Web Designer vs Web Developer: What Are The Differences?

by The Editorial Team on April 30, 2021

Many people are puzzled and cannot clearly distinguish between web designers and web developers; It is critical to ascertain them to succeed in web development projects.

It is essential to understand different roles, capacities, skill sets, average salary, career development, and types of web designers and developers.

Definition: Web Designer vs Web Developer

A web designer is a graphic specialist responsible for the architecture, usability, and visual presentation of a website. A good web designer should have a diverse set of artistic, graphic, and technological abilities.

A web developer, on the other hand, creates and manages the website’s core structure. They must use coding languages such as HTML, JavaScript, PHP, and Python to turn the web design into a functional website.

These are not two distinct fields of work but rather two intertwined ones. It is the main reason why people are often confused.

Indeed, the two definitions are so comprehensive that creating a website can differ based on personal desires and abilities.

Distinct Roles

Although their roles and responsibilities can appear identical, web designers and web developers have very different roles and responsibilities.

• Designers influence a site’s usability and overall UX by focusing on the front-end and visual aspects. Developers are in charge of turning the concepts and ideas set out by designers into fully functional websites
• Web designers create a mockup based on visual, UX, and UI elements to conceptualize the idea. Web developers assess whether the concept is financially and technically feasible and, if it is, the program and code the website.
• Web developers must have a robust technological foundation and a thorough understanding of dynamic programming languages and frameworks. A web designer’s job is less technical and more about the visual and creative elements, though some research and analysis are required.
• Front-end, back-end, and full-stack web developers are among the various categories of web developers. UX, UI, and visual designers are the three significant styles of web designers.

Tools Used

Coding libraries and frameworks; code versioning and issue monitoring sites like GitHub and Jira; hosting control panels and FTP clients; content management systems are tools and programs that web developers often use.

Web designers usually use wireframing and prototyping techniques and template editing software like Photoshop, a content management system like WordPress, and a website builder like Elementor.

In the development, construction, and maintenance of websites, web designers and web developers play an essential role. In the end, the two functions are related to one another to produce a high-quality product.

Salary Expectations

The average annual income of a web designer in the United States is about $57k, though it varies depending on the type of design job, position, and seniority.

Web developers make more money on average than web designers; their pay varies depending on their specialization. Because of writing ability code in several languages, developers usually earn more than designers.

In today’s technologically focused world, coding is a highly regarded skill; however, not all programming skills have equal value.

In the United States, the average annual salary for a web developer is between $65k and $75k.Generally speaking, the higher the salary, the better the job.

Web developers must continue learning and adding new skills to their repertoire to sustain an upward trend in their wages, particularly when technology evolves rapidly and new programming languages emerge every year.

Choosing A Career Path: Web Designer vs Web Developer

With so many companies moving their operations online, now is an excellent time to start a career-building website. However, the first step is to decide whether you want to work as a developer or a designer.

It’s best to look at the demand for each job in the industry and future growth and career advancement opportunities. A fast internet search will reveal a plethora of freelance agencies and web development opportunities, also consider financial factors.

A web designer or web developer’s average salary varies depending on several factors, including the level of expertise and experience, location, and specialization.

Keep in mind that a lack of knowledge in one area does not rule out the possibility of a career in that field.

Conclusion

Web designers and developers’ services are needed to get any website up and running. While some people can do both, many businesses employ dedicated designers to create a website’s layout before handing it over to a programmer to complete the development stage. Nothing would be easier to understand than the others.

Full-time work as a front-end developer and interaction with designers and back-end developers daily; each job has its own set of peculiarities. Only keep in mind that focusing on one language at a time is the most efficient way to begin.