employee the self-discipline and communications skills to be effective and productive in a virtual work environment. The non-technical major needs to be computer literate and have the mindset to learn new technical skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Design/Development?
Dr. Semih Dinc: I personally think there may be a positive impact of this pandemic for CS graduates in medium/long term. Even if many companies have frozen or slowed down their hiring process now, I believe this is a temporary decision. There is still a big need for new CS graduates in the industry. And to me it is more clear that people realized they can work remotely for many CS related positions. This means that many companies can cut their physical office budgets and hire more remote people. One of the factors for our students is the challenges/expenses of the city they would work. Some of them do not want to move to big cities. I am assuming with more remote working opportunities graduates will have more options.
What experience really stands out on Web Design/Development resumes?
Dr. Semih Dinc: According to my experience, most companies are not looking for "straight A" students. Instead, they look for someone with real world experience in their field. A recent graduate will most likely stand out if he/she has somehow contributed real projects. This can be achieved through internships. For many students, who do not have this option, they can still stand out by sharing their "good" school projects to platforms like GitHub. This way they can show companies that they are aware of these tools, and they will be ready to adopt the new company environment.
What type of skills will young Web Design/Development need?
Dr. Semih Dinc: I may be little biased on this question maybe because of my research field. But I notice a significant demand on machine learning experts in the industry. Today I think a CS graduate should have skills such as machine learning, computer vision, and programming for mobile environments.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Design/Development?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: Courses that have a heavy emphasis on hands-on projects can have a massive impact on your job prospects. In the technology field, you want to make sure your resume has many tools/skills that the industry uses, from hardware, test equipment, software tools, and programming languages. If you can take a course that will allow you to learn what industry uses while teaching you theory, you should run to take the course.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Web Design/Development job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: I always tell students to practice for an interview by thinking about how they will answer behavior questions such as how to do your work on a team, how you lead a team, how you learn from a failure, etc. This year I would add a new question to this list, and that is how you work remotely. Students should consider how they work with classmates to find a remote work style that works for them. They should explore how to work with Slack or Microsoft Teams to communicate and organize their team. I think we will see that remote work is a trend that will remain with us for the foreseeable future so students should work to become more comfortable with this new work style.
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin
Professor of Statistics & Mathematics Assistant Chair of Mathematics Programs Actuarial Science and Statistics Program CoordinatorUniversity of Central Missouri
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
What technical skills for a Web Design/Development stand out to employers?
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin: Most employers we work with look for candidates with experience in programmings such as Excel/VBA, Access/SQL, and others such as R and SAS. It is noted that life insurers are more likely to use SQL and SAS since their data is much bigger, while health insurers typically rely mostly on Excel and VBA.
What general advice would you give to a Web Design/Development?
Kevin Treu Ph.D.: Be a sponge! Use every resource at your disposal to learn all you can, not only about the tools and techniques for the projects you've been assigned but for everything your new company does. These resources will most likely include in-house training, but don't stop there. Do online research, work through tutorials, pick the brains of your new colleagues. Never stop learning! That is a huge key to success.
Also, start your career with attention to a healthy work-life balance. Most companies explicitly value this concept and provide opportunities for you to tend to your own mental and physical wellness through various programs. Take the time to rest and recharge, and most importantly, enjoy what you're doing!
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Design/Development?
Kevin Treu Ph.D.: Seek out courses that have a major project component, ideally with students working together in teams. And as paradoxical as it may sound - the best experiences are those where the teacher is less of a teacher and more of a facilitator. That is, they create an environment where the onus is on you to go and find the tools that you need to produce the required outcome. At Furman, we have several such courses in topics such as Web-Based App Development, Game Design and Development, Systems Analysis, and Human-Computer Interaction. Sometimes it can be disconcerting - for both student and teacher - when a project-based, "just in time" learning paradigm is used. It's so different from what we're used to! But time and time again, our alums have reported to us that these experiences most closely mirror the actual work experience and thus have the greatest impact on job success.
What's a day at work look like for a Web Design/Development?
Kevin Treu Ph.D.: I'm least confident about answering this question. I have talked to alums about this, however, so I'll give it a go. Recent Computer Science and Information Technology grads might be surprised about the flexibility that they'll find in a typical day working a tech job. The classic 9-to-5 expectation isn't predominant any more. You'll be assigned to a team that is responsible for multiple projects. For the most part, you'll be expected to deliver those completed projects by a deadline while working and communicating effectively with your team. If you can do that best on a non-traditional schedule - working evenings, perhaps, or powering through in a marathon session and then taking some time off - most jobs are going to be fine with that. Expect to use your verbal and written communication skills! There will be lots of team meetings.
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceMurray State University
Computer Science and Information Systems
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Web Design/Development job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: I'm no economist, but based on what I've seen, the job market in the computing industry has stayed relatively strong. There are still lots of software development and IT job openings right now. Since the pandemic has started, the biggest change is the move to working remotely. More people are just working from home now. There are currently way more remote job postings now than I've ever seen, though many of them state that working remotely is only temporary. Since schools have closed, that also means people have to deal with working while also trying to keep their kids on track with their school work. It's a difficult time for everyone right now.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Design/Development?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: A bachelor's degree in computer science is extremely valuable. It has been and continues to be one of the most valuable college degrees a student can pursue. I really think all areas of computing are in demand, but web and mobile computing might be one of the strongest. Some employers do like to see extra certifications in addition to the bachelor's degree. There are literally hundreds of certifications available in the computing industry. They all vary in the required amount of time, effort, and money. I think anything that can set a candidate apart from other candidates is valuable, and that includes any certification. I would not recommend investing thousands of dollars into additional certifications after completing a bachelor's degree, but I don't think it's a bad idea for students to pursue one of the free or lower-cost certifications that are available - especially those students who might not have strong internship experience, extracurricular activities, projects, etc. to put on their resumes. I think anything DevOps related or cloud-based like Amazon's AWS or Microsoft's Azure are especially valuable right now.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Design/Development?
Bob Sweeney Ph.D.: I don't think so but I can't predict the future. The job market in this area seems to be solidifying and there are numerous local, regional, and national employers participating in our University's career fair this semester.
What's a good job out of college for Web Design/Development?
Bob Sweeney Ph.D.: Very likely there will be more remote workers at least for the near future. Many organizations are hiring and expecting workers in their facilities. Students have been getting more exposure to Zoom, Slack, Discourse, Discord, Git, and other remote collaboration tools during their last semesters which should ease their transition to a workplace using these applications.