Web Developers
Web Developers (SOC 15-1254) earn a median $92,650 a year ($44.54 an hour) in the United States, with 70,190 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What web developers do
Web developers build websites and web applications and keep them working. Their tasks include writing supporting code for websites and applications, building and maintaining sites with scripting and authoring languages, and choosing languages and tools for each project. They evaluate code to be sure it is well organized, follows industry standards, and works with browsers and devices, and they optimize performance and scalability, including server-side code. They back up site files so a site can be recovered quickly. Developers may work on the part users see, the server side, or both. Titles include front end developer, back end developer, and webmaster. The occupation differs from web and digital interface designers, who design the layout and look of interfaces, from software developers, who build other kinds of software, and from computer programmers. Databases that support web applications are developed too, and developers test sites after any revision and perform or direct site updates.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Back End Developer, Back End Engineer, Back End Software Engineer, Back-End Web Developer, Computer Graphic Artist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.12 | $30.88 | $44.54 | $60.69 | $78.03 | $47.49 | 70,190 |
| Annual | $48,100 | $64,230 | $92,650 | $126,230 | $162,290 | $98,770 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where web developers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $33.90 | $47.51 | $62.71 | $62.99 | $82.72 | $59.75 | 4,430 | 1.25 | 2.77 |
| Annual | $70,520 | $98,830 | $130,440 | $131,030 | $172,060 | $124,290 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $36.85 | $48.07 | $61.72 | $77.50 | $85.69 | $62.28 | 4,590 | 1.12 | 2.47 |
| Annual | $76,640 | $99,990 | $128,380 | $161,190 | $178,230 | $129,540 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.63 | $38.76 | $57.48 | $76.46 | $97.52 | $59.08 | 7,320 | 0.40 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $44,990 | $80,620 | $119,570 | $159,040 | $202,850 | $122,890 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $36.62 | $44.15 | $55.14 | $66.18 | $82.94 | $57.35 | 430 | 0.61 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $76,160 | $91,840 | $114,690 | $137,650 | $172,520 | $119,280 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $29.66 | $40.65 | $54.18 | $62.42 | $74.92 | $52.18 | 1,960 | 0.71 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $61,690 | $84,550 | $112,690 | $129,840 | $155,830 | $108,540 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $21.63 | $38.76 | $57.48 | $76.46 | $97.52 | $59.08 | 7,320 | 0.40 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $44,990 | $80,620 | $119,570 | $159,040 | $202,850 | $122,890 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $24.07 | $29.79 | $41.25 | $57.20 | $76.18 | $45.94 | 4,910 | 0.35 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $50,060 | $61,960 | $85,800 | $118,980 | $158,460 | $95,560 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $36.85 | $48.07 | $61.72 | $77.50 | $85.69 | $62.28 | 4,590 | 1.12 | 2.47 |
| Annual | $76,640 | $99,990 | $128,380 | $161,190 | $178,230 | $129,540 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $33.90 | $47.51 | $62.71 | $62.99 | $82.72 | $59.75 | 4,430 | 1.25 | 2.77 |
| Annual | $70,520 | $98,830 | $130,440 | $131,030 | $172,060 | $124,290 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $33.97 | $34.61 | $40.78 | $56.30 | $61.87 | $45.89 | 4,310 | 0.71 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $70,650 | $71,990 | $84,820 | $117,100 | $128,700 | $95,460 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $42.80 | $58.98 | $80.13 | $103.83 | $112.49 | $80.43 | 1,130 | 0.99 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $89,030 | $122,680 | $166,670 | $215,960 | $233,990 | $167,300 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $38.56 | $55.37 | $73.29 | $86.51 | $103.87 | $72.81 | 1,420 | 0.60 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $80,190 | $115,170 | $152,450 | $179,950 | $216,060 | $151,450 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $40.66 | $51.07 | $64.59 | $79.66 | $88.49 | $65.24 | 3,840 | 1.22 | 2.71 |
| Annual | $84,580 | $106,220 | $134,350 | $165,690 | $184,050 | $135,690 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $39.04 | $48.60 | $62.71 | $63.41 | $84.97 | $61.99 | 3,470 | 1.66 | 3.69 |
| Annual | $81,190 | $101,090 | $130,440 | $131,900 | $176,750 | $128,940 | ||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $33.52 | $42.36 | $56.30 | $62.03 | $74.04 | $53.98 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $69,730 | $88,100 | $117,090 | $129,020 | $153,990 | $112,270 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.37 | $32.25 | $50.39 | $66.28 | $86.77 | $52.62 | 4,200 | 0.44 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $48,610 | $67,080 | $104,820 | $137,850 | $180,480 | $109,450 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $40.66 | $51.07 | $64.59 | $79.66 | $88.49 | $65.24 | 3,840 | 1.22 | 2.71 |
| Annual | $84,580 | $106,220 | $134,350 | $165,690 | $184,050 | $135,690 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $39.04 | $48.60 | $62.71 | $63.41 | $84.97 | $61.99 | 3,470 | 1.66 | 3.69 |
| Annual | $81,190 | $101,090 | $130,440 | $131,900 | $176,750 | $128,940 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $34.99 | $38.05 | $46.57 | $56.30 | $64.58 | $48.94 | 2,790 | 0.62 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $72,790 | $79,140 | $96,870 | $117,100 | $134,330 | $101,800 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $26.76 | $39.50 | $51.58 | $70.60 | $80.28 | $54.19 | 2,310 | 0.37 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $55,670 | $82,170 | $107,290 | $146,850 | $166,990 | $112,710 | ||||
Top industries employing web developers
Computer Systems Design and Related Services employ 26.6% of web developers nationally (18,690 jobs) at a median $88,690 a year ($42.64 an hour), followed by Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (7.4%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 18,690 | 26.6% | $88,690 | $42.64 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 5,180 | 7.4% | $86,690 | $41.68 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,300 | 6.1% | $83,530 | $40.16 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services NAICS 541800 | 4,040 | 5.8% | $79,840 | $38.38 |
| Software Publishers NAICS 513200 | 3,350 | 4.8% | $130,440 | $62.71 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (70,190). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,030 for web developers in May 2021 and $92,650 in May 2025, with employment of 84,820 and 70,190.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,030 | $37.03 | 84,820 |
| May 2022 | $78,580 | $37.78 | 88,620 |
| May 2023 | $84,960 | $40.84 | 85,350 |
| May 2024 | $90,930 | $43.72 | 78,860 |
| May 2025 | $92,650 | $44.54 | 70,190 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $62.71 | $130,440 | $70,520 | $172,060 | 4,430 | 1.25 | 2.77 |
| 2 | Virginia profile | $61.72 | $128,380 | $76,640 | $178,230 | 4,590 | 1.12 | 2.47 |
| 3 | California profile | $57.48 | $119,570 | $44,990 | $202,850 | 7,320 | 0.40 | 0.89 |
| 4 | District of Columbia profile | $55.14 | $114,690 | $76,160 | $172,520 | 430 | 0.61 | 1.35 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $54.18 | $112,690 | $61,690 | $155,830 | 1,960 | 0.71 | 1.57 |
| 6 | Missouri profile | $49.88 | $103,750 | $58,140 | $186,260 | 1,160 | 0.40 | 0.88 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $48.57 | $101,020 | $53,620 | $158,630 | 1,200 | 0.41 | 0.90 |
| 8 | Utah profile | $48.16 | $100,170 | $49,280 | $156,430 | 1,280 | 0.74 | 1.63 |
| 9 | New York profile | $47.39 | $98,580 | $32,510 | $185,610 | 3,990 | 0.41 | 0.91 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $47.34 | $98,470 | $54,510 | $169,360 | 1,940 | 0.53 | 1.18 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $47.34 | $98,470 | $49,930 | $149,660 | 1,580 | 0.36 | 0.79 |
| 12 | Rhode Island profile | $47.18 | $98,140 | $84,650 | $127,970 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | North Carolina profile | $46.45 | $96,610 | $54,450 | $140,550 | 2,030 | 0.41 | 0.91 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $45.76 | $95,180 | $51,010 | $151,020 | 2,250 | 0.53 | 1.16 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $43.57 | $90,630 | $51,480 | $125,940 | 1,180 | 0.40 | 0.89 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $43.43 | $90,340 | $50,130 | $139,490 | 1,500 | 0.31 | 0.68 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania profile | $41.53 | $86,380 | $39,780 | $134,640 | 1,670 | 0.28 | 0.61 |
| 18 | Colorado profile | $41.32 | $85,950 | $48,280 | $122,170 | 1,680 | 0.59 | 1.30 |
| 19 | Connecticut profile | $41.31 | $85,930 | $55,060 | $133,220 | 750 | 0.44 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Texas profile | $41.25 | $85,800 | $50,060 | $158,460 | 4,910 | 0.35 | 0.77 |
| 21 | Louisiana profile | $41.03 | $85,330 | $49,930 | $106,110 | 490 | 0.26 | 0.57 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $40.78 | $84,820 | $70,650 | $128,700 | 4,310 | 0.71 | 1.57 |
| 23 | Vermont profile | $40.65 | $84,550 | $66,570 | $134,150 | 70 | 0.24 | 0.53 |
| 24 | Nevada profile | $40.01 | $83,220 | $52,990 | $139,360 | 340 | 0.22 | 0.48 |
| 25 | Kentucky profile | $39.73 | $82,630 | $52,930 | $130,140 | 270 | 0.14 | 0.30 |
| 26 | Indiana profile | $38.88 | $80,870 | $47,150 | $132,120 | 860 | 0.27 | 0.60 |
| 27 | Nebraska profile | $38.63 | $80,350 | $52,660 | $125,470 | 230 | 0.22 | 0.50 |
| 28 | Idaho profile | $38.12 | $79,290 | $49,340 | $113,870 | 220 | 0.26 | 0.58 |
| 29 | Oklahoma profile | $37.78 | $78,580 | $44,140 | $126,790 | 410 | 0.24 | 0.53 |
| 30 | New Hampshire profile | $37.63 | $78,260 | $60,810 | $140,240 | 470 | 0.69 | 1.53 |
| 31 | West Virginia profile | $37.62 | $78,240 | $48,370 | $103,390 | 400 | 0.58 | 1.28 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $37.59 | $78,190 | $52,850 | $125,210 | 710 | 0.31 | 0.68 |
| 33 | Arizona profile | $36.65 | $76,230 | $46,150 | $150,010 | 1,010 | 0.31 | 0.69 |
| 34 | Delaware profile | $36.55 | $76,020 | $50,790 | $117,500 | ** | ** | ** |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | $35.94 | $74,760 | $52,000 | $154,920 | 1,620 | 0.49 | 1.09 |
| 36 | Kansas profile | $35.38 | $73,590 | $48,750 | $133,510 | 500 | 0.35 | 0.77 |
| 37 | North Dakota profile | $34.71 | $72,190 | $51,770 | $85,590 | ** | ** | ** |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $32.89 | $68,410 | $49,390 | $76,160 | 50 | 0.19 | 0.42 |
| 39 | New Mexico profile | $32.75 | $68,120 | $43,300 | $107,540 | 130 | 0.15 | 0.33 |
| 40 | Oregon profile | $30.99 | $64,460 | $49,020 | $127,250 | 1,140 | 0.58 | 1.28 |
| 41 | Iowa profile | $30.87 | $64,210 | $48,230 | $106,170 | 420 | 0.27 | 0.60 |
| 42 | Montana profile | $29.84 | $62,060 | $60,620 | $68,650 | 550 | 1.08 | 2.39 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | $24.57 | $51,100 | $40,120 | $70,410 | 390 | 0.85 | 1.88 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | $24.30 | $50,550 | $39,640 | $112,020 | 400 | 0.30 | 0.67 |
| – | Alabama profile | * | * | * | * | 930 | 0.44 | 0.97 |
| – | Hawaii profile | * | * | * | * | 310 | 0.49 | 1.09 |
| – | Maine profile | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.27 | 0.59 |
| – | Mississippi profile | * | * | * | * | 190 | 0.17 | 0.37 |
| – | Ohio profile | * | * | * | * | 1,690 | 0.31 | 0.68 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (15-1250), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-1254 Web Developers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-1254, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-1254.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.