Division of Continuing Professional Studies
Career Outlook for Web Site Development and Design
As businesses strive to incorporate Web-based strategies into their competitive mix, the demand for creative Web site professionals is becoming virtually unlimited.
The growth of the Internet and the expansion of the World Wide Web have generated a variety of occupations related to the design, development, and maintenance of Web sites and their servers. For example, Web masters are responsible for all technical aspects of a Web site, including performance issues such as speed of access, and for approving the content of the site. Web developers and designers are responsible for day-to-day site creation and design.
The expanding integration of Internet technologies into businesses has resulted in a growing need for specialists who can develop and support Internet and intranet applications. The growth of electronic commerce has more companies using the Internet to conduct online business. The introduction of the WiFi wireless Internet creates new systems to be analyzed and new data to be administered. The spread of such new technologies translates into a need for information technology professionals who can help organizations use technology to communicate with employees, clients, and consumers.
Explosive growth in these areas also is expected to fuel demand for specialists who are knowledgeable about network, data, and communications security.
According to Robert Half International, a firm providing specialized staffing services, starting salaries for Web developers in 2005 ranged from $51,750 to $74,520.
For more information, see the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook.