OVERVIEW
What is a Front-End Web Developer?
Whereas back-end web developers manage databases and servers “behind the scenes,” front-end developers focus on creating a smooth and functional experience for website users. They write the underlying code that governs web page text, images, videos, menus, links, and more. These visual elements work in unity to create a holistic user experience. Front-end devs are typically known as client-side or client-facing developers since the work they do is immediately apparent to website visitors.
Many developers on the front end engage in web design to optimize user experience (UX) and polish the user interface (UI) of web pages. These devs seek to strike a balance between website function and form. The work of a skilled front-end dev is both accessible and aesthetically pleasing.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Front-End Web Developer Do?
Front-end developers rely on their fluency in several programming languages, including HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript, to build and maintain web assets. HTML is a text-encoding system that provides the basic skeleton for websites. With HTML, front-end devs can tell web browsers how a web page should look, including where headings, paragraphs, and images need to be placed.
CSS further defines the structure and style of a web page by implementing different colors, text sizes, and margins. JavaScript is an object-oriented coding language, which makes it great for applying visually appealing, interactive modules like buttons, drop-down menus, chat boxes, and more. Both of these scripting languages add onto and elaborate the foundations created by HTML.
Common responsibilities of front-end devs include the following:
- Coding new website pages
- Testing and editing web elements
- Collaborating with programmers and designers to create user interfaces
- Deciding web page layout and functionality
- Measuring and recording website performance
- Troubleshooting with clients and users
- Archiving and updating programming language libraries
Do I Need Certifications for This Profession?
While certifications are not required to become a front-end developer, you can opt to complete WGU’s Front-End Web Developer Certificate to gain valuable, industry-aligned skills.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Front-End Web Developer?
While preparing for a career as a front-end web developer, consider these steps:
- Pursue higher education. Earning a bachelor’s degree in an IT-related field like software engineering or computer science can teach you essential web programming, scripting, and design principles. Additionally, obtaining a master’s degree could increase your earning potential.
- Gain experience. For example, you might apply for an entry-level—or higher—web developer job. This will help you understand which day-to-day skills you’ll need to practice most.
- Get certified. Look to industry certifications to attain deeper knowledge about web developers and to set yourself apart from the competition. WGU’s Front-End Web Developer Certificate grants specialized skills in scripting, programming, and UI design and can prepare you for earning professional certification.
- Seek improvement. Continue to learn beyond the fundamentals—attend a coding bootcamp or participate in a web design workshop to keep your skills sharp, for example.
Best Degrees for a Front-End Web Developer
Technology
Computer Science – B.S.
ABET-accredited. AI-focused. Computer science that counts....
ABET-accredited. AI-focused. Computer science that counts.
Lay the groundwork for the computing breakthroughs that will enable tomorrow's technologies. Utilize your previous college courses or IT experience to help you complete your degree faster.
- Time: 62% of graduates in similar programs finish within 25 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program.
You'll have the opportunity to earn these certifications:
- Linux Essentials
- Axelos ITIL Foundation
You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Computer Science together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money. Learn more about this option.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Artifical Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning
- Logic
- Architecture and systems
- Data structures
- Computer theory
- Version Control
- Linux
Technology
Data Analytics – B.S.
Pair analytics expertise with AI innovation and drive measurable value...
Pair analytics expertise with AI innovation and drive measurable value with data insights.
- Time: 62% of graduates finish within 36 months.
- Tuition and fees: $3,875 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- CompTIA Data+
- CompTIA Project+
- Udacity Nanodegree—a unique, highly recognized credential designed to prepare you for a career in data science
- MSI Change Management (Optional Certification)
- Certiprof Design Thinking Professional Certificate (Optional Certification)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data management
- Data wrangling
- Statistical analysis
- Visualization
- Leadership and management
- Model deployment & storytelling
Technology
Front End Web Developer– School of Technology
The Front End Web Developer Certificate equips learners with the skills...
The Front End Web Developer Certificate equips learners with the skills necessary to create responsive, visually appealing, and functional websites.
- Time: 3 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $499 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This certificate created with CodeSignal is designed to help aspiring web developers begin their journey, gain valuable experience, and add a critical credential to their résumé. This certificate will prepare you for the next step in your career.
This certificate can help build fundamental skills in front-end development, and also help those with no technical background begin to build vocational identity for a long-term career in IT. Learners will gain critical skills including version control, scripting, web development, JavaScript programming, and UI design.
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree....
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 29 months.
- Tuition: $4,410 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no extra cost include:
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Secure Systems Analysis & Design
- Data Management
- Web and Cloud Security
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,805 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
Business Leadership Certificate – School of Business
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the...
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the help of a leadership certificate from the School of Business.
- Time: 4 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $1,125 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This program is for emerging leaders, however this program does not require a bachelor’s degree, and provides transferable credit towards a WGU degree program.
Whether you aspire to work for a Fortune 500 organization, a government agency, a non-profit organization, or a fast-paced start-up, this certificate can give you the keys to success in a variety of industries, including:
- Finance and Banking
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- IT
- Consulting
- Nonprofit
- Government
Business
User Experience Design – B.S.
An online UX Design program designed for students who want to become...
An online UX Design program designed for students who want to become business-savvy designers that can generate best-in-class, customer-centric products and services.
- Time: 60% of students finish similar programs in 19 months.
- Tuition: $3,830 per 6-month term
- Courses: 38 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Wireframing and Prototyping
- Artificial Intelligence
- Accessible Design
- Figma Design Software
- UI/UX Research
- User Testing
- Adobe Express
This degree prepares you with relevant industry skills and experience that will help you move forward in your career.
Technology
Computer Science – M.S.
Harness AI. Drive innovation. Lead with a master's in computer science....
Harness AI. Drive innovation. Lead with a master's in computer science.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish similar programs within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,385 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
The M.S. in Computer Science at WGU has three specializations for students to choose from, giving them the opportunity to focus on an area that is meaningful for their career and life. The specializations are Computing Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, and Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Computer Science together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in the computer science programs include:
- Programming and Logic
- Architecture and Systems
- Data Structures
- AI
- Project Management
How Much Does a Front-End Web Developer Make?
$92,184
According to Salary.com (as of mid-2025), the average annual salary for a Front-End Web Developer in the U.S. is $92,184—about $44 per hour. Salaries typically range from $80,164 (lower bound) to $108,065 (upper bound), with most professionals earning between $90,930 (median for web developers per BLS May 2024 data) and these figures, depending on experience and location.
What Is the Job Outlook for a Data Visualization Engineer?
7%
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for web developers and digital interface designers—which includes Front-End Web Developers—to grow by 7% from 2024 to 2034. This growth rate is much faster than average, fueled by increasing demand for responsive web design, e-commerce solutions, and user-focused digital interfaces.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Front-End Web Developer Need?
Front-end devs should develop a balanced skill set, with consideration for the technical aspect of programming and catering to web user needs. The following are useful skills for these devs:
- Proficiency with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other similar programming languages
- Knowledge of UX and UI industry best practices
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Understanding of basic website architecture
- Debugging and troubleshooting skills
- Awareness of front-end programming libraries and frameworks (React, Django, jQuery, etc.)
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