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Profession JRI–61 / Technology

Will AI replace web developers?

Building and maintaining websites, writing the code, wiring up updates, checking that pages render across browsers and devices, and coordinating priorities with the team, is work AI coding assistants now speed up, scaffolding pages and generating boilerplate on request. Observed use is split fairly evenly, with automation near 55%.

The risk spectrum — where Web Developer sits
Web Developer vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank61 / 84
Automation timeline5-10 years
Median salary$92,650
Projected growth+7.5% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

The skills that keep you relevant.

Picked to match what this role actually asks for — refreshed weekly, never by what a platform pays.

What you'll learn
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: still growing.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$92,650
$31k$171k
Growth+7.5% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a +7.5% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 70,190 people employed earning a median of $92,650 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

03 / Real salaries

Web Developer salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

Atlanta$89,773Sunnyvale$118,040Belmont$85,280Irving$71,000Plano$70,179San Jose$101,275

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a web developer.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

Job training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills
Tools

Full skill path with courses →

07 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace web developers?
Automation tools currently cover near 55% of observed web-development work, and the occupation carries a 45 risk score. Near-term replacement of the whole role is not indicated; growth of 7.5% by 2034 is projected for the 70,190 people in this category. Routine scaffolding is most exposed, while architecture and integration work remains human-centered.
02How soon or how fast could that happen for Web Developers?
A 5-10 year horizon is the typical estimate for significant automation impact on Web Developers, with about 55% of observed tasks already automated. The pace depends on how quickly architecture, performance, and accessibility work becomes codifiable; the occupation's 45 risk score reflects medium exposure, not imminent disappearance.
03What skills keep Web Developers relevant?
Software architecture and systems design are high-demand skills that keep Web Developers relevant, as are AI coding-tool orchestration. Accessibility and performance engineering hold medium demand but matter as differentiators. Shifting up-stack from routine code generation, these skills directly counter the 55% automation share observed in the field.
04How does someone become one of Web Developers, or what preparation is needed?
Preparation typically involves vocational schooling, hands-on experience, or an associate's degree. Programming, critical thinking, and complex problem solving are high-demand skills for newcomers. Familiarity with tools such as CSS, MySQL, Docker, and AWS software is commonly expected for Web Developer positions.
05What related roles could Web Developers pivot to?
Web Developers often transition to Software Engineer or Programmer roles. Software Engineers carry a 30 risk score, and Programmers carry a 40 risk score, both lower than the Web Developer's 45. These positions draw on the same programming, critical thinking, and problem-solving foundations.
06Is Web Developer a good career to start in 2026?
Starting as a Web Developer in 2026 is defensible: median pay in this occupation sits at $92,650 per year, and projected growth of 7.5% by 2034 accompanies the 70,190-person occupation. The medium 45 risk score and 5-10 year automation horizon suggest change, not imminent elimination, so preparing for up-stack work matters.
07Which tools do Web Developers commonly work with?
Common tools for Web Developers include Cascading style sheets CSS, C#, MySQL, Docker, Amazon Web Services AWS software, and Apache Kafka. These tools support the 70,190 people in the occupation, whose median pay sits at $92,650 per year.