Web Developer Salary: 2025 Guide

Web development combines design, user psychology, and business goals to craft functional and visually engaging websites. A web developer’s role includes both designing and creating websites. They also oversee a site’s performance, maintenance, and capacity.

Web developers’ other common work responsibilities  include:

• Creating site content

• Designing the look and feel, or user interface (UI), of a site

• Creating a smooth and intuitive user experience (UX)

• Building and coding the structure of a site 

• Testing site functionalities 

The three main types of web developers are front-end developers, back-end developers, and full-stack developers. Back-end developers create and code a website's foundational structure and functionality, while front-end developers design the look and feel of the website visitors experience. Full-stack developers combine these skill sets to work on any aspect of a website’s design and functionality. 

Job Bank Canada projects that between 2022 and 2031, the demand for web designers and developers will result in 10,400 new job openings [1]. Understanding what you can expect to earn through this dynamic career may help you determine if a web development career is the right path for you.  

Read more: What Does a Web Developer Do (and How Do I Become One)?

How much do web developers make?

The average total annual pay for web developers in Canada is $60,273 CAD, according to Glassdoor [2]. Many factors can influence salaries, such as skill set, location, cost of living, and level of experience. 

Factors affecting web developer salary

As an entry-level web developer, you may start with a lower salary compared to experienced professionals. However, with additional certifications or education, you can boost your earning potential.  Learn more about the factors that can impact your earnings below. 

Education

Web developers must know how to code. Programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, Python, or Ruby are common, depending on whether you are doing front-end or back-end development. You can build your programming knowledge and display your expertise with Professional Certificates and an associate degree. A bachelor’s degree is typically required to work as a web developer. Some companies may look for web developers with degrees in specific fields, such as computer science or programming.

Bachelor’s degrees can also prepare web developers for managerial roles and additional income. According to Glassdoor, computer and information system managers earn an annual median salary of $96,049 CAD [3].

If you’re just starting out in web development, learning the basics is an important step. Online Specialization courses can help you begin your educational journey. The University of Michigan offers Web Design for Everybody: Basics of Web Development & Coding Specialization, while Johns Hopkins University offers HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers. 

Skills

You can qualify for more specialized jobs—and earn a higher salary—by mastering specific skills used in complex online projects. These skills are often ever-changing,  which is why lifelong learning is key to advancing your career. 

Job descriptions often include the specific skills that employers seek. Below is a list of skills that could benefit your salary:

• Backbone.js 

• Angular 

• Node.js

• React

• Java

You can find many online courses to build skills and earn Professional Certificates. For example, IBM’s Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate and the Google UX Design Professional Certificate.

Level of experience

As a web developer, every project is an opportunity to grow your portfolio and gain experience. In time, this can result in higher pay. Glassdoor estimates the average total pay for three main levels of expertise as follows:

• Web developer: $60,273 CAD [2]

• Senior web developer: $83,465 CAD [4] 

• Web developer IV: $62,937 CAD [5]

Type of position

As you gain expertise and experience as a web developer, your career path will likely lead you to new opportunities. Different positions held by web developers have different average salaries. For example:

• PHP developer: $62,917 CAD [6]

• Java developer: $67,398 CAD [7]

• Front-end developer: $70,018 CAD [8]

• Full-stack developer: $73,978 CAD [9]

• Back-end developer: $77,713 CAD [10]

Company

Your salary may vary depending on the employer. For example, the median salary at Fortinet is $89,000 CAD per year, compared to $50,000 CAD at Northern Commerce [2]. Larger companies often have the means to offer bonuses, profit sharing, and commission on top of base salaries. Be sure to factor in health care benefits, retirement packages, and the ability to work remotely in your salary negotiations. 

Location

Due to cost of living variations and industry hubs, salaries vary by city. According to Indeed, the highest-paid web developers live in [11]:

• Ottawa, ON, with an average base salary of  $78,455 CAD

• Edmonton, AB, with an average base salary of $74,520 CAD

• Victoria, BC, with an average base salary of $73,861 CAD

• Burnaby, BC, with an average base salary of $73,512 CAD

• Calgary, AB, with an average base salary of $70,394 CAD

• Vancouver, BC, with an average base salary of $66,549 CAD

• Toronto, ON, with an average base salary of $66,082 CAD

• Mississauga, ON, with an average base salary of $62,696 CAD

• Montreal, QC, with an average base salary of $61,785 CAD

Job title 

Just as the type of position can determine your salary as a web developer, so can your job title. Review the average salaries of the following job titles as an example:

• Entry-level web developer: $62,937 CAD [12]

• Junior web developer: $47,799 CAD [13]

• .NET developer: $72,793 CAD [14]

• Senior web developer: $83,465 CAD [4]

Get started in web development

A web developer designs, builds, and upkeeps a business's web presence. If you’re ready to embark on a career as a web developer, you’ll want to start mastering the skills employers and clients look for. Many professionals begin their education with the help of online courses. Meta offers Professional Certificates for both front-end and back-end web development. Learn key technical skills and relevant programming systems, build a portfolio, and gain exclusive access to the Meta Career Programs Job Board on completion.