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Job outlook for web programmers in the United States
Web programmer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected web programmer job growth rate is 13% from 2018-2028.
About 20,900 new jobs for web programmers are projected over the next decade.
Web programmer salaries have increased 11% for web programmers in the last 5 years.
There are over 157,677 web programmers currently employed in the United States.
There are 104,212 active web programmer job openings in the US.
The average web programmer salary is $72,168.
Are web programmer jobs in demand?
Web programmer job and salary trends over time
Web programmer jobs over time
Web programmer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157,677 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 172,113 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 73,232 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 115,079 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 121,031 | 0.04% |
Average web programmer salary over time
Web programmer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $72,168 | $34.70 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $69,790 | $33.55 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $68,210 | $32.79 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $66,796 | $32.11 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $64,968 | $31.23 | +1.8% |
Web programmer jobs by state
Most common states for web programmers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 670 | 97% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,111 | 35% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,813 | 33% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 348 | 33% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 320 | 33% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 199 | 32% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,809 | 26% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,038 | 25% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 327 | 24% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 253 | 24% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 725 | 23% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,961 | 22% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 163 | 22% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,533 | 21% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 395 | 21% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,091 | 20% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,811 | 18% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 983 | 18% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 312 | 18% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 106 | 18% |
Most common cities for web programmers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Spring | 3 | 4% | $67,158 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 2 | 4% | $70,018 |
| 3 | Saratoga Springs | 1 | 4% | $70,802 |
| 4 | Parsippany-Troy Hills | 1 | 2% | $72,460 |
| 5 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $71,981 |
| 6 | Raleigh | 1 | 0% | $70,856 |
Web Programmer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of web programmer experts
California State University - Sacramento
Nova Southeastern University
Northwestern University
Mount St. Joseph University
University of Richmond
Wright State University
University of Guam
Indiana University Southeast
Southeastern Louisiana University
Gannon University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Eastern Washington University
Weber State University
Florida Atlantic University
University of New Haven
Murray State University
Indiana University South Bend
Pennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
Illinois Wesleyan University
New Mexico State University
What will help Web Programmers increase their earning potential?
Kin Chung Kwan: Programming is the cornerstone of computer science. Solving problems effectively through proficient programming is a vital key to career success. Learning programming is like athletic training. One cannot become a skilled athlete solely through attending lectures. Programming skills can only be improved with consistent practice. Learning new techniques and repeated practice can help professionals refine their programming abilities and achieve career success.
Junping Sun Ph.D.
ProfessorNova Southeastern University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What Web Programmer 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.
David Ostrowski
Northwestern University
Information Science/Studies
What will help Web Programmers increase their earning potential?
David Ostrowski: Deep technical software skills, incorporating and innovating with AI, programming languages like Golang, Solidity, Rust, JavaScript, understanding and appreciation of the functional programming paradigm. Innovation and pushing the limits of technology.
Rebecca Allen
Mount St. Joseph University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to a Web Programmer?
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 Programmer 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.
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Interim ChairWright State University
Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Department
What skills stand out on Web Programmer resumes?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Web Developer: JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, PHP, Python, APIs, Web user interface design.
What soft skills should all Web Programmers possess?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Communications skills are mostly for web developers since they interface more with clients, team work.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Web Programmers?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Particularly for a web developer, HTML/CSS skills, scripting langue competency.
What skills will help Web Programmers earn the most?
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: Particularly for a web developer, HTML/CSS skills, scripting langue competency, communication skills.
James Sellmann Ph.D.
Dean, Professor of Philosophy and Micronesian StudiesUniversity of Guam
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Web Programmer?
James Sellmann Ph.D.: General advice is to keep in mind that you must leverage your skills, especially your soft skills of being able to work with people, to communicate effectively and to be able to solve problems. Be real. Don't try to pretend to be someone else to impress others. Be your authentic self. And show up on time.
Chris Sexton
Visiting Lecturer of Computer ScienceIndiana University Southeast
Computer Science Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Web Programmers?
Chris Sexton: As with soft skills, technical skills in teamwork matter, a candidate must have the ability to work with revision control, be it git or some similar system. In addition, it is vital that fundamental computing skills such as operating the shell of a Linux machine are good signs that a candidate will be able to adapt to new systems.
What soft skills should all Web Programmers possess?
Chris Sexton: Teamwork is the obvious soft skill that is vital. It encompasses more than just being willing to work together but also includes strong documentation skills, textual communication skills, and precision in language. For an example of precision, which of the following is a task that can be completed:
"The login system will require strong passwords."
or
"The login system will require passwords of no less than 16 characters including at least two numbers and two non-alpha numeric characters."
It is easy for an engineer to be lax and use informal language that subtly confuses development efforts, but the valuable candidate will have strong technical communication skills.
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.
Professor of Computer ScienceSoutheastern Louisiana University
Department of Computer Science
What skills will help Web Programmers earn the most?
Dr. Ghanssan Alkadi Ph.D.: Web and Mobile App development will help you earn the most.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Web Programmers 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 Programmers 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 Programmers?
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 Programmers?
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 Programmer 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.
Christian Hansen Ph.D.
Professor and Department ChairEastern Washington University
Department of Mathematics
What's a day at work look like for a Web Programmer?
Christian Hansen Ph.D.: In the post-pandemic era, a typical workday for a recent graduate will likely involve some form of remote work. I predict that many businesses will benefit from the reduced cost of remote infrastructure compared to the cost of maintaining brick and mortar office space. Many new graduates will continue to spend their day on a computer while collaborating in teams via Zoom and other teleconference tools. People working in disciplines that have traditionally been "on the ground" will move towards more hybrid modes of work, reducing the need for travel and participating in face-to-face meetings and training.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Programmers?
Dr. Kyle Feuz Ph.D.: Change is often a slow process. For years, we have been hearing about the potential benefits of having employees work remotely and many companies had even started moving in that direction prior to the pandemic. However, the pandemic forced rapid change in the workplace environment with remote work becoming a necessity if businesses wanted to stay open. As I talk with different employers I am hearing a consistent message: remote work is here to stay.
This should not be interpreted to mean that every company is suddenly committed to allowing their employees to work remotely on a full-time basis (although some are). Instead, many companies see this as an opportunity to allow increased flexibility with work schedules and remote work. I do not anticipate that these changes will be immediate. Remember, change is often a slow process. I cannot predict the ripple effect such changes will cause in the job market.
With that in mind, we can start to consider the broader effects such policies will have. This has the potential to open the job market up to a wider audience. Previously, a graduate would have to decide if they were willing to relocate before looking at an opening outside of their immediate geographic area. With full-time remote work, those geographic constraints no longer apply. Similarly, individuals with other commitments that may prevent them from working a traditional 9-5 job may find opportunities that would previously have been unavailable to them. This just barely scratches the surface of the enduring impacts the pandemic may cause but one thing is certain, the world will never be the same.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Programmers?
Dr. Kyle Feuz Ph.D.: Any time you have a certification, license or degree it's going to give you a leg up compared to your peers with similar skill sets but no certification. Often the certification or degree will help your resume make it through an initial screening process but then it's up to you to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills the certification is supposed to represent. It's also important to know what career you want to pursue. Certifications are usually targeted to a very limited skill set. If that skill set is a critical part of the job description then the certification will be a strong mark in your favor. Some fields even require certification before you will be considered for the position. However, if the skill set is only tangentially related to the job description then there is little benefit in having the certification.
What soft skills should all Web Programmers possess?
Dr. Kyle Feuz Ph.D.: The top three things I hear from employers when talking about soft-skills are communication, collaboration, and ethics. They need employees who know how to communicate professionally in both written communications and oral communications. They also need employees who can work with others. You may be working internally with colleagues or externally with customers, clients and business partners but there are very few positions where collaborating with others is not a large part of the job. Finally, employers are looking for trustworthy employees. Many technical positions involve working with sensitive data, and no amount of technical controls can compensate for unethical or untrustworthy employees. All three of these soft skills are only going to increase in importance with the rise in remote work. Remote work cannot function successfully without good communication, collaboration and ethical behavior.
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 Programmer?
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's a good job out of college for Web Programmers?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: The best job you can have out of college is a job you have passion for and will set you up to advance your career. If you have always wanted to work in aerospace, then you should seek out that field from the start. I hate to see students settle for a job because of pay or because they feel they can move to their dream field later.
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceMurray State University
Computer Science and Information Systems
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Web Programmers?
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 Programmers?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: I don't think there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus on graduates of mathematics and computer science. The Internet and technology industries are booming during the pandemic, which needs graduates in math and computer science.
What type of skills will young Web Programmers need?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: In the coming years, when life is still being impacted by the pandemic in some way, graduates who enter the workforce may need skills that help them work efficiently from home. Those skills would include time management, self-motivation, and the ability to use technology. Of course, they still need the skills that are usually needed for their jobs, such as communication skills, teamwork, etc.
What experience really stands out on Web Programmer resumes?
Hang Dinh Ph.D.: Determining which experiences stand out on resumes depends on the position. For example, when we look for developers for ExtentWorld, we would love someone with experience in building complex or large scale systems and in designing advanced algorithms. The experience of simple coding would not stand out for such a position. At ExtentWorld, we have code-generating tools that help us build a complex one-stop social media platform at Extentworld with just two developers. This means the simple coding tasks can be automated. Graduates of computer science should have more than just coding experience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Programmers?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Yes, there certainly will. My digital project design course this fall involved seniors working entirely remotely on teams, and learning to work with GitHub, as well as Slack and Discord to coordinate together. Everything was more virtual than ever this year, and I know that these students learned more than ever before the pandemic about virtual task management and teamwork, because they relied on it more than ever to be connected with each other. They're marked by that awareness, and my colleagues indicate that those who graduate will be more resourceful and productive than before, and ready to work at a distance as needed.
What type of skills will young Web Programmers need?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Our graduates will need the vital skill of "looking stuff up" to find the most reliable and cost-efficient technological tools for a task. They need strong virtual as well as in-person communication skills, and they need experience with careful data and file curation. They need to be good at debugging problems and finding solutions, rather than presuming that the tech a company relies on will "just work." These things will help our students find good jobs and become indispensable employees.
What experience really stands out on Web Programmer resumes?
Elisa Beshero-Bondar Ph.D.: Designing and developing a whole project from plan to completion, whether solo or on a team. A student with coursework involving coding won't stand out as much as a student who has applied what they have learned to a project they made themselves or with a clearly defined role on a team. A student who successfully leads a project team (during a pandemic!) clearly has much to offer the workforce.
Brian Law
Assistant Professor of Computer ScienceIllinois Wesleyan University
Computer Science Department
What general advice would you give to a Web Programmer?
Brian Law: i) Explore your options thoroughly. Too many students get bewitched by Big Tech companies, with their bold promises, their fancy campuses, their big recruitment events, and their nice swag. Nowadays, this also happens to students with start-ups. But those jobs are not only highly competitive, but they also have very similarly exacting work cultures and very little work-life balance. These are cutthroat environments that are, frankly, not suited for everyone. Instead, many graduates would probably be happier working at, say, medium or small-size companies where they can find a workplace culture that fits them rather than the other way around, or non-tech companies where the pressure is lower because the goal is more stability and support rather than rapid innovation. Of course, this is the exact same dynamic that plays out with young consultants, accountants, lawyers, and doctors, who are also often initially attracted to high-powered, high-pressure environments but often end up deciding it's not for them, especially as they get older and start thinking about families.
ii) Specialize. There's no job out there with the title, "Computer Scientist." Employers are looking to hire you for a specific set of skills and knowledge. If you can identify the area of Computer Science you're interested in and the work you want to do in that area, you can again get a big leg up over your competition if you can demonstrate that you actually want to do what your future employer wants you to and that you're good at it. If you want to work with databases, then take those extra database electives and learn some other database technologies on your own time, and your resume will stand out amongst all the others for any DBA job.
iii) Don't sweat it too much. You've probably been alive for 22 years or so, so you'll probably be in the labor force for 50+ years. Your first job is not going to be your last job, and you may easily find your career path taking unexpected turns that you never even knew existed. Just like you didn't know what the areas of computer science were as a freshman, there are many many CS-related job types out there that you're not even aware of, and 50 years from now, there will probably be even more. While it may seem like your first job will set you on one path for the rest of your life, really it starts you towards 5000 possible paths out of millions in total. No, you don't get the stability of a "job for life" anymore, but that can also be freeing in a way. Don't worry about finding that "perfect" job; even if you did find it, you and the world around you will change over time anyway, so just take your first step confidently and always keep an eye out for your next one.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Web Programmer job market given the pandemic?
Brian Law: I'm not sure the pandemic has really changed anything, so much as it's accelerated existing trends. Large firms are still expanding their IT workforces - or planning to when the economy recovers - with increased interest in data science, artificial intelligence, and systems, especially with an eye towards contracting IT infrastructure and services, and moving towards decentralized work, whether that be in the form of remote work, "smart" technology, and/or the cloud.
All of these were happening already pre-pandemic as the various technologies matured, but the pandemic seems to have accelerated those trends as companies are both tightening their belts in the short-term and planning ahead for the long-term. Smaller firms may be struggling to survive, but technological progress has not stopped, so while overall job numbers may be down in any given month, that just means there's a lot of pent-up demand for when the economy recovers.
For example, the pandemic has pushed a lot of small businesses and restaurants to adopt online ordering and shopping systems; those systems aren't just going away when the pandemic ends, and new post-pandemic businesses will have to compete against incumbents with significant technology investments.
What Web Programmer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Law: There are several areas that are "hot" right now, such as the previously-mentioned data science, artificial intelligence, and systems, but also cybersecurity and databases/data warehousing. That being said, the most important thing for a new graduate seeking employment to do is just to do anything, produce something. Tech employers don't and have never trusted computer science credentialing; that mistrust is the origin of the infamous "tech interview," used to verify whether a candidate actually has the technical skills to back up their piece of paper.
So to preemptively answer that question and get a leg up on other candidates, graduates should be sure to generate some artifact(s) that demonstrate(s) their technical and organizational skills. Show them that you can plan a project, design it, see it through in programming it, and do so in a responsible, organized manner (good coding style, readable code, well-documented, and using proper version control), and you'll have addressed your future employer's greatest worries right off the bat.
If it's a project in one of these "hot" areas or specifically tuned for the work the employer does, all the better, but anything the employer is doing is probably leagues beyond what a fresh graduate can do by themselves in a few months, so ultimately they're not going to be that impressed with your domain-specific technical knowledge. Instead treat it more as an opportunity to show off your "soft" skills, your programming maturity, and your ability to actually produce a product rather than just answer exam questions. And while you're at it, you might as well make it something fun for yourself so you'll be driven to finish it.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Web Programmers?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: For most graduates, no. Most employers have their own platforms, so the effects from the pandemic are not in play as the employer; the investment into the new graduate would be similar with or without the pandemic. The new graduate may have a more difficult time catching up from the loss of some educational experiences from the pandemic, but I think it will even out in twelve to eighteen months. Some examples of the biggest challenges for new graduates are the transitions to working with others and being in offices. The past eighteen months has allowed all of us to enhance our bad personal habits; the new graduate is likely to bring these to work and expect that this is normal (e.g., bathing, eating at the desk, playing games during work time).
What type of skills will young Web Programmers need?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: Most young graduates want to be game developers. Frankly, there are too few jobs in game development for students to find a reasonable change. The skills employers want are in using SQL with relational databases, and they want the ability to work in a full stack development environment and the willingness to learn new platforms and programming environments. The employer has a huge investment in their development stack, and the new employee has to learn that stack. Also, they want employees with the ability to communicate with management and, most importantly, the ability to work with others. The graduate should be solid in basic data structures and how they are applied to solutions. Additionally dynamic HTML web services are welcome.
What experience really stands out on Web Programmer resumes?
Dr. Shaun Cooper Ph.D.: The most important experience on a graduate's resume is the fact that they worked during their undergraduate years. Employers certainly prefer a student who has had a computer science-related internship, but regular employment experience is equally important. The recruiters want to see a person who has been in the employment system. A student who has never had any job is more of a gamble to an employer.
As for internships, one internship is good. A second one is even better. Preferably doing a different activity and maybe at a different employer.
As the Chief Information Officer at NMSU (now retired), I oversaw 100-plus regular employees. When we interviewed new graduates, it was very important to me to see that the applicant had consistent, continuous (part-time) employment.