Seattle is a bustling Washington metropolis, home to some of the biggest names in technology. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing call Seattle home and employ thousands of skilled programmers and web developers to help manage their massive operations. If you want to be a web developer anywhere in the country, Seattle is an excellent choice. The city offers many perks to tech workers, including high salaries and exceptional job growth. In this article, we’ll go over the average wages for web developers in Seattle, along with job prospects and qualifications for the position.
What is a Web Developer?
Web developers are a broad group of coders and tech professionals who design, build, and maintain websites and web applications. Web development is a rapidly growing field in the tech industry, and these coding experts play a pivotal role in maintaining the landscape of websites and web programs. Sub categories within the field include:
- UX (User Experience) Designers: A programmer who helps design helpful and relevant website features.
- UI (User Interface) Designers: A programmer that specializes in the graphic and visual features of a website.
- Front-End Developers: A programmer who develops all the visual and interactive features of a website, also known as ‘client-side’ development.
- Backend Developers: A programmer who develops the code to make the front-end work from the ‘server side’ of the website.
- Full Stack Developer: A programmer who develops all layers of website software and works with other vital functions, such as database programs and systems engineering.
Companies in Seattle employ all significant subtypes of web development. While some subcategories tend to earn more than others, it’s still possible to average out their salaries and paint an accurate picture of what to expect. Next, we’ll cover the average income for junior and senior web developers of all types.
Junior Web Developer Salary in Seattle
Companies typically define a ‘junior’ web developer as an individual with little or no professional experience in the field. In other words, entry-level college or coding bootcamp graduates are typically considered junior web developers. These programmers are proficient enough in their field to land a job, but not experienced enough to demand the ‘big bucks.’
In Seattle, junior web developers can expect to earn around $71,000 annually. In Seattle, the average starting salary for these coders is 9% above the national average due to high demand. Companies like Amazon routinely hire web developers in entry-level positions and offer excellent advancement opportunities. Over time, web developers can expect their salary to increase exponentially with each year of experience.
Senior Web Developer Salary in Seattle
Senior web developers are experts in their field. Unlike careers in engineering or medicine, the barrier to entry for senior web developer positions is relatively small. With between five to ten years of experience, a programmer can earn the status of a senior web developer. Along with coding, experienced web developers often manage projects and oversee junior programmers as well.
In Seattle, senior web developers earn a salary of $106,000 annually. Due to the high pay variances between tech companies, some people in this position earn up to $165,000 or more! Senior web developers are responsible for big projects, and large companies rely on them to ensure their products work correctly.
How to Become a Web Developer
Up until recently, web developers were either self-taught or college graduates. Fortunately, the tech industry moved past the obsolete requirement of a computer science degree, and you can now become a web developer without going to college. Over the last few years, education programs called coding bootcamps have sprung up around the country to meet the massive demand for developers. These immersive, multi-month-long programs surround students with professional programmers and teach them all of the skills necessary to become a coder. Tech companies often hire candidates directly out of these programs, and many boast fantastic hiring rates upwards of 90%. If you want to become a web developer, read more about coding bootcamps to see if they are right for you.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
