Web developers and programmers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Web developers and programmers are responsible for the technical aspects that go into building websites and web applications.
Job Titles
Duties
Web developers and programmers:
- Work with clients to understand their goals, and with users to understand their needs
- Create, and maintain websites
- Determine a site’s content, graphics and performance, including its speed and the amount of traffic it can handle
- Write computer code, using numbers, letters and other symbols in a variety of computer languages
- Test code to ensure websites work well
- Create procedures for ongoing site revision
- Work within clients’ budgets
- Study data to monitor the user’s experience and the site’s quality and security, and to find areas for improvement
Web developers and programmers may also help with website architecture and design. Some work with teams to develop website workflows, interface design and interactive elements. They may also research interactive media software products.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
7,395% Employed Full Time
58%Web developers and programmers work in computer software development firms, digital agencies, information technology (IT) consulting firms and advertising agencies. They also work in the IT, marketing and communications departments of large organizations in the private and public sectors. Some are self-employed.
Web developers and programmers typically work in an office. They may also work remotely or from home.
They often work a regular workweek. Some have flexible schedules. To meet project deadlines, they may work longer hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
This job requires long periods spent using a keyboard and monitor. Workers risk eye strain and backaches. They may also develop hand and wrist problems, ranging from simple strains to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Career Pathways
Recent graduates often find jobs in user interface (UI) design and basic web programming. Those with more experience or education may move into leadership roles as team leads, producers, project managers, IT managers or senior programmers. Some may start their own businesses.
Advancement is most likely for workers who are open to learning new things, those who work well in teams and on their own, and those with good communication skills.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Web developers and programmers usually need:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer programming, web development or software engineering, OR
- Completion of a college program in computer science or a related field
Employers want workers with experience in computer programming and coding. Also, web developers and programmers need strong technical, numeric and problem-solving skills, and they must be detail-oriented.
Because technology changes rapidly, ongoing education is key to this role. Web developers and programmers must continue to learn new skills to stay current.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Design (General)
- Integrated/Multimedia
- Web Technologies
- Networking and Security
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
Analyzing operational and product needs to create a design.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
7,395Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 50 | 0.7% |
| Kootenay | 85 | 1.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 5,665 | 76.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 395 | 5.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,195 | 16.1% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
4,810Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 1.5% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 1.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,810 | 3.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 300 | 2.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 630 | 2.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 4,080 |
| Retail Trade | 180 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 120 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 90 |
| Educational Services | 70 |
Insights from Industry
More than ever, websites play a central role in organizations’ communication with customers, clients, suppliers and potential employees. As a result, opportunities for web developers and programmers continue to increase.
In general, there are enough new graduates to do basic web development. But demand is high for workers with the technical knowledge to work on large, complex systems. Demand is also strong for workers skilled in information architecture (IA)–developing websites so that users can quickly and easily find information.
Bigger cities, like Vancouver and Victoria, offer more full-time jobs and opportunities to work on larger and more complicated projects.
Resources
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BC Tech Associationwww.wearebctech.com
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Canada's Association of I.T. Professionalswww.cips.ca
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Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals - British Columbiawww.bc.cips.ca
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The Canadian Advanced Technology Allianceinnovationsoftheworld.com/canadian-advanced-technology
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Engineering Technology Canadawww.engineeringtechnologycanada.ca/en/CTINlanding
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First Nations Technology Councilwww.technologycouncil.ca
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Information and Communications Technology Councilwww.ictc-ctic.ca
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Information Resource Management Association of Canadawww.irmac.ca
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Information Systems Audit and Control Associationwww.isaca.org
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Technation.ca formerly the Information Technology Association of Canadaitac.ca
Career Videos
Watch the videos below to see what a day in the life of a web developer is like.
Watch the videos below to see what a day in the life of a web developer is like.
