Web Development is growing leaps and bounds with companies around the nation, big and small, in need of developers. From designing user interactions on websites, developing servers for website functionality, and coding for mobile platforms--this robust specialization is extremely profitable in nearly every state and allows room for significant career growth.
Considering where a new career can take you is an exciting component of planning your future. Choosing a city with the best opportunities for growth, salary, and longevity is essential to outlining your future job search. Web development compensation standards range from state to state. Whether you’re looking for a career change that includes a move or are curious about what the average developer salary is for your area, we’ve got you covered.
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How Much do Web Developers Make in 2020?
As of March, nationally, the average developer salary is $74,742 per year. To break down and rank the most lucrative states to earn a web developer salary in, we’ve listed the average web development income along with the cost of living index to calculate the adjusted income difference between 2017 and 2020.
The top 5 states where the annual adjusted gross income is highest include:
- Utah - $88,064
- Texas - $86,304
- Virginia - $84,619
- California - $83,272
- Illinois - $80,466
The bottom 5 states where the annual adjusted gross income is lowest are:
- Connecticut - $55,212
- Rhode Island - $52,985
- Vermont - $49,841
- Alaska - $79,554
- West Virginia - $73,294
Two big tech hubs, New York and Washington, D.C., have average web developer salaries that landed them in the #28 and #39 spots respectively. Two things to keep in mind are that each state does have a different developer starting salary and quality of life. It’s important to do your research during your job search and fully consider all the places this career can take you. The rankings below may surprise you and help you see a state in a new light.
|
Rank |
State |
Avg web dev income |
Cost of living index |
Adjusted income |
|
1 |
Utah |
$75,768 |
98.4 |
$88,064 |
|
2 |
Texas |
$79,308 |
91.5 |
$86,304 |
|
3 |
Virginia |
$79,328 |
100.7 |
$84,619 |
|
4 |
California |
$80,164 |
151.7 |
$83,272 |
|
5 |
Illinois |
$70,733 |
89.3 |
$80,466 |
|
6 |
Michigan |
$70,577 |
88.9 |
$79,363 |
|
7 |
Colorado |
$76,973 |
105.6 |
$78,580 |
|
8 |
Wyoming |
$80,930 |
89.3 |
$78,524 |
|
9 |
Tennessee |
$76,016 |
88.7 |
$79,313 |
|
10 |
Washington |
$85,202 |
110.7 |
$78,319 |
|
11 |
Kansas |
$74,501 |
89 |
$78,287 |
|
12 |
North Carolina |
$62,151 |
94.9 |
$77,527 |
|
13 |
Missouri |
$69,281 |
87.1 |
$76,793 |
|
14 |
Idaho |
$80,930 |
92.3 |
$76,670 |
|
15 |
Indiana |
$74,725 |
90 |
$75,016 |
|
16 |
Ohio |
$75,437 |
90.8 |
$75,930 |
|
17 |
Delaware |
$76,230 |
108.1 |
$74,873 |
|
18 |
Oklahoma |
$74,612 |
87 |
$74,745 |
|
19 |
Oregon |
$75,959 |
134.2 |
$73,847 |
|
20 |
Mississippi |
$69,471 |
86.1 |
$72,993 |
|
21 |
Alabama |
$70,909 |
89.3 |
$72,881 |
|
22 |
Arizona |
$78,977 |
97 |
$72,376 |
|
23 |
Minnesota |
$76,306 |
101.6 |
$72,246 |
|
24 |
New Jersey |
$77,648 |
125.1 |
$71,506 |
|
25 |
Nevada |
$80,930 |
108.5 |
$71,381 |
|
26 |
Maryland |
$81,631 |
129.7 |
$69,869 |
|
27 |
Pennsylvania |
$76,495 |
101.7 |
$69,500 |
|
28 |
New York |
$88,713 |
139.1 |
$67,943 |
|
29 |
Louisiana |
$74,188 |
93.9 |
$67,445 |
|
30 |
Georgia |
$72,239 |
89.2 |
$66,838 |
|
31 |
Kentucky |
$75,332 |
90.9 |
$66,742 |
|
32 |
Maine |
$73,760 |
117.5 |
$66,187 |
|
33 |
South Carolina |
$76,379 |
95.9 |
$65,680 |
|
34 |
Montana |
$80,930 |
106.9 |
$64,428 |
|
35 |
Hawaii |
$84,013 |
192.9 |
$64,330 |
|
36 |
Iowa |
$73,454 |
90.1 |
$64,326 |
|
37 |
Wisconsin |
$74,099 |
97.3 |
$64,047 |
|
38 |
Florida |
$68,473 |
97.9 |
$63,718 |
|
39 |
Washington D.C. |
$85,335 |
152.1 |
$62,281 |
|
40 |
North Dakota |
$80,930 |
98.9 |
$62,252 |
|
41 |
Nebraska |
$80,241 |
90.8 |
$61,664 |
|
42 |
Arkansas |
$71,394 |
86.9 |
$59,740 |
|
43 |
South Dakota |
$76,684 |
99.8 |
$58,836 |
|
44 |
Massachusetts |
$87,883 |
131.6 |
$58,553 |
|
45 |
New Mexico |
$71,530 |
87.5 |
$58,277 |
|
46 |
New Hampshire |
$85,579 |
109.7 |
$55,480 |
|
47 |
Connecticut |
$80,859 |
127.7 |
$55,212 |
|
48 |
Rhode Island |
$79,276 |
119.4 |
$52,985 |
|
49 |
Vermont |
$80,433 |
114.5 |
$49,841 |
|
50 |
Alaska |
$80,930 |
129.9 |
$79,554 |
|
51 |
West Virginia |
$76,828 |
91.1 |
$73,294 |
The data used here was taken from the national average web developer salary data was taken from ZipRecruiter and the Cost Of Living Index By State from the World Population Review.
Remote work opportunities
With the expansion of fully remote work culture, many companies now hire employees across states. The topic of salary range can come up in the initial screening, during the interview, or after an offer is made--so it pays to be prepared. Educating yourself to the compensation standards a company’s headquarters fall into can be helpful when estimating your salary expectations.
The idea of working in a different state from your company and coworkers can feel unnerving if you’ve never done it before. Just like learning the skills needed to become a web developer, it takes time to adjust in order to thrive. Working remotely can allow for increased creativity and productivity that web developers flourish from. While you look for remote opportunities in states with a high web developer starting salary, check out our tips to making work from home work for you.
Set the foundation
Your web development potential starts with the soft skills you’ve developed over time. Technical knowledge and proficiency are important, especially in such a specialized field, but soft skills are what help you start the career switch, set yourself apart from the group, and get you hired.
Five soft skills that will help you enter the tech industry with confidence include:
- Communication The ability to communicate clearly, politely, and collaboratively will always help demonstrate your interpersonal aptitude.
- Creative Thinking Creative thinking is a method of problem-solving every industry needs. Techies around the world are routinely presented with problems that require a fresh perspective to strategize solutions.
- Relationship Building You’re not just building a network, you're building a group of people who can be a champion on the inside––and potentially offer job-winning referrals. These relationships can also help you define a technical skills roadmap for your future.
- Authenticity Creating a strong narrative out of your professional experiences and skills demonstrates pride in where you’ve been and can reflect your true personality.
- Persistence More than anything the skill of persistence will ensure you are successful in the tech industry. If you have a passion for lifelong learning, a dedication to your craft will shine through brightly to any employer.
Helping people switch into tech careers is our specialty--We know what it’s like to get started in a new industry without prior experience. In addition to mastering the soft skills, every developer needs to be well-versed in various programming languages with superior coding abilities. While learning to code is not for the faint of heart, becoming a full-stack web developer is a rewarding career. Get started by checking out our top three do’s and don’ts for learning to code.
Become a Web Developer
This high-paying career is well within your reach. You can pivot into a web development career after an engineering bootcamp course with Thinkful. We offer a fast-tracked, full time program or a flexible part time program, mentorship, and career coaching. Our classes will give you the tools support, and skills you need to become a highly paid full-stack web developer.
We’ve built our programs to fit your needs and set you up for success. All courses are delivered 100% online and include advanced project-based curriculums and current industry tools to build real-world capstone projects. You can get to know our courses and formats better by exploring Thinkful 101.
Thinkful is invested in you. We want you to put your future career first today and pay tuition when you're hired. We offer a variety of payment options because your financial status shouldn’t hold you back from a new career. Explore how we work.
What are Thinkful Web Developer grads making?
80% of Thinkful alumni reported being employed in the field. Our grads also report a median $20k increase in salary and 80% hire rate, proving the short-term value of bootcamps. But what does long-term success look like? Thinkful software engineer grads reported making an average of $65k in their first job after Thinkful, and $85k after working just a year in their field. Learn more about our long-term student success.
Want to get started?
Schedule a call with our admissions reps to have an introductory call at a time that works for you to get started. We will help you choose the right format and guide you through next steps to changing your career and becoming a highly-paid web developer. Our reps can also offer in-depth information on payment and financing options for the course that fits you best.
FAQs
How do I get into Web Development?
You can get into the field of web development by gaining expertise in front-end and back-end web development. The important front-end skills are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while the important back-end skills are Ruby/Ruby on Rails, and JavaScript/NodeJS.
Will a degree help me make more money?
Yes, getting a web development certificate or degree will provide a structured learning experience for web developers. Even though most of the successful web developers are largely self-taught, certifications and degrees in both programming and graphic design can help in securing better opportunities and pay.
How much do Thinkful grads make?
Thinkful graduates reportedly make an average of $65,000 at entry level and around $85,000 after working for a year as web developers. Thinkful graduates also report a median $20,000 increase in salary and 80% hire rate in the fiercely competitive field of web development.