How Much Are Web Developers Making? A [2023] Salary Guide

How Much Are Web Developers Making? A [2023] Salary Guide

Web development is an in-demand field with lots of opportunity. But before diving in, many wonder: how much do web developers actually make?

This salary guide takes a data-driven look at typical web developer salaries in 2023. You'll learn how factors like location, experience level, skills, and more impact earnings so you can benchmark salaries and negotiate fair offers.

Average Web Developer Salaries

The average salary for web developers in the U.S. is $69,328 per year, or about $33 per hour. But averages only tell part of the story.

Salaries can vary widely depending factors like:

• Experience level
• Location
• Specific skills
• Company size
• Negotiation techniques

Understanding these elements will help you earn a web developer salary aligned to market rates.

Entry-Level and Junior Developers

Those just starting out in web development earn less than the overall average while building skills and experience.

• Entry-level web developers make around $49,000 per year on average.
• Junior developers with 1-3 years experience earn approximately $59,000.

Within five years, salaries for strong performers rise substantially.

Senior Web Developer Salaries

With 5+ years experience, senior web developers make quite a bit more.

• The average senior web developer salary is $101,000 per year.
• Some very experienced developers make up to $130,000-150,000.

Let's look at what impacts earning potential within these ranges.

Key Factors That Influence Web Developer Salaries

Salaries depend on multiple elements. Here are some of the biggest:

Location Impacts Local Market Rates

Where you live and work affects living costs and what companies pay. For example:

• Web developer salaries in high-cost metro areas like San Francisco tend to be $87,000 or more.
• The same role in smaller cities like Boise, Idaho averages around $50,000-60,000.

Local demand influences rates too. When hiring competition is fierce, companies pay more to attract talent.

Remote work adds complexity. Some companies adjust salaries based on location while others don't. Understand whether a company ties pay to geography before negotiating.

Company Size Matters

Bigger companies typically pay more due to deeper resources. For example:

• Web developers at startups earn around $59,000.
• Those working at large enterprises make approximately $73,500.

Well-funded startups can pay well too though, thanks to venture capital and stock options.

Specific Skills Result in Higher Salaries

Specialized skills mean higher earning ability. Some examples:

• React expertise adds $13,000 to salaries on average.
• Python/Django skills add $12,000.
• UX/UI knowledge tacks on another $7-10k for front-end developers.

Soft skills further boost salaries. Management experience also brings larger paychecks down the road.

Negotiation Makes a Difference

Salary negotiation often yields a sizable bump in job offers.

Unfortunately, negotiation discomfort and societal expectations lead some groups like women to negotiate less often. But companies expect negotiation; declining to try costs money.

Equipping yourself with competitive salary data can help overcome negotiation reluctance. When you know precise market rates, mustering the courage gets easier. And companies rarely retract offers if you respectfully make a case.

Understanding these influential factors allows you to compare web developer salaries at different career stages.

Web Developer Pay at Each Experience Level

Look at typical earning ranges grouped by years of experience so you can gauge market rates and negotiate fairly.