Web Designer vs Web Developer: How the Jobs Differ

Website designers and website developers are job titles that both describe roles working to create a website. A website designer is a type of developer who works on the front end of the website to create the look and feel of a website. Other types of developers are back-end developers, who write code and give the website functionality. As a back-end developer, you will create the images and menus you see when you click on a link, provide the code that brings a site to life, and maintain the software and databases that make a site work. Depending on the size of your team, you may find that some of the job roles overlap between a web designer and a back-end web developer. Explore how these careers are different to help you determine which job role is better for you. 

Job duties: Web designer vs web developer

Web designers and back-end web developers work together to create and maintain a website that works for all of its stakeholders, but their jobs are different.

Web designers work on a website's vision, including the user experience, the colour scheme, the graphic design, and sometimes even the content. They create a look and feel that supports the website’s many purposes. 

Developers take a website designer's vision and convert it into code. Often, the developer recommends changes that make the site work better, taking advantage of emerging functionalities. They also ensure the site works on different browsers and mobile platforms and determine how to maintain its security. 

Skills and tools used by web developers and designers

Designers—Web designers work with layout and design tools like WordPress, Adobe Dreamweaver, and InVision Studio. They create the image the site visitor sees.

Web designers understand the principles of aesthetics and how they can use them to build a strong internet presence for their employer or client.

Developers—Web developers work with various software tools, some of which are created by browser and operating system companies. Three of the big ones are Angular.JS, Chrome DevTools, and Sass.

Although site developers are writing code, they're also considering the user experience.

Skill sets: Designer vs. developer

You will find a considerable overlap in skills between a web designer and a web developer. For example, you will need to know programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. A web developer will need to understand back-end programming languages as well, such as PHP. In both roles, you will need to understand search engine optimisation.

In a web designer role, you will need to understand design software and tools, design from a user experience perspective, and how to incorporate digital marketing into your design. As a web developer, you will need to have back-end skills, like servers, applications, and databases, as well as testing and debugging programs and responsive web design.

What is the job outlook?

According to Business Research Insights, the global market for website development will reach 130.9 billion USD by 2032, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 8.03 per cent [1]. This growth, combined with startups in tech spaces and India’s web development talent, fuels the job market and makes web development a promising career for the future. 

How much do web designers and web developers make?

The average annual base salary for a web designer in India is ₹2,65,692 [2]. However, there is much variation based on experience and the types of sites worked on. Experienced designers working on large enterprise websites may make considerably more.

Developers tend to make more money than web designers because they need more technical skills. The average salary of a web developer in India is ₹4,10,000 [3]. 

How to increase your salary

Whether you work as a web designer, web developer, or other professional, you can increase your salary by building new skills, pursuing a certification or degree, and negotiating your current salary. 

Building new skills

Design and development are different enough that few designers will become good developers, and vice versa. But both can benefit from learning more about the other’s work and the work of the organisations where they work. For example, the marketing team often wants maximum search engine optimization from the website’s design and function. Understanding how the organisation sells its products and services can help designers and developers create better sites while better serving internal clients. 

Some designers and developers want to expand into more senior roles. Managing developers is a different role than being a developer, and designing products is different from designing websites. As you learn more about what your colleagues do, see if you can identify the skills they have. If you’re interested in moving up, determine what skills you already have (but need to document) and what skills you can acquire elsewhere.

Software and operating system companies often provide their own training programmes, which can help you get started. 

Insider tip: "Make sure you're surrounded by people who push you and inspire you to grow. Do the type of work that you find rewarding and mentally engaging," says Mari Batilando, a software engineer at Meta. "Stick with that mantra and the promotions and compensation just come naturally."

Pursuing certification or degrees

Designers and developers have a lot of software tools that can make their jobs easier, but first, they have to learn how to use them. Certification programmes can teach you the basics and help you learn new platforms and techniques. Some are free, and others are costly; some give you a cursory overview; others approach websites with rigour. 

For both roles, either as a developer or as a designer, you can find more than one pathway to learn the skills you need to begin. You can learn the skills you’ll need in a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree programme or explore certifications and boot camps.

Site developers and site designers who want to move into more senior roles on their teams may need other skills, such as project management. You can demonstrate your interest and commitment with classes or experiences that highlight business skills in addition to your web project portfolio.

Negotiating current salary

As you build your experience and expand your project portfolio, you can document how you contribute to your organisation. You can use this at your annual review to make a case for an increase in your current salary.

You may have a stronger case if you have done some coursework or earned a certification in one of the many tools and platforms that site designers and developers use. On Coursera, you can take one of several courses on how to negotiate, including Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills, offered by the University of Michigan, to help you develop that skill, too.

More ways Coursera can help

A career as a web developer or a web designer is an in-demand job in India. On Coursera, you can find courses, certificate programmes, and Guided Projects to help you improve your web design and web development skills. Consider Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization offered through Duke University, or Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding Specialisation offered by the University of Michigan, to get started.