A junior web developer is responsible for creating and designing websites. Any entity that needs to improve its website hires a junior web developer to get the job done. Apart from the site’s appearance, a junior web developer also enhances the website’s technical features to make sure that it stays up no matter how many people visit it.

In some cases, junior web developers also create a website’s content. That said, they can construct a site from end to end. But they can also choose to take on specialized tasks such as backend web development only or frontend web development. 

A junior web developer means having less than 2 years of experience and so he or she may not have skills that are 100% at par as a senior web developer. As such, they are likely to take on less complex tasks and may receive mentoring from senior web developers who can develop applications from top to bottom with ease.

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Read More about a “Junior Web Developer”

The growing popularity of mobile and e-commerce sites is fueling the demand for junior web developers. The job outlook report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the web development field growth can reach 13% between 2018 and 2028.

What Do Junior Web Developers Do?

The tasks expected of junior web developers include:

  • Meeting with clients to assess their needs
  • Creating and testing website applications
  • Writing website codes using several programming languages such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML) or HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
  • Collaborating with team members to plan the content and features of the site
  • Working with graphic designers to decide on website layout
  • Monitoring website traffic

What Skills and Qualifications Should Junior Web Developers Have?

Education

The educational requirements for a junior web developer vary per setting or industry. However, he or she should at least have an associate degree in web design, computer science, or any related field. A junior web developer should have a working knowledge of graphic design and computer programming.

For highly technical positions, hiring managers may require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer programming. In these cases, junior web developers should have at least 2–5 years of relevant experience. 

Skills

A junior web developer must have a clear understanding of several relational databases, such as Structured Query Language (SQL) and complex queries. He or she must be familiar with working with applications on the Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms using languages such as Apache, MySQL, PHP (WAMP, LAMP, and MAMP), MariaDB, and Perl (XAMPP). He or she must also know HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript.

Additional Skills

Junior web developers must be flexible to learn and adapt to evolving technologies and frameworks. Getting a good grasp of server administration and coding is also ideal. They must also be comfortable using HTML5 applications.

How Much does a Junior Web Developer Earn on Average?

A junior web developer’s salary depends on his or her years of experience. According to PayScale, the salary of a U.S.-based junior web developer starts from US$50,000 a year. As he or she gains more experience and builds a portfolio, he or she can expect to receive as much as US$76,000 annually. Certifications and skills can significantly improve a junior web developer’s salary.

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Junior web developers should develop an excellent website design without compromising performance.