Hire expert freelance web developers & programming services for your company

Find your next best Website Developers with Cad Crowd

Build a beautiful website with all the functionalities your customers need. If you already have one, make sure it runs without hiccups and glitches that drive visitors away. Cad Crowd helps you connect with the most talented website developers to keep everything running smoothly.  

Web developers, what do they do?

Here is the generic answer to that question: web developers build websites or web apps using programming languages such as CSS, JavaScript, and, of course, HTML. They often work with designers to create a user-friendly interface and ensure the website is optimized and fully functional across different devices. Whether someone opens the website on a laptop or a smartphone, there shouldn’t be much difference in the overall online experience. In other words, all features and functions are accessible no matter what device the visitors use.

There are three types of website developers:

• Front-end developers' work revolves around the visual aspects of a website, such as the page layout, color schemes, typefaces, icons, and the general appearance of every page.
• Back-end developers handle the inner workings of the website, such as security or safety measures against malware, content structure, plugins, and connection to hosting services. 
• Full-stack developers do both the front-end and back-end parts of a website development. They know how to build a complete website and have what it takes to do everything, from registering domain names to migrating the entire content of a website to a new server., and everything else in between. 

All of them write codes; however, full-stack developers are the most skillful of the three. With enough experience, they might even be able to manage a web development project.

Another important thing to mention is that web developers and software developers are two different professions. The former work on building websites or web apps that run on Internet browsers, while the latter focus on creating software or applications for computers and mobile devices. Sometimes, they work on the same thing. For example, a team of web developers is working on an online retailer website for a company; in another room, a group of software developers are tasked by the same company with building an app version of the website.

Some web developers are also webmasters. They’re responsible for keeping the website and its contents updated, such as making sure that all the links lead to the right page. 

And the non-generic answer Is?

It all depends on the job roles and the tasks assigned to them. In most companies, web developers are responsible for converting design ideas to programming codes. A client typically discusses a plan for a website with a designer, who then draws a visualization of how the website should look when it gets made. The visualization can be anything from rough sketches on paper to a colorful animated image on a laptop screen. Of course, the designers also include other relevant specifications as well. Web developers take those specifications and translate them to a website.

While such a workflow is normal in mid to large businesses, small companies like startups usually have a different approach where web developers are also the designers or at least contribute to the design process. 

Not every web developer has to build websites like YouTube, Wikipedia, or Reddit. Many of them work for small businesses or individual clients either as full-time employees or freelancers to help create blogs and set up online stores. Some use ready-made tools such as WordPress and Shopify; other developers build everything from scratch.

Even day-to-day activities can be anything but a pre-scheduled routine. One day, a developer might work on a relatively simple task like tinkering with a website UI using Elementor, which is basically a drag-and-drop web builder, to change texts or rearrange images. On another day, it can be a bit trickier because a client wants to automate some processes for a business, so various integrations need to be done.

If the website is complex enough and has to offer a seamless online experience across different services, such as an e-commerce site that offers various payment options using credit cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency, the work will involve actual coding. The coding is not just for the interface but also for security and traffic management. Sometimes, in a small company, the web developer also functions as a project manager who communicates with clients.

Where do they work?

If your company has a website, whether as an online store or for increasing presence on social media, you need professional web developers to set it up. Don’t go down the rabbit hole of DIY web building. Everything you hear from any 10-minute tutorial on YouTube is always easier said than done. Yes, there are plenty of ready-made tools marketed as the easiest ways to build a professional-looking website without coding, but “professional-looking” is just another way of saying that it is not really professional. Otherwise, no one would hire web developers anymore. Think of it this way. Just because someone has a camera and Adobe Photoshop, it doesn’t make the person a professional photographer. 

Many web developers work as part of their companies’ in-house IT departments. Again, it doesn’t matter what industries; so long as the companies have websites, they need web developers. Many of them offer services as freelance programmers and developers, design agencies, digital graphics firms, and hosting providers. Some are employed by publishing companies, e-commerce businesses, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and NGOs, among others.

How does Cad Crowd select the right candidates?

A hiring process involves many things, from talent search to screening and shortlisting. We can only say that our recruiters always know how to select the right candidates because they also understand what a good developer is. Yes, there are several types of website developers doing different types of work, but all the most competent ones share quite a few similar characteristics.

First, we have to discuss the technical side of web development. Coding skill is the factor that separates professionals from rookies. Much of the work involves sitting in front of a computer and writing codes to build, improve, and maintain websites. To be an effective web developer, constant learning is the only way to go. Learning means not only studying and practicing new programming languages but also experimenting with new tools and technologies.

Some employers think of web development as a strictly technical role, so the ability to code should be enough of a qualification. Maybe you think so as well, but we can tell you for sure that some of the most important characteristics of a web developer actually have a lot to do with soft skills. For example, a web developer needs to be a versatile coder; they need to know two or more programming languages because each of them has its strengths and weaknesses.

You also want a web developer with good communication skills. Whether front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers, they all need to collaborate with the IT department in nearly every project. You need an employee who isn’t reluctant to ask for assistance when something unexpected happens. There’s no guarantee a web developer can get the job done in one go without help from anybody; even a full team might still go through a rough time making things work. And so the candidates should be able to take feedback, both negative and positive, on what they do.

Web developers’ salaries

For most things, it is true that you only get what you pay for. For web developers, sometimes you get more, especially if you plan to hire freelancers from outside the country. The annual wage of web developers in the United States is somewhere between $75,000 and $80,000, or around $37.50 per hour.

Thanks to the lower cost of living or just the general economic condition of countries, web developers in Canada, Germany, and Australia are a little bit more affordable. There isn't any crazy amount of difference, but it's big enough to see them as compelling candidates. Please see the table below for a summary:

In terms of technical competence, we don’t think it’s entirely accurate to say that web developers in the US are generally more skillful than their peers in other developed countries. Let’s say a US-based developer is asking for a $35/hour salary to take on your project; before you decide to hire the person, a competitor from Germany is willing to do the job – as a remote worker – for just $25/hour despite being equally experienced and as highly educated as the American. In such a situation, we might suggest you hire a German unless you prioritize a local employee.

Where does Cad Crowd search for talents?

Simply put, we search everywhere. We know the job market for web developers like the back of our hands because we've been working with them for the last 15 years or so. It isn't really a big deal for us to look for great talents – we have a massive database of some of the most talented web developers worldwide, but then again, you want a candidate with proven coding skills and good professional traits. That kind of search is right up our alley. Give Cad Crowd a chance to partner with you, and we'll return the favor by giving you a capable web developer, whether local or from abroad, to reinforce your team. Get a free quote today.