Interested in a career in front end web development? Learn about different resources, career opportunities, and the potential salaries in this field. Discover how you can enhance your current skill set and make a pivot in your career path.
Key Insights
- Front end web development focuses on the "client-side" of websites that users can see and interact with, primarily using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Many people can land jobs as Front End Developers with just a certificate program, making web development an accessible field for career changers.
- Front end web development skills are versatile and high in demand in every industry, opening diverse career opportunities.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for web developers is set to increase in the coming decade.
- Noble Desktop offers numerous resources for learning front end web development, including an in-person or live online course, on-demand and self-paced classes, and a Front End Web Development Learn Hub.
- The usual cost for front end web development training ranges from $2,500 to $60,000, depending on the training facility. Front End Developers can expect to earn competitive salaries in the tech industry.
The internet is at the heart of modern communication and continues to become more relevant to every industry and individual. Front end web development is the field that allows you to create websites and customize them to match your goals. If you’ve always wanted to create a website but couldn’t figure out how to get started, this guide is for you. You’ll learn how to approach front end web development, free resources you can use, and the careers that commonly rely on front end web development to get their work done.
What is Front End Web Development?
When people think of the internet, websites are one of the first things that come to mind. Front end web development covers the parts of websites everyone can see, known as the “client-side.” HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the programming languages that tie everything together. This power trio is commonly associated with front end web development, but they also have uses in other programming fields, giving you the option to pivot if you desire.
Web development has been a highly welcoming field, especially over the last few decades. Many people can get jobs as Front End Developers after taking a certificate program. HTML and CSS are two of the simplest programming languages you can learn, and JavaScript is known for its versatility in the programming world. A few months of dedication can launch you into a brand new career or amplify your importance to your current one.
Read more about front end web development and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Front End Web Development?
On the surface, front end web development has plenty to offer. You can build a website for your business, passion project, or hobby, and that’s only a handful of topics you can approach. Front end web development is versatile because it can adapt to your interests—and the interests of others. The internet allows us to connect for a common cause, and you can foster that connection through your own website.
Once you’ve established the kind topic of your website, you can leave a unique impression on your visitors by customizing it with code. Even if someone else has the same topic idea as you, they may approach creating their website differently, and that slight difference can make you stand out. That’s where front end web development can help. By honing your skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can create a website that others will feel compelled to use again and again because of the special touch you’ve left on it.
Careers that Use Front End Web Development
Are you planning to switch careers? You’re in luck because every industry uses front end web development! Although the linear path for web development mainly falls within the tech industry, all companies value web development skills because every business wants to increase its online presence.
Think of your favorite snack. It has a website. Your favorite coffee shop has a website, and so does your local school district. Front end web development allows for diverse options that will enable you to pick jobs based on your passions and build from there. You’ll never run out of opportunities, even if you never enter a computer science career path.
Hundreds of companies are eager to level up their website, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for them will only increase in the upcoming decade. The sooner you start—and the more established you become in the field—the better!
Why Learn Front End Web Development?
People enjoy the flexibility that front end web development offers. You can use it as part of your side hustle, hobby, or career. This skill can be a career by itself—Front End Developers can confirm that! You can also take these skills into other programming areas, which means you can start a rewarding new career with plenty of growth potential.
Even if your goals aren’t directly related to programming, having front end web development skills is incredibly valuable in the modern world. Wouldn’t it be great to lead your company’s online projects, even though the business operates in person? It’s another valuable skill to add to your resume that applies to every industry. If you ever plan to switch careers but aren’t sure where to start, front end web development can be the bridge that brings you closer to your goals.
Read more about why you should learn front end web development.
How to Learn Front End Web Development
You might want to take a class before creating your website, but you aren’t sure where to start. Ideally, you’ll seek help from a mentor through an in-person or live online course. In-person courses have the perk of providing you with a computer and a distraction-free environment. Live online courses are best for those who want the freedom to learn anywhere worldwide while receiving the same quality instruction as in-person classes. In either case, you’ll work with an expert who will be able to give you feedback in real time.
Suppose you want to start learning front end web development, but you’re currently facing a hectic schedule or need to raise funds for a certificate program. If that’s the case, you can still progress by taking on-demand and self-paced classes. They’re an ideal way to learn the fundamentals while preparing your schedule and budget for future classes.
Even after choosing the right learning method for you, there might be some aspects of front end web development that don’t quite click. That’s where resources and guides can help. Noble Desktop has a Front End Web Development Learn Hub, a collection of resources designed to help you throughout your studies. They also have a solid playlist of front end web development video tutorials on YouTube. Their free Intro to Front End Web Development seminar will teach you the basics. Feel free to browse each resource and see which one resonates with you.
Read the full guide on how to learn front end web development.
Free Introductory Front End Web Development Course Online
Not ready to take a course yet? That’s completely understandable. When you’re learning something new, it’s best to start small. Ideally, you’ll want to try a free front end web development class. Most free courses are pre-recorded video tutorials that you can access anytime, and you can rewind and pause them as needed.
You can find plenty of free courses through Udemy, Coursera, General Assembly, and Noble Desktop. Each has a quality HTML and CSS class that will guide you through the fundamentals of front end web development. You’ll be in good hands no matter which one you choose.
Read about more free front end web development videos and online tutorials.
Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost
Front end web development is one of the first fields people enter when they learn to program. Although there are technically no prerequisites to start, knowing WordPress, user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, digital marketing, or search engine optimization (SEO) can significantly help once you start building websites. These skills, alongside front end web development, will make the process more manageable.
Learn about the prerequisites for front end web development.
Regarding pricing, front end web development training usually costs about $2,500 to $60,000, depending on the training facility. The only recurring costs associated with front end web development are registering the domain name and hosting the website. Domain names usually cost around $10 to $20 per year, and website hosting platforms usually charge around $20 to $600 per month, depending on your chosen price. Many hosting platforms, such as WordPress, also offer a free plan and tier-based plans for additional storage space and extra customization features.
Read about the costs associated with front end web development and what you can expect to spend on front end web development training.
Beginners might think that front end web development is difficult to learn before they take their first course. Most of the perceived difficulty stems from Imposter Syndrome. You might feel overwhelmed when you see everything you have to learn, but the concepts are simpler than they seem. Give yourself a grace period for making mistakes and take care of yourself to avoid burnout—you’ll feel more satisfied with your progress if you do.
Read about how difficult it is to learn front end web development.
How Does Learning Front End Web Development Compare to Other Fields?
Front end web development is one of the simplest programming fields to enter, and it’s also known for its excellent overlap with coding and design career paths. You can use it as a starting point and plan your career based on the aspects you enjoy the most.
Web design and web development are similar because they both involve the creation of websites. Still, they require two different skill sets focusing on artistic and programming skills, respectively. User experience (UX) design and user interface (UI) design complement web development because they have a place on both sides of website creation. UX design considers user feedback to make the website more effective, and UI design sets up the layout to ensure the user can navigate the website easily.
WordPress takes the heavy lifting out of building your website and lets you use your front end web development skills to customize it to your liking. They also have hosting plans to reserve your website’s domain name, a step you would have to take to register your website anyway.
If you want to explore the programming side exclusively, JavaScript is another excellent option since it’s already one of the programming languages used for front end web development. Back end development relies heavily on JavaScript to work on the website's server-side aspects. You can also explore full stack development, which effectively switches between front end and back end disciplines as needed for their current project.
No matter which path you take, you’ll be able to use your front end web development skills—and the skills listed above—in any industry. Every company needs employees with skills in all these subjects, and you’ll be able to pivot in any direction you choose.
How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Front End Web Development
You can make many choices when building your website and may be overwhelmed with the options to learn front end web development. You might have tried one format before but want to shift to another one. Here are some of the best options you can choose based on your skill level.
Those new to the subject might want to take things slowly at first, especially if you’re on a budget. Use video tutorials and on-demand courses to get an idea of the subjects you want to try. It’s normal to believe that you want to learn web development when your interests lie in web design because they’re commonly confused with each other. Check out both and see which one is more appealing to you.
Suppose you already have some experience in programming. In that case, even if it’s not front end web development, you’ll benefit from a bootcamp that will give you the knowledge you need to change careers or get a promotion in your current one. Knowledge from a front end web development bootcamp can give you leverage for a raise because you can help expand your industry’s online presence.
Web development professionals seeking to improve their skills for career advancement will find that taking certificate programs is essential. They offer one-on-one career mentorship that can help you negotiate for higher-level positions. These programs can also prepare you for certification exams in front end web development to bolster your professional presence and make you more valuable to your company and your team.
Learn Front End Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
Ready to dive into front end web development? Many expert-led classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs are available through Noble Desktop that will bring you closer to your goals. The Front End Web Development Certificate program teaches HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress concepts in one compact but effective bundle of courses. It’s essential for anyone who plans to add these skills to their resume.
Another excellent certificate is the Web Design Certificate program, which focuses on design principles. It complements the web development knowledge base effectively—while front end web development focuses on the programming of websites, web design covers design principles. This skill set is useful for making your website engaging and visually appealing to your visitors. Each program will give you a certificate upon completion, further displaying your knowledge to potential employers.
You might not be ready to dedicate your time to a bootcamp or certificate program. If that’s the case, you can try the Intro to Web Development with HTML & CSS class, which teaches the basic principles of front end web development. Use this class as a starting point to decide how you want to approach your learning.
You can also explore some front end web development courses and bootcamps on your own to find the ones that are a good fit. A large selection of courses is flexible to your current schedule—career preparation, financial assistance, and one-on-one mentoring are available through each certificate program and bootcamp. No matter your choice, you’ll be another step closer to a satisfying career.
