/ How to Become a Web Designer - Career Salaries, Job Stats & Education

Interested in a Career of Web Design?

If travelling is your life’s desire, then there are careers that offer you the opportunity to assist other travellers to make the most of their holidays. Get to know new and exciting places, help find accommodation and flights and advise people on their sightseeing opportunities.

Web Design Job Outlook

The graph shows historical and projected (to 2019) employment levels (thousands) for this occupation.

Source: *Job Outlook Government website. ABS Labour Force Survey, DEEWR trend data to November 2014 and DEEWR projections to 2019. Estimates have been rounded.

Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators is expected to be above average (between 25,001 and 50,000). Job openings can arise from employment growth and people leaving the occupation.

Employment for Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators to November 2019 is expected to grow very strongly. Employment in this very large occupation (50,600 in November 2012) rose strongly in the past five years and in the long-term (ten years).

Web Designer Salary

Source: *Job Outlook Government website. ABS EEBTUM survey August 2014 cat. no. 6310.0. Estimates have been rounded and consequently some discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Note: These figures are indicative and cannot be used to determine a particular wage rate.

Payscale.com lists the wage for a Web Designer as being between an average of $55 000 to a maximum salary of $69 000.

There were around 513,700 persons employed directly in tourism in 2010–11. Being a labour-intensive industry, tourism’s share of jobs in Australia (4.5%) was greater than its direct economic contribution (2.5%). *Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism,September 2012 Findings.

Web Design Weekly Work Hours

The graph shows the average weekly hours (by gender and full-time and part-time) worked for this occupation, compared with all occupations. 

Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators have an average proportion of full-time jobs (75.3 per cent). For Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators working full-time, average weekly hours are 40.9 (compared to 41.3 for all occupations) and earnings are average - in the sixth decile. Unemployment for Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators is average.

Source: *Job Outlook Government website. ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2014.

Web Designers Age Profile

As expected, the Tourism industry has a strong appeal amongst young people, making it a vibrant and dynamic work environment.

 Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2014.

Web Designer Education Levels

Source: *Job Outlook Government website. ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2014.

ABS Statistics Paint a Positive Picture

The creative sector – which encompasses advertising and marketing, architecture, design and visual arts, film, TV newspapers and radio, music and performing arts, publishing, software and digital content – is one of the fastest-growing segments of the national economy. There has also been particularly strong employment growth in digital publishing, which grew at a cumulative annual rate of 14% between 2006 and 2011. (Source)

What Web Design Qualification Do You Need?

Certificate IV in Design (specialising in Digital Design)

This online course will train you in fundamental design principles, combining the converging worlds of graphic and web design.

Open Colleges Fundamentals of Design

Designed as an entry-level introduction to the world of graphic design, this course will give you guaranteed access to the CUV50311 Diploma of Graphic Design.

Interview with a Web Design Professional

In two sentences, tell us what a bit about your role in Web Design.

From information sites to online stores I create and outlet for sassy business women to launch their big idea online! I am regularly coding websites and adding functionality to our online stores but I also assist my clients along the process, this is probably the biggest part of my job.

What does a Web Designer do on a day to day basis?

On a day to day basis I will have online meetings with clients about their projects through email and skype – I answer 20 – 30 emails a day - this is a great way to keep them up to speed and ensure that the process is being understood. I also do a large amount of hand coding and editing – from updating shopping carts and adding functionality to make it easier for the client to hand crafting a website from scratch – although this part usually takes a few weeks to make perfect!

I also assign one day a week to dedicate to one client so that major progress is made on their project and they can see the results in front of them.

What are the best parts of the job?

The best part of my job is helping other women to take the leap in to entrepreneurship – working from home is fabulous and I highly recommend it!

I also love the process of taking a flat graphic and watching as it comes to life, it is still a thrill to step through a website as it is about to go live.

What skills/attributes do potential Web Designers need to have?

A never ending thirst for knowledge! I have been building websites for over 15 years and so much has evolved on the internet, there are constant changes and updates that you always need to be learning.

Another big thing is passion – if you are passionate about what you do it reflects in your work and for too long the internet has been filled with awful websites – if you bring a love of what you do it also brings pride and makes the internet look fantastic!

What’re your favourite things about working in the Web Design Industry?

As a female web designer and developer one of the best things for me is making it accessible for females, a number of women are intimidated by what is mainly a male dominated industry and this makes them weary of starting an online business. We are now seeing a growth in females entering the industry and it’s fantastic to see this is encouraging a large number of women to get their business online.

Thanks, Emma, for sharing your story with Open Colleges.