Becoming an HTML/CSS Developer

Software engineering is a general term describing a wide range of roles. We’d like to introduce you to the many paths you can choose from once you graduate from TripleTen’s Software Engineering bootcamp. 

We’ll look into the first step of the profession, which is available once you’ve mastered the basics of web development with HTML and CSS. These two abbreviations are responsible for how your websites will look. 

So, how is it possible to start earning money as a developer? What skills do you need to have to start working as a developer, and why is HTML/CSS considered the first step in a software engineering career?

If you want to learn more about other professions, check out these articles:

• Becoming a React Engineer
• Becoming a Full-Stack Software Engineer
• Becoming a Front-End Engineer

What are HTML and CSS?

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are fundamental markup languages used in web development. They are not programming languages per se: you cannot write a command with them, but you can make the machine understand how exactly your project should be presented to the user. 

With HTML, you create the web page's structure by bracketing text, images, videos, and links. Without an HTML tag, the computer cannot distinguish paragraphs, show images, or make links clickable. It’s like the frame of your project.

CSS, on the other hand, is used to style the content created with HTML, like cladding. It is responsible for the visual layout and appearance of a web page, such as font styles, colors, spacing, and more. Another power of CSS is to apply certain rules for the visual presentation of all your website pages. CSS allows developers to control the formatting of web content and create a consistent look and feel across a website.

In short, CSS is like an adjective to the “HTML” noun – they work together! HTML and CSS go hand-in-hand and support each other, being critical components of a website. The knowledge of these languages is essential for anyone interested in building websites or pursuing a career in web development.

What do HTML/CSS developers do?

As an HTML/CSS developer, you are the main person to technically support the website. Your tasks would be to set up and customize templates, including specific branding colors and fonts, build the site’s structure and navigation, and connect all necessary services from contact forms to webshops. You will also be able to create templates and layouts for newsletters, as all companies would like their emails to be attractive and recognizable.

Companies are always looking for developers who can create and maintain websites and web applications, even the simplest ones, like business pages, landing pages, or webshops hosted on CMSs (Content Management Systems). The idea behind it is that its maintenance requires limited code knowledge and thus can be supported by non-technical managers. Examples are WordPress, Drupal, Webflow, Shopify, Tilda, and HubSpot.

What does the workday of an HTML/CSS developer look like?

As in any development team, your day will be distributed among the following steps:

• 40-50% of the time is communication. You will be assigned tasks, discuss the requirements, communicate your progress, ask questions, attend meetings with designers, project managers, and other developers, and troubleshoot with colleagues.
• The other 40% will be dedicated to hands-on work on websites. You’ll be responsible for the layout of the website and the styles. You will do a bit of coding, though less with the command line than a front-end engineer would do. You also don’t get to write as many tests!
• The remaining 10% will be dedicated to problem-solving tasks. Very often, software engineers, regardless of their role, need to fix bugs, resolve issues, or spend some time learning new things and looking for answers. The work of an HTML/CSS developer is no different.

HTML/CSS developers work in teams and independently on a freelance basis. For newcomers in tech, TripleTen recommends seeking team assignments, as you’d feel more secure and backed up in your role. Freelance gigs can be more demanding and require a little more experience and versatile knowledge.

What do HTML/CSS developers also need to know?

To be able to perform seamlessly in teams, HTML/CSS developers need to know a couple of other tools and skills:

JavaScript. Once again, without JS, your HTML/CSS code will be static, and websites are not done like that anymore. JavaScript helps you animate your elements, create events on click, and send data to backend services. You’re expected to be familiar with some JS to perform all that independently.

Git version control. Git allows development teams to work on various parts of the application and then merge them into one without errors and conflicts. Even though your area is quite separated, it should still cooperate smoothly with other parts of the web application.

UI/UX design. Often HTML/CSS developers have some background in UI/UX design and use their understanding of user experience in a practical way by building websites. If you have experience in design, shifting to development will be easier, as design knowledge can enrich your developer’s profile.

Given that an HTML/CSS developer role is usually an entry job, nobody will expect you to be an expert in application architecture or other complex things. However, you can learn a lot as you work by seeing others and cooperating with them. 

Career development of an HTML/CSS developer

Seeking out HTML/CSS developer roles is pretty straightforward. You can start with Upwork and try some freelancing, making $15-30 an hour. Search for these keywords to find relevant job postings:

• HTML developer
• CSS developer
• Web developer
• Front-end HTML developer

You can earn your first buck here, but remember, this is just the beginning. In the United States, the average salary for a freelance web developer is around $81,000 a year.

Being an HTML/CSS developer means you will have lots of creative tasks, work closely with the design teams, and hold the responsibility of the “face” of the product, while still continuing your studies and deepening your knowledge in software engineering.

Remember: being an HTML/CSS developer is only the first step toward a career as a full-stack software engineer. You’re on the right path!

Learning HTML/CSS with TripleTen

Once you enroll in TripleTen’s Software Engineering bootcamp, you will be able to master all this in just a few months. The first two modules are devoted to learning HTML and CSS. The introductory module gives you the basics, while the Advanced HTML and CSS module provides a more in-depth study of the topic and the creation of your own projects. So, in just nine weeks, you'll be making your first career move toward becoming an HTML/CSS developer. 89% of our students find a job in tech within six months after graduation. 

Enroll in the TripleTen Software Engineering Bootcamp to start your journey to a new lucrative job in tech!