Employers

There are approximately 174,300 Web developers employed in the United States. The majority of webmasters working today are full-time employees. They are employed by Web design companies, businesses, schools or universities, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies—in short, any business or organization that requires an online presence. Webmasters may also work as freelancers or operate their own Web design businesses.

Starting Out

Most people become webmasters by moving into the position from another computer-related position within the same company. All large organizations already use computers for various functions, and they may employ a person or several people to serve as computer specialists. If these organizations decide to develop their own Web sites, they frequently assign the task to one of these employees who is already experienced with the computer system. Often, the person who ultimately becomes an organizations webmaster initially takes on the job in addition to their other, already established duties. Another way that individuals find jobs in this field is through online job postings.

Experienced webmasters employed by a large organization may be able to advance to the position of chief Web officer. Chief Web officers supervise a team of webmasters and are responsible for every aspect of a companys presence on the Web. Others might advance by starting their own business, designing Web sites on a contractual basis for several clients rather than working exclusively for one organization.

Opportunities for webmasters of the future are endless due to the continuing development of online technology. As understanding and use of the Web increase, there may be new or expanded job duties for individuals with expertise in this field.

Create and manage Web sites for community organizations. If they like your work, ask them to spread the word about your talents.

Read publications such as Website Magazine (https://www.websitemagazine.com) to learn more about industry trends.

Join the International Web Association and the World Organization of Webmasters (WOW) to access training and networking resources, industry publications, and employment opportunities.

Read the WOW blog (http://webprofessionals.org/blog) to learn about trends in the field. 

Conduct information interviews with webmasters and ask them for advice on preparing for and entering the field. Visit http://webprofessional.org for a database of Web professionals.