What Is a WordPress Developer + How to Become One

WordPress Web Development

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) for creating websites. According to a W3 Techs 2022 analysis, WordPress powers 43% of all websites on the internet. Despite the fact that the software is free, many individuals pay experienced developers to create high-quality websites. The next essay delves into the function of a WordPress developer and how to become one in three simple stages.

What is a WordPress developer?

WordPress developers are a subset of web developers. They specialize in website development. A developer might be engaged to improve the WordPress software or to create a custom website for a customer.

Where do WordPress developers work?

A WordPress developer can work for a company or as a freelance developer. There are various job-seeking networks that connect developers with potential clients, such as WordPress Jobs (the official jobs listing portal) and Codeable.io, for those looking for freelance possibilities. If you are an aspiring developer who is not interested in freelancing, you have other choices. Companies that hire developers include software development firms, digital marketing agencies, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) management firms.

WordPress developer job outlook

WordPress has maintained its position as the fastest-growing CMS for the past 12 years. The job market for developers is likewise expanding rapidly. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of web developers and digital designers will increase by 13% between 2020 and 2030. This figure indicates an annual average of 17,900 job opportunities.

Did you know that? WordPress developers are all web designers and developers. The abilities you learn as a developer might help you succeed in other web development professions as well.

What does a WordPress developer do?

Typical responsibilities of a developer include:

• Creating and designing new features and functions
• Client requirements are translated into technical specifications.
• Implementing and maintaining a website’s architecture
• Code creation, testing, and debugging

Related roles

Developers are site designers who focus on infrastructure and technologies. There are other positions that are similar to WordPress developers. Here are a few instances of related roles:

Software developers. Software developers, like web developers, are programmers. They produce software and applications instead of (or in addition to) web development.

User experience (UX) designers. The process of curating the interaction between users and websites or other software products is referred to as UX design. UX designers are software developers who concentrate on the user experience of a website or application.

Full-stack developers. A full-stack developer is any programmer, regardless of specialization, who can produce a minimal viable product on their own. Full-stack developers are capable of identifying and resolving issues between the front and back ends.

User interface (UI) developers. To create the visual parts of a website or application, UI developers mix creative design and technical expertise.

In three easy steps, learn how to become a WordPress developer.

1. Familiarize yourself with WordPress.

You can use WordPress before mastering front-end and back-end development. WordPress is user-friendly for beginners, making it a popular alternative for folks who wish to build their own website but lack coding knowledge. It’s similar to how an aspiring photographer will most likely buy a camera before finishing a photography lesson. You can master the fundamentals and gain a solid understanding of the software while also learning how to manage more complex development.

2. Gain the essential skills.

It is popular in part because it requires little technical understanding from users. Professional developers, on the other hand, must be skilled in web programming as well as site design. The following is a list of some of the most critical disciplines for a WordPress developer to master.

Languages for programming. As a WordPress developer, you will need to learn four primary languages.

To begin, hypertext markup language (HTML) allows you to create a website by organizing material such as headers, footers, and sidebars.

Next, cascading style sheets (CSS) allow you to add stylistic features to your HTML structure such as text color, border thickness, and image alignment.

If you want to become a developer, the next language you need to learn is PHP (hypertext preprocessor). It is the back-end scripting language used by WordPress and is used by 77.9% of all websites (where the language is known).

JavaScript is not only a necessary ability for developers, but it is also the most widely used programming language worldwide. It is widely used in development to generate dynamic features.

Plugin development. Plugins are code additions that improve the capabilities and operation of WordPress. WordPress developers make unique plugins based on the needs of their clients.

Database management. Database management allows users to store, maintain, and govern data access.

Digital marketing. To boost site traffic and quality, WordPress developers frequently use search engine optimization (SEO) and other digital marketing tactics.

Web design and development. Developers require good web design and development abilities because they work substantially on UX and UI. It is the obligation of a developer to guarantee that the website they create is functional, responsive, aesthetically beautiful, and accessible to all users.

3. Enhance your resume.

Regardless of the demand for your desired occupation, you must show your competitiveness as a job prospect. The educational backgrounds of developers range from a high school diploma to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Higher education is an excellent approach to developing the abilities needed to flourish in an entry-level position. However, it is not the only approach to gain experience and demonstrate your abilities to potential employers.

Earn a Professional Certificate.

Relevant certificates are another approach to demonstrate professional experience to employers. If you’re not sure where to start, look through job ads to find in-demand skills. A developer, for example, who wants to improve their UX skills may pursue a Professional Certificate from an industry leader such as Google:

Build a portfolio.

Consider compiling the projects that best demonstrate your technical competence if you have experience with web development. After that, you can send your portfolio and resume to potential employers. It’s fine if you haven’t completed anything for your professional portfolio yet. You can begin by taking an online course such as Introduction to Accessible Web Development, which includes a Guided Project that walks you through the process of designing an accessible custom component with ARIA.