If you’ve been wondering how to become a WordPress Developer, now is the perfect time to get started. Web development is a good career choice for those who would like the freedom to work remotely and make money building websites for others.
The need for WordPress web developers is in high demand and rapidly growing each year. According to W3Techs, WordPress powers 34% of all the websites on the Internet, including those without a content management system (CMS) or with a custom-coded CMS, which are staggering statistics!
Today, the opportunities for web developers are better than ever thanks to an influx of new online businesses and startups that need professional help with their websites. Now, let’s take a look at the definition of a WordPress developer, and the skills required to become one.
What is a WordPress Developer?
WordPress developer codes or designs websites for clients using the WordPress CMS (Content Management System). WordPress developers are flexible and skilled as they usually have some working knowledge of both graphic design and programming. Web Developers can be separated into three development categories, front-end, back-end and full-stack.
Front End vs. Back End vs. Full Stack WordPress Developer
Front-end developer – This refers to the client-side, which includes the design of the website and how the website looks. For example, a front end developer’s job would be to customize the WordPress theme template using HTML and CSS.
Back-end developer – This refers to the server-side application logic and code, which includes everything behind the design and how the website works. For example, a back end developer’s job would be programming the code of the website with languages like PHP, Java and .NET.
Full-stack developer – This refers to someone who handles both the front-end and back-end development, it includes everything from web design to programming code. In the tech world, a full stack developer is considered the jack of all trades, meaning they can do it all.
WordPress Developer Skills Required
Regardless of whether you choose to become a front-end developer, back-end developer or full-stack developer, there are some basic skills required. It’s a good idea to master the basics of HTML, Javascript, CSS, and PHP. These languages are the foundation of all web development and they’re the easiest to learn.
WordPress Developer Benefits
- High Demand – Web Developers are in high demand because of the shortage of skilled developers.
- Freedom – A freelance WordPress developer has the freedom to work anytime and work anywhere. They usually don’t work for a specific company, but instead, offer their services to all types of clients around the world.
- Flexibility – Many WordPress developers are self-employed or independent contractors, which means that they work for themselves and on a contractual basis. The offers the flexibility to set your own work hours and schedule.
- Be Creative – It’s important for web developers to be able to look at things from a different perspective and keep an open mind. Web development allows you to come up with creative ideas and solutions to make your clients vision come true.
- College Degree Not Required– It’s important to know that having a computer science degree isn’t necessary to pursue a career in web development.
How Do You Become a WordPress Developer Without a Degree?
It’s important to know that you can become a WordPress developer without a degree. Some web developers obtain a Science degree to work in this field but it isn’t necessary. A Stackflow survey found that 56% of developers don’t have a college degree in computer science or related fields. If you have the skills and experience then you can still do very well in this profession.
I know plenty of web developers and web designers who have college degrees but they suck at what they do (I’m just being honest). A majority of what I learned about business, web development and marketing was by researching, taking courses online and watching Youtube video tutorials (Youtube University!)
If you’re looking for ways to become a web developer without a degree, there are many free and paid web developer courses you can take online to gain the skills and experience you need. We highly recommend taking the course “become a WordPress developer unlocking power with code” where you’ll learn how to code custom and interactive WordPress sites and themes. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to get an understanding of WordPress development and it has the best reviews.
If you want to make money in this profession, it all comes down to your skills and experience, especially if you’re doing freelance work. The easiest way to get hired is to show the potential company or clients your portfolio of successful projects.
How Much Do Web Developers Make?
Web developers charge either a flat or hourly rate, depending on the scope of the project and their experience. Let’s look at the front end and back end developer average salary comparison below:
According to Glassdoor, Front End Developers make $70,000 USD average base pay.
According to Glassdoor, Back End Developers make $117,000 USD average base pay.
Please keep in mind that these averages will vary depending on your city, state and web development experience. For example, the average salary for a Front End Developer in San Francisco, CA is $132,633 USD per year, which is 31% above the national average.
How to Become a WordPress Web Developer? (5 Steps)
- Learn Web Development Skills – Whether you decide on becoming a front-end or backend developer, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with core WordPress languages such as HTML, CSS, PHP, and MySQL. You should learn as much as you can about WordPress, themes, plugins and how everything works. It’s a great idea to join the WordPress community. You’ll be able to connect with other WordPress users, developers and learn additional skills.By helping others in the WordPress community, you might be able to pick up some new clients as well. There are many free and paid online courses that can get you up to speed fairly quickly. There are Web Development courses that will not only teach you how to become a Web Developer but help you create test projects that could be used in your portfolio. We listed some popular and highly rated courses that can help you gain valuable skills in this industry.
- Set up Development Environment & Staging Site – If you want to become a Web Developer, it’s essential that you have the best WordPress hosting and the best WordPress staging site and development environment. Often, WordPress developers use staging sites as a testing ground for their client’s websites. A WordPress staging and development environment will allow you to create a copy of your client’s live website and modify it in a safe development environment.This can prevent errors from occurring on the live website and avoid any downtime or other issues that might arise. You can safely make changes, build and test a website’s theme, plugins, media files, and source code without changing the content visitors see on the live site. When you’re finished making changes you can easily copy your staging site back to the live website. This will can make your life much easier when developing sites for your clients. We recommend using SiteGround WordPress hosting because they offer one of the best WordPress staging sites and development environments.
- Create a Website & Build a Portfolio – You’ll need a place where potential clients can see your work and hire you. A simple, professional website with contact information, examples of your work, testimonials, and referrals along with a simple, straightforward pricing structure, can help present yourself as an expert in your field. You will also want to market your website as best as possible through referrals and client testimonials in order to establish your reputation as a professional web developer.
- Join Freelance Websites – There are many freelance marketplaces that connect freelance web developers with clients in need of their services. This is one place that offers freelancers a great start to gain much experience and learn how to work with clients. Freelance sites, such as Fiverr.com is a great place to start. Many freelance Web Developers gain long term clients from these sites and are able to make a full-time income.
- Never Stop Learning – Web Development is such an exciting industry that’s constantly changing and evolving. If you want to be in this business for the long haul then you should never stop learning and improving your skillset. You should be aware of the latest trends and updates with web design, programming languages, software applications, etc. This is something all your clients will expect of you since they see you as the expert.
Conclusion
The most challenging aspect to become a WordPress developer is starting out on your own. Some web developers earn a science degree, others take online courses or hands-on experience. Some developers their careers working for a large company until they can gain the experience needed to go out on their own. Becoming a web developer can be an interesting, exciting field that offers the opportunity to make an impact in the tech industry while tapping into your creative skills.