What Is a Web Developer Contract and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Web developer contract jobs involve the design or development of websites. In these positions, you work on different projects on a contract or freelance basis. Your duties depend on the type of development projects on which you work. As a front-end web developer, you work on the user interface, and your responsibilities focus on creating the visual and interactive elements of a web page or application. As a back-end developer, you may use SQL, PHP, or other languages to perform server-side development and connect the website to a database.

The qualifications that you need to get a web developer contract job include strong coding skills and a relevant degree or professional certification. Depending on the position you are seeking, you may need to pursue at least an associate degree in web design or development, or complete a bachelor’s degree program in another relevant field like computer science. As a contract employee, you typically also need prior experience and a portfolio of past work to show to potential clients or employers. To work as a front-end developer, you must understand coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you work with applications, you may need familiarity with other languages, such as Java.