Table of Contents
1. What is a web developer? 🧑💻
2. The Three Types of Web Developers 💫
3. Why Become a Web Developer?
4. What Diploma is Needed to Become a Web Developer? 👨🎓
5. How to Become a Web Developer? ✨
5.2 Bootcamps (Intensive Training Programs)
5.3 Online Courses
6. Which Languages Should You Learn to Become a Web Developer? ✅
6.2 Specialization
7. Can You Become a Web Developer at 40? 🤨
8. How Much Does a Web Developer Earn? 💸
9. Conclusion
What is a Web Developer?
A web developer is someone responsible for the development of a website. Stated like this, it may seem obvious. However, there are actually three different phases involved in the development of a website:
- The creation phase
- The maintenance phase
- The evolution phase
The Creation Phase
In this phase, the developer takes care of the creation of a website. They start from a blank page to create the very first version of their project.
This is where imagination runs wild.
The Maintenance Phase
This second phase is important. Its goal is to fix bugs that may appear while the site is in use, update security standards, and improve code structure.
The Evolution Phase
The third phase involves increasing the number of features in a project. The developer aims to keep the site up-to-date with additional functionalities to better meet market demands. It involves adapting the website to current trends, whether in terms of user experience or design.
The Three Types of Web Developers
When we talk about web developers, we generally distinguish three categories:
- Front-end developers
- Back-end developers
- Full-stack developers
They are often represented with an iceberg analogy, and you’ll soon understand why.
Front-End Developers
Front-end developers handle the visible side of the iceberg. Personally, I like to think of it as the car bodywork.
Imagine the most beautiful car you can: front-end developers make it look sexy. They choose the colors, images, shapes… In short, everything the user sees.
But that’s not all.
Front-end developers may also (depending on the team they are in) be responsible for the User Experience (UX). Their goal is to make the site’s interface user-friendly and pleasant.
Back-End Developers
They handle the submerged part of the iceberg. Back-end developers deal with the features on the server side.
For example:
- the user registration system
- various database calls (managing all of a website’s data)
- the algorithms
Full-Stack Developers
This type of developer is actually a combination of both back-end and front-end developers. Full-stack developers can handle the front-end as well as the back-end of a project.
They’re like a Swiss Army knife.
Why Become a Web Developer?
There are several obvious reasons why now is the best time to dive into web development:
- It’s a (very) well-paid profession. According to Indeed, a junior developer’s average salary is around €43,325 per year, and freelancers can earn about €560 per day.
- The demand for developers is huge: there were more than 74,500 job offers in France in 2023 alone. According to France Travail, the developer profession is among the most in-demand jobs today.
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Study by France Travail on the web developer profession - It’s the ideal profession for remote work. Being a developer allows you to work from home without needing direct contact with clients (video conferences remain available if needed).
- Finally, it’s the perfect job for those who want to start a business. Being a developer means you can create all the ideas you come up with without needing an agency.
What Diploma is Needed to Become a Web Developer?
No specific diploma is required to become a web developer. This is a common misconception.
Many think you need to excel in mathematics and complete a science-focused baccalaureate: nothing could be further from the truth.
As we’ll see later, no engineering school or bootcamp requires specific diplomas. A BTS (two-year technical degree) can be entirely sufficient.
The majority of developers are self-taught or learned through intensive bootcamps or online courses.
How to Become a Web Developer?
There’s good news: anyone can become a web developer. You don’t need a powerful computer or to be a future Nobel Prize laureate in mathematics.
The only thing that is crucial for those who want to become a web developer is perseverance.
The initial investment is more about time: the first steps can be a bit long, and you may sometimes feel lost. That’s why it’s essential to have guidance rather than trying to learn solely from random YouTube videos.
Not only are these videos often outdated and not aligned with current best practices – meaning you’ll learn outdated methods – but you’ll also have no support. In other words, you’ll likely lose motivation after a few weeks or months, even if you’re determined.
There are three recommended ways to become a web developer.
Engineering Schools
Engineering schools are public or private institutions offering a 5-year academic program to obtain either a Master’s degree or a recognized professional title (RNCP) for private schools.
These engineering schools let you explore everything, including:
- Web development
- Mobile development
- System administration
- Software development
Although very interesting for those who want to learn a bit of everything, their downside is their very academic approach: you must spend 5 years, follow fixed schedules, take exams, and end up learning topics that may not interest you originally (why learn software development if you just want to make websites?).
Also, the costs can be substantial: up to €7,500 per year over 5 years, amounting to €37,500 for a complete private school program.
Bootcamps (Intensive Training Programs)
Bootcamps (or intensive training programs) are very popular among those looking to retrain professionally. But BE CAREFUL: not all bootcamps are created equal.
Just like the used car market, the worst bootcamps tarnish the reputation of the better ones. As a result, you’ll find thousands of posts on social networks warning you about this path.
As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. 👀
It is crucial to do thorough research when choosing your bootcamp:
- Check if the training provider offering the bootcamp is Qualiopi certified (see Believemy’s certification)
- Always read Google reviews
- Request a call with someone from the training organization: if you can’t speak to anyone, that’s a red flag. If you do get someone, see if you have a good rapport and trust your instincts.
- Analyze the training program. I strongly advise you to always request the course brochure. Training providers are obliged to have one (officially called a “training program”). It’s a detailed document describing what you’ll do in the course.
Bootcamps have many advantages: they generally require less financial investment than engineering schools, often provide 7-day-a-week support, and some let you study without fixed schedules (like ours). Check all these conditions carefully before committing.
Online Courses
These are the least expensive alternative to training and becoming a web developer. They are much more accessible, but you’ll also receive much less support.
These are courses offering a series of videos to watch in sequence. Quality varies depending on the provider.
Not all courses are equal. As with bootcamps, make sure to check online reviews and the course outline. We’ve all had that one teacher who changed how we felt about school: the same applies to online courses. Choose an instructor rather than just a course.
If you’re interested in this option, here’s our catalog of online courses.
Which Languages Should You Learn to Become a Web Developer?
The Common Foundation
To become a web developer, you need to learn the basics. There is a common foundation that all developers know:
- Start with HTML and CSS
- Then continue with JavaScript
- And learn Git
With these, you can already build about 80% of all the ideas you have in mind. HTML and CSS are programming languages that create the core of a website (the pages). JavaScript brings dynamism (for example, triggering actions when someone clicks on the page) or fetching data online (like the weather in Tokyo).
Git, on the other hand, lets you create versions of your project. It’s an invaluable tool every developer knows.
Specialization
After establishing this foundation, it’s time to specialize: you’ll have to choose from several paths.
Nowadays, web developers typically continue their learning with a powerful technology used by the majority of websites today: React.
This is for good reason; it’s the technology used by Facebook, Instagram, Tesla, and Netflix.
You can also choose a back-end technology if you want to do everything yourself: PHP, MongoDB, NodeJS, etc.
Can You Become a Web Developer at 40?
It was important to address this in a comprehensive guide about becoming a web developer in 2024. Yes, you can become a web developer at 40, 50, or even 60 if it’s your passion.
The advantage of web development is that it’s barrier-free, and anyone can learn web development regardless of age. 🙂
45% of those who retrained through Believemy are over 40 (which is why I’m comfortable mentioning it here). The majority are employed after three months post-training, while others start their careers as freelancers.
How Much Does a Web Developer Earn?
Keep in mind that a developer’s earnings depend on:
- The location they work in (city, country, etc.)
- The company (FAANG companies – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google – pay very well)
- Level of expertise (beginner, intermediate, or experienced)
Here’s a table to give you a rough idea:
| Level | Salary for an Employee | Freelance Rate (Excl. Tax) |
| Beginner | Between €30,000 and €41,000 | From €275 per day |
| Intermediate | Between €41,000 and €57,000 | From €410 per day |
| Experienced | From €57,000 | From €550 per day |
Conclusion
Now you know everything you need to become a web developer in 2024! I hope you enjoyed this guide. Remember to always take your time and carefully verify who you trust for your training.
A good teacher will leave a lasting positive impression, while a bad one can put you off the profession! 😊
If you’d like to continue with us, you can join our online courses here or our Rocket accelerator.
