Web Developer Salary: 2024 Guide

Web developers design and create websites. They often oversee a site’s performance, maintenance, and capacity.

Web developer responsibilities can include:

• Creating site content

• Designing the look and feel or user interface (UI) of a site

• Creating a smooth and intuitive user experience (UX)

• Building and coding the structure of a site 

• Testing site functionalities 

There are three types of web developers: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Back-end developers create and code a website's foundational structure and functionality, while front-end developers design the look and feel of the website visitors' experience. Full-stack developers combine these skill sets to work on any aspect of a website’s design and functionality. 

The global market for web content management is growing at a rate of 14.2 percent CAGR from 2021 to 2029, according to data gathered by Maximise Market Research (MMR) [1]. Demand for web developers in the UK should also continue to grow during that period because companies will need web developers to create websites. Understanding what you can expect to earn through this dynamic career may help you determine if a web development career is right for you.  

How much do web developers make?

According to Glassdoor [2], the average annual pay for UK web developers was £35,277 as of September 2024. Many factors can influence salaries, such as skill set, location, cost of living, and experience level.

Factors affecting web developer salary

New web developers usually make less than experienced professionals, while those with additional certifications or education will make more. You can take many steps to build knowledge and expertise and earn the desired salary.

Education

Web developers must know how to code. Programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, Python, or Ruby are common, depending on whether you are doing front-end or back-end development. You can build your programming knowledge and display your expertise with on-the-job training, an apprenticeship, a Level 3 certificate or Level 4 college diploma, or a university degree. You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree to work as a web developer, but those with a post-secondary degree tend to earn higher salaries. Also, some companies may look for web developers with degrees in specific fields, such as computer science or software engineering.

Bachelor’s degrees can also prepare web developers for managerial roles and additional income. According to Glassdoor, computer and information system managers earn an annual median salary of £49,744 [3].

Learning the basics is an important step for many who are starting to look for a web development job. Online specialisation courses can begin the educational journey. The University of Michigan offers Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding Specialisation, while Johns Hopkins University offers HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers. 

Certifications

Mastering specific skills used in complex online projects can qualify web developers for more specialised jobs and earn them better salaries. These skills are often ever-changing, and successful web developers consider lifelong learning an important part of their career path. 

Job descriptions often include the specific skills that employers seek. Here is a list of skills that could benefit your salary:

• Backbone.js 

• Angular 

• Node.js

• React

• Java

Many online courses are available to build skills and earn Professional Certificates. For example, consider IBM’s Full Stack Cloud Developer Professional Certificate and the Google UX Design Professional Certificate.

Level of experience

As a web developer, every project is an opportunity to grow your portfolio and gain experience. In time, this can result in higher pay. Payscale estimates the average annual salary by level of expertise as follows [4]:

• One year experience: £22,433

• One to four years experience: £26,639

• Five to nine years experience: £32,462

• 10 to 19 years experience: £33,541

• 20+ years experience: £34,669

Type of position

As you gain expertise and experience as a web developer, your career path will likely lead you to new opportunities. Different positions held by web developers have different average salaries. For example:

• PHP developer: £38,211

• Senior Java developer: £66,204

• Front-end developer: £43,536

• Full-stack developer: £48,071

• Back-end developer: £52,897

*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor (September 2024)

Company size

As a web developer, you can work as a freelancer or employee. You can set your rates and select your projects when you're self-employed. According to Glassdoor, a freelance web developer in the UK makes an average annual salary of £32,659 [5]. 

Your salary will vary as an employee based on the size of your company. Sometimes, the smaller the company, the less it can pay its employees. Larger companies often have the means to offer bonuses, profit sharing, and commission on top of base salaries. They may also provide additional benefits to compete for the best web developers in today’s marketplace. 

Web developers can also expect variations in salary based on the company that’s hiring. For example, data in September 2024 on Glassdoor show the following salaries offered by these companies [2]:

• BBC: £37,000

• Xanda: £ 37,000

• Google: £53,381

• Amazon: £44,000

Some companies also offer commissions, enhanced benefits packages, and other perks. Consider leave benefits, retirement packages, and the ability to work remotely in your salary negotiations.

Location

Due to the variation in cost of living and industry hubs, salaries vary by city. Some cities of note in the UK offer the following average annual salaries for web developers:

• London, England: £43,041

• Bristol, England: £35,642

• Edinburgh, Scotland: £34,080

• Newport, Wales: £31,385

• Cardiff, Wales: £30,966

• Glasgow, Scotland: £31,840

• Swansea, Wales: £31,517

• Leeds, England: £31,497

• Leicester, England: £30,861

• Sheffield, England: £28,503

• Belfast, Northern Ireland: £31,840

• Birmingham, England: £31,312

*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor (September 2024)

Job title variations

Just as the type of position can determine the salary of a web developer, so can a job title. Review the average salaries of the following job titles as an example [2]:

• Entry-level web developer: £28,578

• Junior web developer: £33,443

• Web developer: £35,626

• Senior web developer: £40,797

Get started in web development

If you’re ready to embark on a career as a web developer, you’ll want to start mastering the skills employers and clients look for. Many professionals begin their education with the help of online courses. Meta offers Professional Certificates for both front-end and back-end web development. After completion, learn key technical skills and relevant programming systems, build a portfolio, and gain exclusive access to the Meta Career Programmes Job Board.