What is a senior web developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Frank McCown Ph.D.,
Kevin Treu Ph.D.
introduction image

Senior web developers are experienced professionals who specialize in designing, developing and maintaining websites. They possess advanced knowledge of programming languages, database management systems, and software frameworks. From conceptualization to deployment, they work closely with clients and stakeholders to understand their needs and ensure the final product meets their requirements. In addition to coding, senior developers mentor junior developers, conduct code reviews, and collaborate with designers to ensure that a website's user interface is aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

What general advice would you give to a Senior Web Developer?

F

Frank McCown Ph.D.Frank McCown Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, Harding University

The market is stable for software developers, despite the economic challenges created by the pandemic. Before accepting a job offer, talk to the company's employees through online meetings or email, and see what they think of the company. Do they enjoy their work? Are there opportunities to learn new technologies? How does the company treat their employees? There's a good chance you will be working remotely in your first job, so you will need to exercise a lot of self-discipline, be punctual for online meetings, do the work you've been assigned, and know when to ask questions when you get stuck. Expect a steeper-than-normal learning curve if you are working remotely instead of in an office.
ScoreSenior Web DeveloperUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $97,916

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.2

Growth Rate 13%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 16.03%

Black or African American 6.46%

Hispanic or Latino 12.04%

Unknown 6.52%

White 58.53%

Gender

female 18.51%

male 81.49%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress Level
5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Senior Web Developer?

Pros

  • High salary potential

  • Ability to work on high-profile projects

  • Opportunities for leadership and mentorship

  • In-demand skills in the job market

  • Ability to work with cutting-edge technology

Cons

  • High pressure to meet deadlines

  • Long hours and tight schedules

  • Constantly changing industry

  • Often requires working on multiple projects at once

  • Need to stay up-to-date with evolving technologies

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Senior Web Developer career paths

Key steps to become a senior web developer

  1. Explore senior web developer education requirements

    Most common senior web developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.5 %

    Master's

    19.8 %

    Associate

    8.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior web developer skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    JavaScript8.08%
    Web Application5.97%
    CSS5.93%
    HTML4.96%
    Html Css4.33%
  3. Complete relevant senior web developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior web developers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior web developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior web developer resumes.
  4. Research senior web developer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage project, create project requirement documents, design modular SCSS file structure, create and assign tasks to other developers.
    • Develop LARAVEL application for managing google analytics test.
    • Manage multiple web and database servers in multiple locations to ensure constant availability, functionality, synchronization and security.
    • Develop all the UI pages using extensive markup and scripting languages (HTML, DHTML, JavaScript and CSS).
  5. Get senior web developer experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior web developer. The most common roles before becoming a senior web developer include web developer, interactive developer team lead and senior software engineer.
  6. Prepare your senior web developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior web developer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior web developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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    Build a professional Senior Web Developer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Senior Web Developer resume.
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    Senior Web Developer Resume
  7. Apply for senior web developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior web developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Senior Web Developer Job

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Are you a Senior Web Developer?

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Average senior web developer salary

The average Senior Web Developer salary in the United States is $97,916 per year or $47 per hour. Senior web developer salaries range between $74,000 and $127,000 per year.

Average Senior Web Developer Salary
$97,916 Yearly
$47.08 hourly

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How do senior web developers rate their job?

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Senior Web Developer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

Stressing and you have to keep always updated

Pros

Improve every day, a good salary, a lot of job opportunities


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Making your own website

Cons

Taking time to make it


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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