Find out what 300 web developers say about their industry. From happiness to head hunters these developers dish out their opinions.

1. April, 2015
Web
Developer
Survey
Job Satisfaction

2. About Web Development
SkilledUp organizes, curates, and reviews online educational resources. The
company consistently sees interest in its web development courses. SkilledUp
initiated this research to better gauge the trends in web development and the
demand for web developers. This information will be shared widely to help course
providers, users, and employers develop the most critical skills in the industry.
Web Development is in High Demand
Ten percent of unfilled jobs in America are in technology. Therefore, it is not
surprising that salaries in the technology field pay 50 percent higher, on average,
than other jobs in the private-sector. This is a key reason why jobs in web
development remain in high demand.1
1. Baker, Peter “Obama Opens U.S. Effort to Fill High-Paying Tech Jobs,” NY Times. March 9, 2015
2

3. Methodology
Skilled Up commissioned Provoke Insights, a market research and strategy
firm, to conduct an online survey among 303 web developers. The ten
minute survey was distributed nationally from February 17-24, 2015.
Throughout the report, significant differences between the groups will be
highlighted in colors. Significance is tested at a 90% confidence level.
3

4. Key Findings

5. 1
A Highly Rewarding Career
The vast majority of web developers (88%) are
satisfied with their career.
• This is particularly true among developers who specialize in
mobile/responsive programming (57% are very satisfied).
• Work life balance (61%) and job flexibility
(52%) are top reasons for their happiness.
• “I work great hours.”
• “Doing what I love, while working remotely.”
• Two-fifths of web developers also mention
“pay” as a reason for satisfaction. The
majority (82%) expect to receive a significant
raise over the next six months.
• “I have good pay and benefits for satisfying
work.”
5

6. 2
Web Developers are Sought
After
Universally (95%), web developers agree that
their occupation is in-demand.
• Almost two-thirds (62%) of web developers say their
companies are hiring additional web developers; particularly
in front-end or back-end capacities.
• More than half of web developers (57%) are often contacted
by head hunters.
6

7. Job Satisfaction

8. Career Satisfaction is High
How satisfied are you with your career as a web developer? (Select one)Q.
88% Satisfied
11% Somewhat
Satisfied
1% Not at All Satisfied
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
• The vast majority (88%) of web developers are satisfied with their
career.
8

9. Most Rewarding Specialization
How satisfied are you with your career as a web developer? (Select one)Q.
Very Satisfied with Career by Job Role
47% 46%
57%
54%
48%
A. Front-end B. Back-end C. Mobile/
Responsive
D. Middleware E. Full-Stack
C
B
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
• Developers who specialize in mobile/responsive programming are
the most satisfied with their job.
9

10. Work-Life Balance Satisfies
Why are you satisfied with your career as a web developer? (Select one)Q.
61% Work-life Balance 52% Job Flexibility 39% Salary
28% Opportunity to Grow
30% Job Location
23% Atmosphere of Office 22% Co-workers
Other Responses: Less than 4%
Base: Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied (n=299)
• Work life balance (61%) and job flexibility (52%) are the primary
reasons for career satisfaction, followed by salary (39%).
10

11. Happy With Current Job
How satisfied are you with your current job as a web developer? (Select one)Q.
82% Satisfied 15% Somewhat Satisfied 3% Not at All Satisfied
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
• Most web developers are satisfied with their current job as a web
developer (82%).
11

12. Specialization Impacts Satisfaction
How satisfied are you with your CURRENT job as a web developer? (Select one)Q.
Very Satisfied with Current Job by Job Role
36% 36%
47%
38%
36%
A. Front-end B. Back-end C. Mobile/
Responsive
D. Middleware E. Full-Stack
C
AE
C C
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
• Compared to other developers, those who specialize in mobile/
responsive are more satisfied (47%) with their current job.
12

13. Reasons for Job Satisfaction
13Why are you satisfied with your CURRENT job as a web developer? (Record in the box below) 13
Base: Respondents who are very satisfied or satisfied with their current jobs (n=247)
Q.
Flexibility & Work-Life Balance
Atmosphere & CoworkersChallenging and Rewarding
Pay
“I control what projects I accept and do
them according to my own schedule.”
“I work from home and am allowed flex time.”
“I have good pay and benefits
for satisfying work.”
“It’s a great company that offers a good salary.”
“Paid well for interesting work.”
“The work is very challenging and rewarding.”
“Challenging and interesting.”
“Qualitative growth.”
“My employer allows freedom of expression.”
“We have a great atmosphere at work and
everyone is happy here.”
“My supervisor and coworkers are wonderful.”

14. Reasons for Job Dissatisfaction
Why are you dissatisfied with your CURRENT job as a web developer? (Record in the box
below)Q.
Base: Respondents who are somewhat or not at all satisfied with their current job (n=56)
14
Lack of Growth & Advancement Dislike Benefits & Pay
“I would like the opportunity to develop
different kinds of applications than
are currently required.”
“[Manager] does not invest in training.”
“Not as challenging as I would like.”
“Salary could be more.”
“The pay is OK.”
“Underpaid…no stock options.”
“No raises, no perks.”

15. In-Demand Job

16. Companies are Hiring
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Select one for each
statement)Q.
• Web developers agree that their occupation is in-demand (95%).
• Almost all (90%) say there are many jobs available and over half
are contacted often by recruiters.
39%
62%
60%
18%
28%
35%
Head hunters often call
me about potential jobs
There are many jobs
available for web
developers
Web development is an
in-demand job
Agree Strongly agree
95%
90%
57%
16
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)

17. Middleware Specialists are Sought Out
Frequently
Q.
Agree head hunters often contact
58%
55%
65% 66%
56%
A. Front-end B. Back-end C. Mobile/
Responsive
D. Middleware E. Full-Stack
ABE
DD
D
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Head hunters often call me
about potential jobs)
• Web developers who specialize in Middleware are contacted (66%)
the most by head hunters.
17

18. Raises Are Likely
Do you expect to receive a raise over the next year? (Select one)Q.
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
82%
18%
Expect Do Not Expect
* Re-percentage to exclude Not sure/Don’t Know
• The majority of Web Developers (82%) expect to receive a
significant raise over the next six months.
18

19. Companies are Hiring
Is your company hiring web developers in any of the following areas? (Select all that apply)Q.
Base: Did not start their career in web development (n=170)
62%
38%
Hiring
Not Hiring
! Front-End 33%
! Back-End 30%
! Full-Stack 23%
! Mobile/Responsive 18%
! Middleware 18%
Areas Hiring
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
* Re-percentaged to exclude Not sure/Don’t Know (21.5%)
• Approximately two-thirds of web developers say that their
companies are hiring additional web developers.
19

20. Respondent Profile

21. Company Size
Approximately what is the size of your company? (Select one)Q.
3%
4%
9%
7%
16%
13%
17%
31%
Less than 5
Employees
6-10
Employees
11-50
Employees
51- 100
Employees
101-500
Employees
501-1,000
Employees
1,001- 5,000
Employees
Over 5,000
Employees
Base: Work for an Employer (n=273)
21

22. Income
Which category best describes your total pre-tax income in US dollars?Q.
11%
51%
30%
6%
2%
Under $50 K $50K to $99,999 $100K to $149,999 $150K to $199,999 $200K or more
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
81%
22

23. Age
What is your age? (Select one)Q.
2%
26%
28%
25%
19%
18-22 23-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
23

24. Employment Status
What best describes your current employment status? (Select one)Q.
87%
7%
3% 3%
Full-time for
an Employer
Self-Employed
Full-time
Part-time for
an Employer
Self-Employed
Part-Time
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
24

25. Education Completed
What is the highest level of education you have completed?Q.
Base: All Qualified Respondents (N=303)
! Did not complete high school 0%
! High school graduate (or equivalent) > 1%
! Some college (1-4 years, no degree) 9%
! Associate’s degree (including occupational or academic) 3%
! Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, AB, etc.) 56%
! Master’s degree (MA, MS, MENG, MSW, etc.) 27%
! Professional school degree (MD, DDC, JD, etc) 2%
! Doctorate degree (PhD, EdD, etc.) 3%
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