Demystifying the Role: What Does a Junior Web Developer Do?

The title ‘junior web developer’ is becoming increasingly common in many job adverts today and job search engines like LinkedIn. As this is a young profession, the question many entry-level web developers always have is, what does a junior web developer do?

For starters, a junior web developer role is normally the starting career point before you can graduate into a more senior role, such as a senior engineer or senior web developer. As such, junior web developers normally work under the supervision of a senior web developer or web designer and will normally take on small projects or tasks requiring general web development skills.

Suppose you’ve just finished a bootcamp, university, or self-learning web development and want to land a junior web developer job. In that case, we cover the nitty gritty of a junior web development role in this article and what it entails, including the:

• Day-to-day tasks and responsibilities
• Salary and remuneration
• Technical skills
• Job requirements
• … and more!

Technical Skills for Junior Web Developers

You must hone various technical skills to stand out as an excellent junior web developer. Technology evolves fast in today’s digital world, and new tools and technologies are coming out in the market that you must learn. Let’s dive deep into the core technical skills you should possess as a junior web developer.

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Proficiency

HTML and CSS are the building blocks for creating web pages. To create a static web page, including the structure of a web page and its appearance, junior web developers need to have a strong understanding of these two languages. On the other hand, learning JavaScript allows developers to add interactivity to a webpage. Today, JavaScript is an all-purpose programming language—meaning it runs throughout an entire software stack, making learning it important.

Understanding of Frameworks and Libraries

Frameworks and libraries provide developers with tried-and-tested solutions to build scalable and interactive web solutions. For front-end development, most companies use frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue. On back-end web development, frameworks like Django, Laravel, Express, or ASP.NET are popular choices with many companies as they greatly improve the development process. Since frameworks also improve database proficiency and reinforce security, having a good understanding of how they work is a technical skill every junior web developer needs to have.

Version Control Systems (VCS)

Many companies use VSCs for efficient code management and collaboration. Git is a popular VCS used by many web development communities, and for this reason, junior web developers need to have mastered its basics, including:

• How to create a repository
• How to commit changes
• How to merge, fetch, and how branches work

Problem-solving

The need for problem-solvers is a trait businesses increasingly need to solve some of their underlying problems. As a junior web developer, you’ll be expected to develop creative solutions to your problems independently. In addition, you may, from time to time, need to explain your solutions to someone else.

How to Improve Your Junior Web Development Skills

Growing your skills as a junior web developer should be your priority as you start web development.

When starting, it’s critical to first identify what learning strategies and avenues best work for you. This allows you to narrow down how you want to grow professionally in your field. Here are some ways to help hack your way toward attaining more skills.

• Taking a bootcamp: Besides teaching the fundamental topics in web development, bootcamps can also accelerate your learning by equipping you with the 21st-century skills that define the modern worker. However, before choosing a bootcamp, ensure to assess its reputation and curriculum. A bootcamp like The Complete Web Developer is a highly-rated online coding bootcamp with the most modern and up-to-date curriculum.
• Get a mentor: A mentor will offer support and guidance as you learn and grow as a junior web developer.
• Attend tech and conferences: This is an excellent way to meet and learn from other web developers.
• Read articles and blogs on web development: There are chunks of articles on web development on the internet. Some provide up-to-date developments in the industry and will introduce you to new ideas and techniques.
• Build projects: You learn by doing. As such, start building projects and contributing to other open-source projects. This way, you solidify your understanding of the basics and learn new skills.

Junior Web Developer Job Duties and Responsibilities

As a junior web developer, you’ll take up many tasks related to your occupation. However, this may differ from company to client. Here’s what you can expect:

• Write clean and testable code following set standards
• Assist in developing high-quality and innovative software following set coding standards and technical design
• Communicate efficiently, both verbally and in written form
• Technical documentation of software products. This may likely arise in small companies that don’t have a fully-fledged technical writing team
• Working alongside senior developers to troubleshoot and resolve software bugs by providing clear and timely feedback
• Deployment: You may be responsible for deploying web applications to production servers using various deployment tools and technologies.
• Collaboration: As a junior web developer, you must collaborate with other developers, stakeholders, managers, and designers to build and maintain web applications and websites.

Job Requirements

Junior web developers typically need to possess the following to land a job:

• Education: You require at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, web design, or information technology. Some employers will also hire candidates who have graduated from a bootcamp or hold a certificate in web development. But even without conventional education—and with enough passion and dedication—you can still land a role as a self-taught developer.

• Experience and Training: While you’ll likely receive on-the-job training as a junior web developer, some employers will want to know if you’ve received training through an internship or apprenticeship.

• Certifications: While not mandatory, licenses and certifications may show prospective employers you have what it takes to perform the job.

Junior Web Developer Salary and Outlook

The salary of a junior web developer varies depending on the size and type of company you work for, your level of experience, your location, and whether you work freelance. According to Zippia, a junior web developer’s salary in the US usually ranges between $48,000 to $88,000 a year.

Here’s an estimated salary range of a junior web developer in different companies and industries in the US:

• Big tech companies: $75,000 - $100,000 per year. For instance, according to Glassdoor, junior web developer salaries at Google can range from $81,000 - $134,000 per year.
• Startups: $50,000 - $75,000 per year
• Medium companies: $60,000 - $85,000 per year
• Freelance: $38,280-$129,760 per year. However, this is largely an estimate as your hourly rate may vary as you gain more exposure and increase your skills.

Conclusion

There you have it! We’ve answered every entry-level professional's important core question when starting their careers in web development: what does a junior web developer do, including how much they make, and what are their day-to-day responsibilities?

We’ve covered the core tips, including salary, responsibilities, requirements, and how to grow one’s skills. Remember, soft skills also make a huge difference as you start as a web developer. They could be the difference between how you communicate and collaborate with team members.

Always ask for help and stay hungry for knowledge and new skills.