What does a Senior Web Developer do?
A senior web developer is responsible for designing, building, and optimizing websites and other software applications. You are expected to perform a few tasks that include identifying client specifications and user requirements, working closely with teams and clients, and testing and documenting software for websites. Other duties include writing, modifying, and debugging websites, keeping up-to-date with the latest social marketing trends, and supervising junior web developers. You will also be responsible for writing code to create web pages and to work closely with mobile developers.
Senior web developer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior web developer resumes:
- Manage project, create project requirement documents, design modular SCSS file structure, create and assign tasks to other developers.
- Develop LARAVEL application for managing google analytics test.
- Manage multiple web and database servers in multiple locations to ensure constant availability, functionality, synchronization and security.
- Develop all the UI pages using extensive markup and scripting languages (HTML, DHTML, JavaScript and CSS).
- Convert data from database into JSON format files and retrieve useful information using AJAX calls to render the response in UI.
- Develop AJAX base web base UI framework by utilizing JQUERY library.
- Educate in device-neutral design incorporating responsive techniques employing the use of CSS3 and JavaScript.
- Clean up and improve PHP code, MySQL queries, and front-end code whenever possible.
- Utilize knowledge in HTML5 and CSS3 for responsive design for site appearance and functionality across all major devices and browsers.
- Develop AngularJS factories to retrieve JSON data from the restful web service and display the response in the user interface pages.
- Develop responsive HTML5 views that implement lazy-load JavaScript components on-demand.
- Produce client side validation through JavaScript and AJAX for asynchronous communication.
- Design and develop user friendly navigation system using JAVA and JavaScript.
- Develop API components design to communicate with desktop client Java application.
- Design and develop XML validation functionality and store XML document in database.
Senior web developer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Senior Web Developers are proficient in JavaScript, Web Application, and CSS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Creativity, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Web Developers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- JavaScript, 8%
Designed and developed user friendly navigation system using JAVA and JavaScript.
- Web Application, 6%
Developed and managed world-class websites and web applications that exceed industry, government and emerging standards in accessibility and usability testing.
- CSS, 6%
Developed Presentation Layer and Front End using HTML, CSS, and JSP and validated the data using AJAX and JavaScript.
- HTML, 5%
Developed HTML e-mail marketing templates and a development and testing process to ensure reliability and quality.
- Html Css, 4%
Designed interactive static pages using HTML CSS as screen level prototype, JavaScript for client side validation.
- Java, 4%
Developed various maps using flow and java including common processing framework for documents received through Trading Networks Gateway.
Common skills that a senior web developer uses to do their job include "javascript," "web application," and "css." You can find details on the most important senior web developer responsibilities below.
Concentration. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior web developer to have is concentration. Their role and responsibilities require that "web developers must sit at a computer and write detailed code for long periods." Senior web developers often use concentration in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed infopath forms with concentration on integration into sharepoint lists. "
Creativity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior web developer duties is creativity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "web developers often are involved in designing the appearance of a website and must make sure that it is appealing as well as functional." According to a senior web developer resume, here's how senior web developers can utilize creativity in their job responsibilities: "create custom invoicing and inventory cms for nuclear medicine sales client with monthly sales volume of over $100,000. "
Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior web developers is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior web developer duties, as "webmasters have to respond politely and correctly to user questions and requests." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "work with customer to define their requirements for a project and develop a solution through sharepoint. "
Detail oriented. senior web developer responsibilities often require "detail oriented." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "web developers need to have an eye for detail, because a minor error in coding could cause an entire webpage to stop working." This resume example shows what senior web developers do with detail oriented on a typical day: "assist project manager, weekly team meetings, create wbs and detailed test plans ( in sharepoint). "
The three companies that hire the most senior web developers are:
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
221 senior web developers jobs
- Electric Power Research Institute117 senior web developers jobs
- General Dynamics103 senior web developers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable senior web developer resume templates
Build a professional senior web developer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior web developer resume.
Compare different senior web developers
Senior web developer vs. Mobile applications developer
A mobile application developer is responsible for designing programming applications for mobile devices according to clients' specifications and business demands. Mobile application developers must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as computer system commands to develop efficient scripts and smooth navigation of operating systems. They analyze the clients' needs and recommend application solutions within their budget limitations and timeframe. A mobile application developer identifies inconsistencies and glitches with the output before submission to ensure its stability and optimal performance.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior web developer responsibilities require skills like "front end," "html5," "database," and "sql server." Meanwhile a typical mobile applications developer has skills in areas such as "c++," "objective-c," "xcode," and "ios applications." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Mobile applications developers tend to make the most money working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $107,574. In contrast, senior web developers make the biggest average salary, $116,206, in the media industry.The education levels that mobile applications developers earn slightly differ from senior web developers. In particular, mobile applications developers are 4.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior web developer. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior web developer vs. Lead software developer
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior web developer resumes. While senior web developer responsibilities can utilize skills like "front end," "html5," "git," and "c #," lead software developers use skills like "architecture," "software development," "python," and "project management."
Lead software developers earn a higher average salary than senior web developers. But lead software developers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $115,917. Additionally, senior web developers earn the highest salaries in the media with average pay of $116,206 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Lead software developers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior web developers. In fact, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Web Developers in the next 3-5 years?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Senior web developer vs. Applications developer
An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior web developer resumes include skills like "c #," "wordpress," "mvc," and "node.js," whereas an applications developer is more likely to list skills in "c++," "regression," "strong analytical," and "web forms. "
Applications developers earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $103,905. Comparatively, senior web developers have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $116,206.applications developers typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior web developers. Specifically, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior web developer vs. Web application developer
A web application developer is responsible for designing website and system applications following clients' specifications and business' needs. Web application developers utilize their expertise in programming languages and system codes, ensuring the efficiency and smooth navigation of the website. They also run multiple diagnostic tests on the output before release, identifying inconsistencies, and addressing incompatibilities on browsers and devices. A web application developer should be detail-oriented and highly-technical as this job requires excellent digital knowledge to manage complex systems.
Types of senior web developer
Updated January 8, 2025
