Computer and Mathematical Occupations·SOC 15-1254

Best degree programs for Web Developers, ranked by enrollment

4 college programs and 1,445 schools train Web Developers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $92,650 median wage, 70,190 U.S. jobs. Federal data.

4 college programs at 1,445 schools train web developers, graduating 107,026 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Computer Science. The job pays a median of $92,650 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Graduates / yr
107,026
from every feeder program
Median annual wage
$92,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
Projected growth
+7.5%
Faster than average
Openings / yr
5,400
new plus replacement
Schools
1,445
with a feeder program
States with jobs
49
BLS reports wages

About web developers

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

Also calledWebmasterWeb ArchitectWeb DeveloperWeb Design SpecialistWeb EngineerWeb ProducerWeb ConsultantWeb ProgrammerWeb SpecialistWeb TechnicianWebsite ManagerjQuery Developer
Background

A web developer is a programmer who develops World Wide Web applications using a client–server model. The applications typically use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in the client, and any general-purpose programming language in the server. HTTP is used for communications between client and server. A web developer may specialize in client-side applications, server-side applications, or both.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Fields of study that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.07
Computer Science
88,326graduates / yr
1,033 schools · 1 specialization · 82.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $70,374
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.02
Computer Programming
12,592graduates / yr
401 schools · 1 specialization · 11.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $46,719
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.08
Computer Software and Media Applications
5,354graduates / yr
339 schools · 1 specialization · 5.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,504
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.10
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
754graduates / yr
81 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,185

4 degree programs that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
Computer Science
CIP 11.0701
88,326
82.5%
1,033$70,374$23,250
2
Computer Programming/Programmer, General
CIP 11.0201
12,592
11.8%
401$46,719$20,729
3
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
CIP 11.0801
5,354
5.0%
339$33,504$27,000
4
Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
CIP 11.1004
754
0.7%
81$48,185$25,250

Top 50 schools by graduates into this job

Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
2,333Computer Programming/Programmer, General55%$6,76096%
2University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign
Champaign, IL Public · 1 feeder programs
1,684Computer Science85%—42%
3Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
1,652Computer Science68%—90%
4Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
1,613Computer Science46%$11,580—
5University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
1,608Computer Science54%—64%
6University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
1,551Computer Science92%$26,87310%
7Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
1,530Computer Science43%$34,565100%
8University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD Public · 1 feeder programs
1,330Computer Science89%—45%
9Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR Public · 1 feeder programs
1,296Computer Science70%—77%
10University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC Public · 1 feeder programs
1,213Computer Science69%—80%
11Stanford University
Stanford, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
1,018Computer Science92%$12,0324%
12University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
995Computer Science93%—11%
13Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
910Computer Science95%$17,6139%
14University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Amherst, MA Public · 1 feeder programs
901Computer Science83%—60%
15Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
883Computer Science83%—50%
16North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC Public · 1 feeder programs
879Computer Science85%—42%
17Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
877Computer Science96%$15,3154%
18University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
844Computer Science87%—29%
19University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
834Computer Science86%—27%
20Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
810Computer Science42%$18,82480%
21Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
779Computer Science75%$19,89955%
22University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
764Computer Science75%—66%
23Austin Community College District
Austin, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
750Computer Programming/Programmer, General20%——
24University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN Public · 1 feeder programs
743Computer Science85%—80%
25Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
700Computer Science19%$16,966—
26University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
699Computer Science74%—78%
27Boston University
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
694Computer Science89%$21,95611%
28Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
684Computer Science96%$11,6665%
29California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
676Computer Science70%—91%
30Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
674Computer Science53%—55%
31Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
672Computer Science84%—57%
32Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
636Computer Science76%—49%
33University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
631Computer Science85%—39%
34University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
596Computer Science93%—9%
35California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
594Computer Science69%—46%
36Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
590Computer Science87%$34,82748%
37Utah Valley University
Orem, UT Public · 3 feeder programs
587Computer Science45%——
38University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder programs
586Computer Science62%—77%
39University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD Public · 2 feeder programs
575Computer Science33%——
40Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
540Computer Science52%—69%
41Pace University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
529Computer Science60%$29,99476%
42University of Georgia
Athens, GA Public · 2 feeder programs
516Computer Science90%—38%
43Weber State University
Ogden, UT Public · 3 feeder programs
501Computer Science46%——
44University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT Public · 2 feeder programs
490Computer Science65%—86%
45University of California - Riverside
Riverside, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
477Computer Science76%—76%
46University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
472Computer Science55%—72%
47Dallas College
Dallas, TX Public · 3 feeder programs
464Computer Programming/Programmer, General32%——
48University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
454Computer Science41%$25,14983%
49University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
454Computer Science96%$13,3334%
50Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
437Computer Science44%$32,163—

What web developers earn

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual wage
$92,650
Mean annual
$98,770
Median hourly
$44.54/hr
People employed
70,190
What the range looks like
10th pct$48,100Median$92,65090th pct$162,290

Top-paying metro areas

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$166,670median
1,130 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$152,450median
1,420 jobs
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$134,350median
3,840 jobs
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$130,440median
3,470 jobs
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$108,520median
1,450 jobs
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
$106,890median
800 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$107,290median
2,310 jobs
Richmond, VA
$117,090median
—

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+7.5%
Faster than average
Openings per year
5,400
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
6,500
86,000 → 92,500
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Where the jobs are, state by state

Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.

This occupation state by state: pay, jobs, and schools
StateMedian payJobsConcentrationSchoolsGraduates / yr
California$119,5707,3200.89×16419,062
New York$98,5803,9900.91×908,750
Illinois$84,8204,3101.57×726,559
Massachusetts$98,4701,9401.18×455,314
Texas$85,8004,9100.77×725,262
Utah$100,1701,2801.63×203,840
North Carolina$96,6102,0300.91×243,745
Missouri$103,7501,1600.88×283,587
Arizona$76,2301,0100.69×263,419
Georgia$90,3401,5000.68×353,000
Maryland$112,6901,9601.57×242,784
Pennsylvania$86,3801,6700.61×662,753
Washington$130,4404,4302.77×472,738
Idaho$79,2902200.58×92,639
Ohio—1,6900.68×562,549
Colorado$85,9501,6801.30×192,372
Indiana$80,8708600.60×352,286
New Hampshire$78,2604701.53×82,102
Minnesota$101,0201,2000.90×462,087
Oregon$64,4601,1401.28×151,732
New Jersey$95,1802,2501.16×261,541
Tennessee$74,7601,6201.09×271,351
Michigan$98,4701,5800.79×451,184
Virginia$128,3804,5902.47×381,161
Connecticut$85,9307500.97×101,068
Kentucky$82,6302700.30×111,048
Iowa$64,2104200.60×271,001
Louisiana$85,3304900.57×20999
Wisconsin$90,6301,1800.89×35937
Oklahoma$78,5804100.53×30704
Alabama—9300.97×12666
Nevadamoderate$83,2203400.48×4661
Nebraska$80,3502300.50×9594
Rhode Island$98,140——9578
District of Columbia$114,6904301.35×6546
Kansas$73,5905000.77×18489
Arkansas$50,5504000.67×21487
Vermont$84,550700.53×8281
Hawaii—3101.09×6261
South Carolina$78,1907100.68×18254
West Virginia$78,2404001.28×11217
Montana$62,0605502.39×12211
Maine—1700.59×10204
Delawarelimited$76,020——2176
Mississippi—1900.37×17173
North Dakota$72,190——6144
New Mexico$68,1201300.33×7135
Wyoming$68,410500.42×673
South Dakota$51,1003901.88×656

Skills and tools

From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.

What they do day to day

  • Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
  • Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
  • Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
  • Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
  • Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
  • Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
  • Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
  • Perform or direct Web site updates.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Reading Comprehension3.6
  • Active Listening3.5
  • Active Learning3.5
  • Speaking3.3
  • Writing3.1
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Learning Strategies2.9

Knowledge areas

  • Computers and Electronics4.4
  • English Language3.5
  • Mathematics3.4
  • Communications and Media3.2
  • Customer and Personal Service3.0
  • Design3.0

Abilities

  • Deductive Reasoning3.9
  • Oral Comprehension3.8
  • Written Comprehension3.6
  • Near Vision3.6
  • Problem Sensitivity3.6
  • Inductive Reasoning3.5

Core activities

  • Working with Computers4.9
  • Getting Information4.5
  • Thinking Creatively4.4
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.3
  • Processing Information4.1

Tools and technology

hotmarks an O*NET hot technology
Adobe AcrobathotAdobe After EffectshotAdobe Creative Cloud softwarehotAdobe IllustratorhotAdobe InDesignhotAdobe PhotoshophotAJAXhotAmazon DynamoDBhotAmazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2hotAmazon Redshifthot

How to get in

How to become a Web Developer

Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 4 majors mapped to Web Developers4 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 11.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General
  • 11.0701Computer Science
  • 11.0801Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
  • 11.1004Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster

Related careers

Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.

15-1255
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$104,000113,330 jobs+7.0%
15-1299
Computer Occupations, All Other
$116,580435,370 jobs+8.2%
15-1252
Software Developers
$135,9801,687,890 jobs+15.8%
15-1251
Computer Programmers
$100,39092,230 jobs-6.0%
15-1242
Database Administrators
$104,62069,990 jobs-0.7%
15-1243
Database Architects
$139,50067,140 jobs+8.7%

Common questions

What degree do you need to become a Web Developer?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer Science, which awarded 88,326 degrees in 2024-25, 82.5% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Web Developer?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 4 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Software and Media Applications, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Together they graduate about 107,026 people a year.

How much do web developers earn?+

The median is $92,650 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $48,100 at the 10th percentile to $162,290 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for web developers growing?+

BLS projects a +7.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 5,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career?+

1,445 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 4 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do web developers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Webmaster, Web Architect, Web Developer, Web Design Specialist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1254.

↑ Zoom outAll occupationsComputer and Mathematical Occupations
Web Developers by stateCaliforniaNew YorkIllinoisMassachusettsTexasUtahNorth CarolinaMissouriArizonaGeorgiaMarylandPennsylvania
Related careersWeb and Digital Interface DesignersComputer Occupations, All OtherSoftware DevelopersComputer ProgrammersDatabase AdministratorsDatabase Architects
Programs that lead hereComputer ScienceComputer ProgrammingComputer Software and Media ApplicationsComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

    Official source →

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

    Official source →

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

    Official source →

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

    Official source →

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

    Official source →

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

    Official source →

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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