Career Definition of a Front-End Web Designer
Front-end web designers may be involved in building websites, but their responsibilities begin before the site is constructed. They are involved in developing plans for websites and determining what types of content, such as videos or graphics, will be included. They draft concepts and proposals and may write content that is used to promote the company or products they are assigned to.
Their specific job duties may vary slightly from employer to employer. In some cases, these designers focus on design development. This means that they may spend most of their time drafting design guidelines for websites. They work with marketing teams and web developers to ensure that the design plan is functional and achieves its intended goals. In smaller companies, they may design and create the websites, which means that they may be responsible for writing the program code so the website looks and functions as desired. They also need to understand how to create content that will produce a high ranking with search engines in order to boost site traffic.
| Educational Requirements | Associate or bachelor's degree; relevant work experience may be substituted in some cases |
| Job Skills | Design skills, marketing skills, experience with HTML and CSS, knowledge of JavaScript, ability to work as part of a team, leadership skills, strong communication skills, SEO skills |
| Median Salary (2022)* | $52,348 (web designer) |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)** | 13% (web developer) |
Sources: *PayScale.com; **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that most web developers need to have an associate's degree. Employers looking for front-end web designers may consider applicants who have several years of experience in a related field. Other employers require applicants to have a bachelor's degree.
Required Skills
Front-end web designers need strong computer skills and should be familiar with HTML and CSS. Some positions require experience with specific programming languages or design programs, such as Photoshop. The ability to work effectively as part of a team is important, since front-end web designers may work closely with marketing staff as well as other web developers. Since front-end web designers write content, they need good communication skills. Leadership skills, SEO skills and organizational skills are also important in this career field.
Career and Salary Outlook
The BLS does not separate the role of front-end web designers from web developers. According to the BLS, web developers were expected to see a 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030. PayScale.com reported that web designers earned a median annual salary of $52,348 in 2022.
Related Careers
The duties that front-end web designers perform vary widely and can include writing material, developing design plans intended to market a product or service and ensuring content will produce optimal returns on search engines. There are other career options that concentrate on these specific tasks, and individuals considering a career as a front-end web developer may also be interested in pursuing work as an online marketing strategist, a web copy editor, an online marketing manager or an SEO content writer. You can learn more about these careers from the articles linked to here.
