what is a web designer?

Research shows that more than 250,000 websites are created every day, and this number is likely to rise over time as technology keeps advancing. Once a website has been developed, the next step is to design it to improve user experience (UX) and make it appealing to visitors; this is where a web designer comes into play.

As a web designer, you are expected to create and build web pages and websites by using many different visual design elements. These visual design elements include:

- videos
- animations
- texts
- graphics
- photos

Depending on the nature of the task, you can either create a brand-new website or make updates to the layout and design of existing pages. Ideally, you are not primarily responsible for understanding how the code works. Instead, your focus should be on creating a website that is aesthetically pleasing and makes users happy every time they interact with it.

Would working as a web designer suit your visual design and UX design skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a web designer role.

view jobs near you
1

average web designer salary

In the U.S., according to Glassdoor, the average salary of a web designer at entry-level and with no more than one-year experience is $62,456 per year. This figure includes the base pay, which is $57,636 per year, and additional pay, which is $4,823 per year.

Senior web designers take home $101,295 per year on average whereas senior managers of web design earn $176,870 per year on average. It goes without saying that different factors, like experience, have a huge impact on what you earn as a web designer. That is to say, web designers with several years of experience are likely to earn higher than their counterparts who have not been in the industry long enough.

Furthermore, Glassdoor points out that as a web designer with one year or less experience, your salary is likely to range from $50,000 to $71,000. Of course, this depends on the employer, the type of website you are working on, and how many hours you work per day. Simply put, the more demanding the job, the higher wages you are likely to get.

Wondering what you can earn as a web designer? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can easily see what the average salary of a web designer is.

Close up - Smiling male looking at someone.
Close up - Smiling male looking at someone.
2

type of web designers

In tech, some positions have similar responsibilities as web designers. They include:

  • ux designer whose responsibility is to create products that are intuitive, usable, and accessible
  • visual designer who is responsible for making backgrounds, icons, and buttons visually appealing
  • front-end web developer who works on the client side of websites but with more attention to the code
  • user interface (UI) designer who ensures products are accessible, inclusive, and responsive regardless of the browser you are using them on
  • information architect who puts content together in a precise way so you can have an easy time finding them
3

working as a web designer

If you are wondering what your everyday work life would be like working as a web designer, keep reading to find out. It is worth noting that the responsibilities of a web designer never change regardless of the organization.

4

web designer skills and education

According to the BLS, most web designers have a bachelor’s degree in web design or related fields. A bachelor’s degree in web design focuses on design skills and layout principles. The degree is often taught alongside technical programs, like Adobe programs.

You may also go for a bachelor’s degree in computer science to enter this job field. Most experts recommend this degree because it offers several skills, including design work, problem-solving abilities, and computing skills.

While a four-year bachelor’s degree may be enough to secure a job as a web designer, it is advisable that you explore certification programs if possible. That is because some companies prefer candidates with relevant and up-to-date industry certificates. These include Google UX Design Professional Certificate, UI/UX Design Specialization Certificate, and Responsive Website Development & Design Specialization.

These certificates help you build job-ready skills, such as:

  • wireframing
  • prototyping
  • best practices to create an easy-to-understand website
  • ui/ux development process
  • skill to build a responsive website with built-in multi-user experiences

If you are unable to explore a certificate program, you can consider taking a course that can help you sharpen your web design skills.

skills and competencies

The last decade has seen the demand for web designers rise since most businesses are moving online. However, the increase in demand has come at a cost in the sense that most companies now prefer candidates who are masters of several coding languages, understand graphic design, and are able to execute digital strategy properly.

That said, the following are some of the skills you must have as a website designer:

  • HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
  • Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
  • JavaScript
  • Content Management Systems (CMS)

The following are additional skills necessary in your job as a web designer:

  • web server management
  • responsive design
  • ui and ux
  • graphic design
  • color theory

As a web designer, you must also have soft skills to help you execute your digital design plans successfully and with the utmost precision. These soft skills include:

  • communication skills
  • setting up projects
  • critical thinking skills
  • interpersonal skills
  • patience
  • being able to receive feedback
  • project management
men looking at his side
men looking at his side
5

FAQs about working as a web designer

Here, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about web designers.

thank you for subscribing to your personalised job alerts.