What should I Learn for Web development?

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Whether you teach yourself through books, attend bootcamps, or pursue a series of online courses, learning Web development needs a real commitment. Though technology is making the tools more accessible, it’s still a discipline that requires knowledge of multiple languages, programming methodologies, and business skills. Thousands of people think the effort is worth it. Here are five reasons why you should learn web development:

Web Developers Have Good Job Prospects

Businesses are under pressure to offer top-notch websites with e-commerce, communication and publishing capabilities, and recruiters simply can’t find the Web developers they need to build them. Though technology like Ruby on Rails, Django, and JavaScript are making it easier for developers to meet users’ growing expectations, investors are putting more money into startups even while established businesses are becoming more aggressive online.

As a result, “More companies are looking for the same profile, when it comes to candidates, ” says Mark Stagno, a principal in the software technology search practice of technical recruiter WinterWyman.

Stagno sees particular demand for strong JavaScript developers with skills in Angular and Backbone. “The supply is just nowhere near demand, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, ” he said. Indeed, the Department of Labor expects employment growth of 20% for Web developers between 2012 and 2022, outpacing the 11% average growth it predicts for all occupations.

Pay Is Rising

As demand outpaces supply, the salaries of even inexperienced Web developers are rising. Will Kelly, Dallas recruiting director for IT staffing firm Modis, has seen professionals with as little as three years of experience receive offers of $90, 000. “Supply and demand keeps pushing salaries up, ” he says. “Someone who can deliver is going to get good money.” Between 2014 and 2015, Web developer salaries will rise 6.5%, according to the salary survey published by recruiter Robert Half Technology.

The Internet is Everywhere

As a Web developer, you’re going to have an impact. The Web has become ubiquitous, and your work will be used by people around the world as they hunt for information, conduct transactions of almost every sort, and communicate with friends, family, and business contacts through social media.

The Field is Expanding

The Web isn’t just about the Web anymore. When companies think about their websites today, they think about mobile technology and social media at the same time. The increasing use of smartphones, tablets, Internet TV, and even wearable technology needs to be taken into account by development teams when websites are designed and built. That’s expanding the reach of Web developers and the audiences they serve.

It’s Flexible

Web development has a lot of facets — the front end, the back end, the mobile Web, content management systems and e-commerce, to name just some. This gives professionals a range of paths to choose from as they go about planning their careers. For example, a PHP developer might focus on WordPress, while a front-end specialist develops expertise in Angular.

At the same time, new tools are making it easier to evolve your skills. By using Node.js, for instance, JavaScript developers can more easily apply their talents to back-end projects.

“This is really appealing work, ” said Jake Spurlock, an engineer on Wired’s technical team, who sees Web development as being ideal for people who enjoy digging into details. “If you like solving problems, software development can be really rewarding.