Do you enjoy working with computers? Do you have creative design skills? Web designers are in high demand in today’s fast-paced industry. If you are a recent graduate or you have talent in digital and graphic design but little or no professional experience in web design, it is likely you are searching for your first entry-level position in the industry.
In this post, we’ll go over everything from what an entry-level web designer does to the skills required for these jobs and how much entry-level web designer jobs pay. If you have the right education or impressive skills, you can impress an employer even if you don’t have extensive work experience.
What Is Web Design and Why Is It Important?
Web design is a broad term that refers to a variety of skills and disciplines used in the creation and maintenance of websites. It is unquestionably essential as a well-designed website can help to form a good impression on prospective customers to the website and aid in search engine optimization (SEO). Because of the importance of web design, the demand for web designers is high.
What Is the Job Outlook for Web Design?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2020 and 2030, employment projections for web developers and digital designers are expected to expand 13 percent, faster than the average for all occupations. Over the next 10 years, 17,900 openings for web developer jobs and digital design jobs are expected.
Top Reasons to Pursue a Career in Web Design
- A career path in web design comes with numerous job opportunities to work as a web designer in an agency setting. If you choose to work independently, you can also find plenty of freelance work that will give you essential hands-on experience.
- Being able to assist businesses in attaining online success is one of the most rewarding aspects of working as a web designer. Nowadays, a company’s first impression is primarily determined by the aesthetics of its website.
- Every site you produce as a web designer will allow you the opportunity to put your unique style and mark on it, letting you maximize your creativity.
- As a web designer, you’ll have the potential to earn a good salary and face numerous opportunities for career advancement after you gain valuable experience.
- The job growth in web design is predicted to rise by 13 percent by 2030, which means job security. The need for web designers will expand as the need for mobile-responsive websites grows.
What Does an Entry-Level Web Designer Do?
An entry-level web designer works on the layout, style, and, in some situations, content of a website that is displayed on the Internet. Some entry-level web designers work for design firms that create templates for users depending on customer demand or input, such as WordPress or other blogging platforms.
Types of Entry-Level Web Design Roles
Junior User Experience (UX) Designer
With digital technology advancing and the number of products and services increasing, there is a great need for businesses to provide a high-quality user experience. As a junior UX designer, you would be responsible for engaging with users, determining their specific problems, developing design solutions, and testing designs to obtain feedback.
Junior User Interface (UI) Designer
A UI designer collaborates with visual designers and the design team to create interactive programs that improve a customer’s experience with a brand and enhance a pleasant experience on the company’s website. User interface designers must also have a working knowledge of coding and be able to communicate the strength of a brand through the interface of a product.
Entry-Level Graphic Designer
Entry-level graphic designers play a key role in developing illustrations, logos, color pallets, and other designs. Furthermore, they put these skills to use by hand or with computer design software to create visual text and imagery concepts that inspire, inform, or captivate users.
Common Responsibilities of Entry-Level Web Designer Jobs
- Layout design for a website
- Identify technical requirements
- Resolve code issues
- Create backup files
- Update websites
How Much Do Entry-Level Web Design Jobs Pay?
In the United States, the average web designer salary at the entry-level is $62,989 per year. This estimation was derived from over 4,022 anonymous salary submissions to Glassdoor by entry-level web design employees.
Entry-Level Web Design Jobs That Pay the Most: Overview
| Job | Average Salary | Min. Education/ Training | Associated Mid and Senior Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Stack Developer | $96,648 | Coding bootcamp or Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field is required. A primitive mastery of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and in one or more backend languages, such as Python or Ruby is also necessary | Software developer, Java developer, mobile engineer |
| UX Designer | $77,108 | Coding bootcamp or Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a closely related technology field | Digital designer, web designer, UX designer |
| UI Designer | $73,040 | Coding bootcamp or Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field | Junior UI visual designer, junior product designer, junior graphic designer |
| Junior Backend Developer | $72,531 | Coding bootcamp or Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Network Technologies, or related field. For efficiency, a basic understanding of front end technologies such as Java, HTML5, and CSS3 is necessary | Full stack developer, software designer, junior backend web developer |
| Junior Product Designer | $67,692 | Bachelor’s Degree majoring in chosen industry. Common majors include industrial design, engineering, and architecture | UX designer, software developer, backend designer |
| Junior Front End Developer | $64,241 | Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field. A basic knowledge of web development tools and programming languages is also essential | Senior front end developer, Java developer, UI designer |
| Software Developer | $62,379 | Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering | Full stack developer, front end developer, software engineer |
| Junior Visual Designer | $60,079 | Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, or in a related field | Graphic designer, web designer |
| Junior QA Engineer | $59,636 | Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science is often required, with primitive mastery in computer programming languages such as Java, Python, SQL, C++, and XML | Quality assurance analyst, quality engineer, application developer |
| Junior Graphic Designer | $44,966 | Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design or design-related subject. Basic knowledge in using Adobe Creative Suites is essential | Creative director, visual image developer, art director |
Best Entry-Level Web Designer Jobs: A Closer Look
Full Stack Developer
Computer programmers with a rudimentary knowledge of front end and backend systems coding are known as full stack developers. As a full stack, entry-level web developer, you’ll create user interactions on websites and develop servers and databases for website operation. You’ll also make sure that applications are responsive, aiming to meet both technical and customer requirements.
Entry-level Full Stack Developer Responsibilities
- Create web design elements and oversee projects from start to completion
- Develop APIs and keep up with the latest advances in web applications and programming languages
- Work on projects that require databases and help create user-facing websites
Junior UX Designer
UX designers are concerned with how people interact with platforms such as websites, mobile apps, or products like physical objects. Everyday interactions are made usable, engaging, and accessible by UX designers. Your goal as a junior member of the UX design team is to assist in the design, programming, and modification of features to improve the overall user experience of a product or service.
Entry-Level UX Designer Responsibilities
- Carry out functional testing and user research
- Assist in creating design concepts, wireframing, sketching, and prototyping
- Organize, analyze, and present study findings
Junior UI Designer
You’ll blend interface design concepts with digital design as an entry-level UI designer. You will also have a key role in developing the aesthetics of a website or product, and will make changes to the interface as needed to create enjoyable interactive experiences.
Entry-Level UI Designer Responsibilities
- Produce interactive programs that improve a customer’s brand experience and make visiting a company’s website more fun
- Establish touchpoints that interact directly with users or customers
- Design and generate user profiles and storylines to demonstrate how a user will navigate a particular application
Junior Backend Developer
Back end developers mostly write server scripts and APIs that front end developers and UX designers utilize. As a junior backend developer, your primary focus will be on developing server-side logic in Python and JavaScript. You will also use database management while maintaining a high performance and response to data client requests.
Junior Backend Developer Responsibilities
- Continuously implement security systems
- Configure all front end development’s usability
- Construe and execute data storage systems
Junior Product Designer
A junior product designer’s job is to help with the design and development of consumer goods. As a junior product designer, your objectives include assisting the design team with tasks such as upgrading design patterns and visual assets, creating engaging and responsive online experiences, and implementing UI improvements.
Junior Product Designer Responsibilities
- Create design concepts to decide the optimal products
- Turn design concepts into working prototypes.
- Modify and update current designs to satisfy customer needs
Junior Front End Developer
Because junior front end developers are new to coding, much of their daily work consists of tiny assignments that teach best practices. A junior front end developer’s first duty at a new company is usually to make a minor change to the product’s user interface (UI).
Junior Front End Developer Responsibilities
- Develop user interface automated testing
- Create APIs
- Style UI components
Entry-Level Software Developer
Entry-level software developers, also known as junior software developers, collaborate with mid-level and senior software engineers. They help test, build, and upgrade software applications and systems. According to BLS, job opportunities for software developers are projected to grow 22 percent between 2020 and 2030.
Entry-Level Software Developer Responsibilities
- Develop user-friendly software that meets and exceeds the company’s requirements
- Look for methods to improve business software processes and interactions regularly
- Analyze and test programs and products prior to a formal launch
Junior Visual Designer
Visual designers, unlike graphic designers, are solely focused on digital media. They are in charge of creating the appearance and feel of a company’s online presence. As a junior visual designer, you will be responsible for developing concepts, artwork, and layouts for digital projects using creative briefs and client meetings as a guide.
Junior Visual Designer Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the team to get projects off the ground
- Understand the needs and goals of the project
- Pitch new ideas and develop attention-grabbing designs
Junior QA Engineer
A QA engineer is in charge of developing tests to uncover software flaws before the launch of a product. They also identify and evaluate any faults or errors discovered during the testing phase and document them for later review. They need a strong grasp of the industry standard for any products they are working with.
Junior QA Engineer Responsibilities
- Create tests to find software flaws
- Collaborate with software developers to improve and enhance the technical aspects of applications
- Provide feedback on errors to the development team
Junior Graphic Designer
You’ll need creative ideas and a great eye for detail to flourish as a junior graphic designer. To succeed in this role you should be able to generate inventive designs, be willing to continuously learn, and create eye-catching designs that support the company’s vision.
Junior Graphic Designer Responsibilities
- Generate designs that meet customer criteria
- Report to the senior graphic designer
- Enhance design tasks through inventiveness and problem-solving skills
What Types of Companies Hire Entry-Level Web Designers?
Potential employers want exceptional candidates who can effectively expand their digital presence. Because of the widespread usage of the Internet across all major industries, many firms are looking to hire talented web designers. You can choose from a wide variety of enterprises, including those in technology, business, and commerce.
Career Progression: Mid- and Senior-Level Web Design Roles
Mid-Level Web Designer Jobs
UX Designer
- Average salary: $100,546
- Related entry-level roles: Product design, graphic designer, UX researcher
- Responsibilities: Improve the user experience by designing websites and interfaces based on user research and feedback
UI Designer
- Average salary: $98,583
- Related entry-level roles: Visual designer, graphic designer, product designer
- Responsibilities: Design web interfaces using programming languages to be enticing, user-friendly, and interactive
Mid-Level Software Engineer
- Average salary: $88,725
- Related entry-level roles: Full stack developer, front end developer, web developer
- Responsibilities: Create and maintain code for various software while collaborating with other members of the software development team on projects of varying complexity and duration
Mid-Level Digital Designer
- Average salary: $70,840
- Related entry-level roles: Design manager, creative manager, product designers
- Responsibilities: Turn client needs and feedback into functional and attractive web platforms and projects using creativity and design tools such as graphics and typography
Mid-Level Graphic Designer
- Average salary: $54,569
- Related entry-level roles: Design manager, creative manager, web designer
- Responsibilities: Design projects while adhering to client specifications and budget constraints
Senior Web Designer Jobs
Senior Level Designer
- Average salary: $95,913
- Related entry-level roles: UI designer, graphic designer
- Responsibilities: In charge of bringing design concepts to life and conceptualizing user interfaces and websites
Senior Graphic Designer
- Average salary: $68,560
- Related entry-level roles: Creative designer, web designer, design manager
- Responsibilities: Use graphic design software and work with a variety of media to work on high-profile projects and lead design teams
Senior UI Designer
- Average salary: $122,729
- Related entry-level roles: Product designer, graphic designer
- Responsibilities: Conduct testing, build storyboards, and lead the UI design team in creating websites, services, and products that enhance the user experience
Senior UX Designer
- Average salary: $134,395
- Related entry-level roles: Product Designer, graphic designer, UX researcher.
- Responsibilities: Lead the UX design team throughout the project stages and contribute to the design and development of all projects
Senior Front End Developer
- Average salary: $109,138
- Related entry-level roles: Software engineer, software developer, full stack engineer
- Responsibilities: Lead the front end development team in integrating user interface designs and user experience insights and feedback into code for client websites and software.
How to Get a Job in Web Design
If you’re thinking about starting a web design career, there are a lot of different job roles to consider, and various ways to get there. All you need to succeed in your job search are particular technical and soft skills, and the necessary entry-level education or certification.
Required Skills for an Entry-Level Web Designer Job
- Design skills. Understanding design principles is the bedrock of online and graphic design. Having strong design skills, both fundamental and trendy, is important to have prior to getting a job as a designer.
- Design software know-how. Designers should be comfortable with Adobe Creative Suite including Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, Figma, and Webflow, among other design software tools to impress a potential employer.
- Business strategy. You don’t have to be a business expert, but you should be able to clarify how your design will help a client achieve their objectives
- Communication. Having people skills is important to be able to convey your project’s vision in a way that non-designers can comprehend.
- Command of coding languages. Being proficient in various front end coding languages will be required for most web design jobs. Having knowledge of at least one backend development programming language will open you up to more job opportunities as a backend or full stack developer.
Top Certifications for Entry-Level Web Designers
- HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals. Candidates must demonstrate essential HTML5 client application development skills to pass this exam and receive this certification from industry leader Microsoft.
- Inbound by Hubspot. This certification focuses on training designers in inbound marketing and the buyer’s journey. This could be especially informative for designers pursuing a role in UX or UI roles.
- Web Design and Developer Certificate. From Cornell University, this two-week certificate course focuses on creating user-focused website design using HTML and CSS alongside JavaScript and jQuery.
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate. This certificate from the popular online learning platform Coursera can be audited for free or you can earn a certificate after completion for a small fee. It promises to make you job-ready in less than six months.
Can You Get an Entry-Level Web Designer Job with a Coding Bootcamp?
Yes, you can get an entry-level web designer job with a coding bootcamp. Bootcamps can prepare you for a web design job in months, while bachelor’s degrees normally take four years to complete. Bootcamp programs are intensive and may necessitate full-time study. Job seekers can be assured that companies looking for web designers consider bootcamp graduates when hiring.
Top Web Design Bootcamps
Best Resources for Web Designers
Creative Market
This is one of the best resources available for web designers. Sign up for the email list, and you’ll receive an email every week with five free files, ranging from patterns and fonts to templates and themes.
CoffeeCup Software
As one of the best resources for web designers, they provide a variety of free web design tools, such as a web form builder, HTML editor, and a shopping cart designer. These tools can help you practice your skills and impress potential clients and employers.
Unsplash
The use of photos in web design is essential. Unsplash is one of the top stock photo resources, with some of the most beautiful and varied free stock photos available. This is perfect for when you are working on mock projects to show clients what you are capable of.
Is a Career in Web Design for You?
Yes, a career in web design could be for you if you enjoy designing beautiful websites or content. The demand is high so job security is certain. Designer salaries reflect this demand and the design field offers unparalleled opportunities for personal development.
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Entry-Level Web Design Jobs FAQ
As an entry-level web designer, your responsibilities include assisting the front end development team in designing websites and other user-based development projects based on current trends, user feedback and research, and client specifications.
According to ZipRecruiter, the hourly pay for an entry-level web designer in the US is $22. This will vary depending on your job responsibilities and level of education.
Yes, you do need to know how to code. Programming skills are typically required for coding languages like HTML and CSS. However, depending on the role you choose in web design, you may spend more time conducting user research or graphic designing than building web interfaces.
Yes, web designers are in high demand. From 2020 to 2030, the employment of web developers and digital designers is expected to expand at a greater rate than the national average.
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