Web Developer Career Assessment
Building websites and web apps
Welcome
Web developers build and maintain websites and web apps: how they look, how they work, and how fast they load.
You will explore what this creative, technical job is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Web Developer?
A web developer writes the code that makes websites work. Some focus on what people see (the "front end"). Some focus on the data and systems behind the site (the "back end"). Some do both ("full stack").
The Reality: Clients often change their minds. A site that works on one phone may break on another. You will fix a lot of small problems and keep learning new tools.
Your Responsibilities:
- Build web pages with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Make sites work on phones, tablets, and computers
- Make sites accessible for people with disabilities
- Connect sites to databases and forms
- Fix bugs and speed up slow pages
- Meet with clients or coworkers about what they want
- Update content and keep sites secure
- Use AI tools to help write code, and check it carefully
You are part designer, part coder, and part problem-solver.
A Day in the Life
8:30 AM — Check email. A client says their contact form stopped working.
9:00 AM — Find the bug and fix it. Test it on your phone and computer.
10:00 AM — Build a new page for a local business. Match the colors and fonts from the design.
11:30 AM — Test the page on a small phone screen. The menu breaks. You fix it.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Check the site with an accessibility tool. Add missing image descriptions.
2:00 PM — Video call with the client. They want the button bigger and blue instead of green.
3:00 PM — Make the changes. Speed up slow-loading images.
4:30 PM — Put the updates live. Double-check everything works.
Creative, detail-heavy, and client-focused.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is needed. Many web developers have an associate degree. Some are self-taught. Your portfolio (sites you have built) is what gets you hired.
Training Pathways:
- College certificate or associate degree (1–2 years): The most common path in ND.
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): Helpful for larger companies and back-end work.
- Self-taught or online courses: Possible with lots of practice and a strong portfolio.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton and Fargo) — Web Developer AAS and Web Design/Web Developer certificate
- Lake Region State College (Devils Lake) — Information Technology AAS, Web Design track
- Williston State College (Williston) — Information Technology AAS, Programming/Coding option
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Mobile Application Development certificate
- Four-year computer science options: NDSU (Fargo), UND (Grand Forks or online), Minot State, and Valley City State (Software Engineering)
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Comfort with computers. An eye for design helps. Basic math and logic.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, exam fees, or a laptop. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Many IT certifications are also sold as low-cost online courses you can do at home.
Certification & Licensing
No license. Your portfolio matters most. Employers and clients want to see sites you have built.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- A portfolio website — shows your best projects
- Accessibility certificates (like IAAP WAS) — a strong plus; many ND employers must meet accessibility laws
- Free course certificates (like freeCodeCamp) — show you finished training
The Exams: No required exam. Job interviews often ask you to walk through your portfolio or do a small coding task.
Cost: Many courses are free. Accessibility certificates cost a few hundred dollars. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Keeping It Current: No renewal needed for most. You stay current by building new projects.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Web Developer Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $24.89–$29.12/hour ($51,770–$60,580/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $34.71/hour ($72,190/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $39.79–$41.15/hour ($82,750–$85,590/year)
What that means: Good pay for a 2-year degree. Freelance pay can be higher or lower depending on how many clients you have.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 250 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 280 (about 11% growth). Expect about 20 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 8% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Good growth, but a small field in ND with only about 20 openings a year. Website builders and AI tools are handling simple sites, so developers who build custom, accessible, and complex sites stand out.
Who Hires in ND: Marketing and design agencies, colleges and universities, state government, health systems, banks, and many businesses. Freelancing and remote work are common.
Work Setting: Offices, remote, or freelance from home. Usually daytime hours, with busy times before a site launches.
Physical Demands: Light. Long hours sitting at a computer.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 15-1254); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Full-Stack Developer — Build both the front and back end of sites.
Path 2: Software Developer — Build bigger apps and systems.
Path 3: UX/UI Designer — Focus on how sites look and feel to use.
Path 4: Accessibility Specialist — Help organizations meet accessibility laws.
Path 5: Freelancer or Business Owner — Build sites for local businesses.
Path 6: Web Team Lead — Lead a team of developers and designers.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Mix of creative and technical work
- You can see what you built right away
- Good pay with a 2-year degree
- Remote and freelance options
- You can start learning for free
- Every business needs a website
What's Hard:
- Clients change their minds a lot
- Tools and trends change fast
- Small number of jobs in ND
- AI and website builders handle simple sites
- Freelance income can be up and down
- Long screen time
- Must build a portfolio before you get hired
- Fixing tiny display problems can be tedious
Be Honest: Do you enjoy both design and logic? Can you take client feedback without getting upset? Will you build a portfolio on your own time? Are you OK with a small local job market or remote work?