Time to Become a Web Designer
Becoming a web designer takes anywhere from 6 months to 4 years. The duration depends on the type of training chosen–full-time or part-time. A full-time bachelor’s degree in web design provides all essential skills over 4 years. Part-time courses offer basic skills for beginners over shorter periods. Self-taught designers learn informally through articles and tutorials.
Regardless of program, developing expertise requires learning: coding, visual design, user experience. Soft skills and a portfolio are also crucial.
Web designers have rewarding, well-paying careers but must keep learning as technology rapidly advances. They may work long, flexible hours to meet deadlines or to make urgent changes.
The average web designer earns about $40,000 annually. Higher salaries exceeding $100,000 yearly require strong business acumen–not just design talent. Daily tasks involve working on multiple projects and client websites, front- and back-end development, creative advertising, and strategic planning.
Career Outlook and Earning Potential
Web design is one of the most popular and in-demand creative fields today. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long it will take to become a web designer, as it varies based on a person’s background and the type of training they undergo.
The field of web design is expected to grow by 27 percent by the year 2024, ensuring that salaries remain high for web designers. To achieve higher incomes, web designers need to develop skills beyond design, including marketing, sales, system processes, and an understanding of the web development market.
Learning HTML and CSS
Is HTML and CSS worth learning? Absolutely, if you’re thinking of becoming more serious about web development, knowing HTML and CSS makes it easier for you to learn other coding languages, too. Understanding these coding languages can open up new job opportunities.
Education and Experience
A bachelor’s degree in web design is typically a four-year program that teaches students essential skills required for web designing. An alternative to degrees are bootcamps, which offer up-to-date curriculum and are often shorter in duration.
While most designers work for design or internet firms, some large organizations hire full-time web designers for their in-house needs. A full-time web designer’s responsibilities include managing and maintaining the company’s web presence consistently.
Getting certified, such as with the Master Certified Web Professional – Designer (CWP), can help in earning more. While a college degree is common, it’s possible to be successful in web design/development even with only a high school degree. Degrees in graphic design or computer science are common among web designers.