How much do web developers make?
Answer
Web developers in the US earned a median of $92,650 a year ($44.54 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $64,230 to $126,230.
- Median annual pay
- $92,650
- Mean $98,770
- Median hourly pay
- $44.54
- Mean $47.49
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $48.1K–$162K
- $48,100 to $162,290
- US jobs
- 70,190
- +3.8% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a web developer: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Virginia
Web Developer pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$48,100
- 25th percentile$64,230
- Median$92,650
- 75th percentile$126,230
- 90th percentile$162,290
Half of all web developers earned more than $92,650 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $48,100; the top 10% made over $162,290. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $64,230 to $126,230.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,100 | $23.12 | $4,008 |
| 25th | $64,230 | $30.88 | $5,353 |
| Median (50th) | $92,650 | $44.54 | $7,721 |
| 75th | $126,230 | $60.69 | $10,519 |
| 90th | $162,290 | $78.03 | $13,524 |
| Mean (average) | $98,770 | $47.49 | $8,231 |
Web Developer salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Washington $130,440
- 2. Virginia $128,380
- 3. California $119,570
- 4. District of Columbia $114,690
- 5. Maryland $112,690
Lowest-paying states
- 44. Arkansas $50,550
- 43. South Dakota $51,100
- 42. Montana $62,060
- 41. Iowa $64,210
- 40. Oregon $64,460
Best after cost of living: Virginia. Its median of $128,380 is worth about $126,978 at national-average prices, more than in Washington once prices are counted.
| Alabama | — | — | — | — | — | 930 | 0.44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arizona | $76,230 | 33 | $75,717 | 36 | $36.65 | 1,010 | 0.31 |
| Arkansas | $50,550 | 44 | $58,146 | 43 | $24.30 | 400 | 0.30 |
| California | $119,570 | 3 | $107,993 | 4 | $57.48 | 7,320 | 0.40 |
| Colorado | $85,950 | 18 | $83,404 | 27 | $41.32 | 1,680 | 0.58 |
| Connecticut | $85,930 | 19 | $82,936 | 31 | $41.31 | 750 | 0.44 |
| Delaware | $76,020 | 34 | $76,166 | 35 | $36.55 | — | — |
| District of Columbia | $114,690 | 4 | $104,358 | 6 | $55.14 | 430 | 0.61 |
| Florida | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Georgia | $90,340 | 16 | $93,818 | 14 | $43.43 | 1,500 | 0.31 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | 310 | 0.49 |
| Idaho | $79,290 | 28 | $83,031 | 30 | $38.12 | 220 | 0.26 |
| Illinois | $84,820 | 22 | $84,856 | 26 | $40.78 | 4,310 | 0.71 |
| Indiana | $80,870 | 26 | $86,650 | 24 | $38.88 | 860 | 0.27 |
| Iowa | $64,210 | 41 | $73,164 | 40 | $30.87 | 420 | 0.27 |
| Kansas | $73,590 | 36 | $81,705 | 32 | $35.38 | 500 | 0.35 |
| Kentucky | $82,630 | 25 | $91,649 | 16 | $39.73 | 270 | 0.14 |
| Louisiana | $85,330 | 21 | $96,738 | 11 | $41.03 | 490 | 0.26 |
| Maine | — | — | — | — | — | 170 | 0.27 |
| Maryland | $112,690 | 5 | $107,366 | 5 | $54.18 | 1,960 | 0.71 |
| Massachusetts | $98,470 | 10 | $93,110 | 15 | $47.34 | 1,940 | 0.53 |
| Michigan | $98,470 | 11 | $102,342 | 9 | $47.34 | 1,580 | 0.36 |
| Minnesota | $101,020 | 7 | $102,433 | 7 | $48.57 | 1,200 | 0.41 |
| Mississippi | — | — | — | — | — | 190 | 0.17 |
| Missouri | $103,750 | 6 | $114,241 | 3 | $49.88 | 1,160 | 0.40 |
| Montana | $62,060 | 42 | $65,571 | 41 | $29.84 | 550 | 1.08 |
| Nebraska | $80,350 | 27 | $89,176 | 19 | $38.63 | 230 | 0.22 |
| Nevada | $83,220 | 24 | $83,237 | 29 | $40.01 | 340 | 0.22 |
| New Hampshire | $78,260 | 30 | $75,131 | 37 | $37.63 | 470 | 0.69 |
| New Jersey | $95,180 | 14 | $87,478 | 22 | $45.76 | 2,250 | 0.53 |
| New Mexico | $68,120 | 39 | $73,873 | 38 | $32.75 | 130 | 0.15 |
| New York | $98,580 | 9 | $91,345 | 17 | $47.39 | 3,990 | 0.41 |
| North Carolina | $96,610 | 13 | $102,421 | 8 | $46.45 | 2,030 | 0.41 |
| North Dakota | $72,190 | 37 | $81,150 | 34 | $34.71 | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — | — | — | — | 1,690 | 0.30 |
| Oklahoma | $78,580 | 29 | $89,455 | 18 | $37.78 | 410 | 0.24 |
| Oregon | $64,460 | 40 | $62,364 | 42 | $30.99 | 1,140 | 0.58 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,380 | 17 | $88,529 | 20 | $41.53 | 1,670 | 0.28 |
| Rhode Island | $98,140 | 12 | $95,952 | 13 | $47.18 | — | — |
| South Carolina | $78,190 | 32 | $83,404 | 28 | $37.59 | 710 | 0.31 |
| South Dakota | $51,100 | 43 | $57,684 | 44 | $24.57 | 390 | 0.85 |
| Tennessee | $74,760 | 35 | $81,376 | 33 | $35.94 | 1,620 | 0.49 |
| Texas | $85,800 | 20 | $88,402 | 21 | $41.25 | 4,910 | 0.35 |
| Utah | $100,170 | 8 | $101,321 | 10 | $48.16 | 1,280 | 0.74 |
| Vermont | $84,550 | 23 | $86,313 | 25 | $40.65 | 70 | 0.24 |
| Virginia | $128,380 | 2 | $126,978 | 1 | $61.72 | 4,590 | 1.12 |
| Washington | $130,440 | 1 | $121,892 | 2 | $62.71 | 4,430 | 1.25 |
| West Virginia | $78,240 | 31 | $87,422 | 23 | $37.62 | 400 | 0.58 |
| Wisconsin | $90,630 | 15 | $96,318 | 12 | $43.57 | 1,180 | 0.40 |
| Wyoming | $68,410 | 38 | $73,804 | 39 | $32.89 | 50 | 0.19 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (7 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for web developers
162 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,670 | $150,938 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $152,450 | $131,862 | 1,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $134,350 | $123,388 | 3,840 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $130,440 | $117,373 | 3,470 |
| Richmond, VA | $117,090 | $119,653 | — |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $111,560 | $107,611 | 290 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,550 | $108,227 | 870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $108,520 | $100,235 | 1,450 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $107,590 | $102,970 | 790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,290 | $94,474 | 2,310 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,200 | $104,820 | $93,121 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,840 | $134,350 | $123,388 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,470 | $130,440 | $117,373 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,790 | $96,870 | $93,508 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,310 | $107,290 | $94,474 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,660 | $96,740 | $93,840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,450 | $108,520 | $100,235 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,420 | $152,450 | $131,862 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,160 | — | — |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,130 | $166,670 | $150,938 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves web developer pay: employers and settings
The type of employer moves web developer pay more than anything else. Software publishers pay a median of $130,440, far above the $88,690 at computer systems design firms, which employ 26.6% of all web developers. Corporate and regional headquarters pay $108,120. Consulting firms ($86,690), colleges and universities ($83,530) and advertising and public relations agencies ($79,840) pay below the overall median. Private employers pay a median of $94,790. That compares with $80,320 in state government and $85,360 in local government.
Location is the other big factor. Washington leads at $130,440, followed by Virginia at $128,380, California at $119,570, the District of Columbia at $114,690, and Maryland at $112,690. Pay is lowest in Montana at $62,060, South Dakota at $51,100, and Arkansas at $50,550.
Skills matter too. Developers who handle back-end systems, cloud services and complex applications tend to land product-company roles that pay more than building brochure sites. Pay spans from $48,100, the 10th percentile, to $162,290, the 90th, and that spread reflects employer type, skill set and location, not just years of experience. Freelancers, 17.5% of the field, set their own rates and income varies widely.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 26.6% | $88,690 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 7.4% | $86,690 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 6.1% | $83,530 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 5.8% | $79,840 |
| Software Publishers | 4.8% | $130,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4.1% | $108,120 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 65,560 | $94,790 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 2,750 | $80,320 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 1,870 | $85,360 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Web Developer pay over time
Median annual pay, 2021–2025
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $77,030 in 2021 to $92,650 in 2025, up 20% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2021 median is worth $91,987 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay was about flat over the period.
The series starts in 2021 because BLS changed how it defines or publishes this occupation before then, so earlier figures are not comparable.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What web developers do
A web developer writes the code that makes websites and web applications work. Front end developers (also written frontend developer) build what you see and click in the browser, using HTML, CSS and JavaScript, often with a framework such as React. Back-end developers write the server code, databases and APIs behind it: logins, shopping carts, search, forms that save data. Full-stack developers handle both.
The largest group works at IT and software consulting firms that build sites for clients. Others work for marketing and advertising agencies, universities, software companies, corporate web teams and government agencies, and close to one in five is self-employed. Developers usually work from a designer's mockups and a list of requirements from a product manager or client, then build, test and launch features in small pieces. Much of the job after launch is maintenance: fixing bugs, speeding up slow pages, updating libraries and keeping the site usable for people with disabilities. Remote and hybrid work is common.
A typical day
- Turn design mockups into page layouts that work on phones, tablets and desktops
- Write JavaScript for menus, forms, filters and other interactive parts of a page
- Build and query databases and APIs that store orders, accounts or content
- Test changes in different browsers and devices and fix what breaks
- Review teammates' code and merge changes through Git
- Find and fix slow-loading pages, broken links and accessibility problems
- Meet with clients, designers or product managers to agree on what a feature should do
Also called: front end developer, frontend developer, technology applications engineer, web architect, web design specialist, webmaster.
How to become a web developer
Full guideTo become a web developer, you learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript and at least one framework or back-end language, then build a portfolio that proves it. Many employers prefer a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field (4 years), but a 2-year associate degree, a bootcamp or self-study plus strong projects can also get you hired; no license is required.
- Typical time
- 2-4 years (associate or bachelor's degree)
- Fastest: 6-12 months (self-study or bootcamp plus portfolio)
- Minimum education
- No set minimum; employers range from a high school diploma with a strong portfolio to a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field
- License
- Not licensed (certification optional)
- Typical training cost
- $9.1K–$40.8K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a web developer: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 2-4 years (associate or bachelor's degree)
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $9.1K–$40.8K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $92,650
- $41,670 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 10–44%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($41,670 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (2-4 years (associate or bachelor's degree) in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for web developers
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3.8%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 87,400
- 90,600 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 5,300
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 17.5%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects web developer jobs to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from 87,400 to 90,600, close to the 3.5% average for all occupations. Online retail keeps creating demand for sites and web apps. Against that, BLS expects low-code and no-code tools and artificial intelligence to automate more of the work and let marketers and other staff handle simple sites themselves, which holds growth down. About 5,300 openings a year are still expected, mostly to replace people who leave the field. Entry-level competition is stiff, and a portfolio of real projects matters more than ever.
Related careers and their pay
- UX Designer$104,000
- Software Engineer$135,980
- Network Engineer$134,050
- IT Support Specialist$61,860
- Computer Engineer$161,740
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Web Developer salary FAQ
How much do web developers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for web developers was $44.54 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23.12 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $78.03. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays web developers the most?
Washington has the highest median pay for web developers, $130,440 a year, followed by Virginia ($128,380) and California ($119,570). After adjusting for each state's price level, Virginia comes out ahead at about $126,978 in national-average dollars.
Do web developers make six figures?
Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 25% and 50% of web developers earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $92,650, and the top 10% earn more than $162,290. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between a front end and back end developer?
A front end developer builds the part of a site that runs in the browser: layout, styling, buttons, forms and animations, using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. A back-end developer builds what runs on the server: databases, user accounts, payments and APIs, in languages such as JavaScript (Node.js), Python, PHP, Java or C#. Full-stack developers do both, which is common at small companies and agencies.
Will AI replace web developers?
BLS does not expect the job to disappear, but it does expect AI and low-code tools to hold growth down. Projected growth is 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, near the average for all jobs. Site builders and AI assistants already handle simple pages, so the work that remains leans toward complex applications, integrations, performance, security and accessibility. Developers who use AI tools well and understand what they produce are better placed.
Can web developers work from home or freelance?
Yes, more easily than in most jobs. Web development needs only a computer and an internet connection, and many employers hire remote or hybrid developers. BLS data show 17.5% of web developers are self-employed, building and maintaining sites for small businesses and agencies. Freelancing means finding your own clients, handling taxes and health insurance, and accepting income that can swing from month to month.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 15-1254
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (15-1254.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Web Developers and Digital Designers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Web Developers, O*NET OnLine (15-1254.00), National Center for O*NET Development · checked October 28, 2026
- AWS Certified Developer - Associate, Amazon Web Services · checked October 28, 2026
- WCAG 2 Overview, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
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