The world-wide web is vast, and it’s full of job opportunities for people interested in computer science and data. Web development and cloud computing are two such professions, and although both areas of expertise aim to make the internet a better place, each serves a different purpose.
Web development is the creation and upkeep of websites, while cloud computing is the process of making computers available to people over the internet. Cloud computing experts optimize software and security for others to store their data on external servers. Developers specialize in websites.
In this article, I’ll tell you more about the differences between web development and cloud computing. I’ll discuss the main differences between these professions and tell you more about the job opportunities in each field, outlining salaries, job requirements, roles, and projections for the future.
Web Development vs. Cloud Computing Jobs: An Overview
Although web development and cloud computing are both technical fields that revolve around UI, security, and coding for internet usage, they have a lot of differences.
| Job Specs | Web Development | Cloud Computing |
| Do You Usually Need A Degree or Certification? | Sometimes | Yes |
| Average Yearly Salary | $79,801 | $126,667 |
| Projected Employment Growth | 23% by 2031 | 40% increase by 2030 |
| Reported Job Satisfaction | 4 out of 5 | 3.9 out of 5 |
Let’s break down these differences and discuss each one in detail:
Education Requirements
Web developers do not necessarily need a degree to enter the field, but you must have either a certification or a degree to work in cloud computing.
While many top-tier jobs in web development require job applicants to have a 4-year degree, others only require you to have experience in the field. As a web developer, you need only display your skills to find a good job when you are just starting out.
However, cloud computing is significantly more difficult to self-teach since it’s a more advanced form of development. You’ll most likely need certification and experience to land a job. A degree is often on the “preferred” list of requirements.
Certifications from AWS, CompTIA Cloud+, Azure, and Google are the most commonly recommended certifications on cloud computing job postings.
Salary
Cloud computing pays much more than web development. However, becoming a cloud computing professional also takes more education and technical skills.
However, entry-level web development jobs pay similarly to entry-level cloud computing jobs. So, if you want upward mobility in your workplace, you might consider choosing cloud computing.
Projected Employment Growth
Both web development and cloud computing careers are on the rise, and it will take a lot of new employees to fill the demand.
However, with its more stringent requirements for employment and relative newness, freshers just certifying in cloud computing will likely find work faster than newbie web developers.
Reported Job Satisfaction
Most people prefer jobs in web design over cloud computing, although the statistics indicate that people in both fields are equally happy about their jobs.
You will spend most of your career in cloud computing troubleshooting. Cloud computing careers emphasize problem-solving skills, finding better ways to interact with servers, and creating infrastructure.
While web development is also all about creating infrastructure, it’s on a much smaller scale, and it’s less about troubleshooting than creating a finished product that won’t need too much maintenance.
So, if you are the type of person who appreciates finishing projects without having to update and troubleshoot them continually, web development might make you happier. However, if you want to feel challenged by your projects and never stop improving upon them, cloud computing might be a better field for you.
Is Cloud Computing Used in Web Development?
Cloud computing is used in web development, as web developers can use cloud computing services to take advantage of powerful computers when designing and hosting a website. However, web developers do not administer cloud computing services.
Cloud computing has changed the world of web development and sharing since its initial introduction to consumers in 2006. It’s also opened up a new field for engineers, software designers, and administrators who manage, maintain, and improve cloud services.
Web developers often use cloud computing in web design and development.
Computers provided by cloud services are usually rentable, allowing web designers to host websites and share data with other people via the internet alone.
Thus, web developers can use a cloud computer’s specs without actually sitting at that computer, allowing them to create a more advanced website with plenty of power and storage for high traffic, advanced security, and more.
Still, someone has to maintain, update, and administer these cloud services, which is where cloud computing experts and web developers work together to create websites.
Careers in Web Development
Web developers are expressly concerned with designing and maintaining websites from the front end, back end, or both.
Web developers can easily work remotely or in-house at a company as permanent web engineers.
Web development is a promising career for those interested in computer science, with estimated employment rates projected to grow by 23% between 2021 and 2031.
Full-Stack Web Developer
Median Salary: $77,030
Average Requirements for Qualification: 4-year degree in computer science or certification; fluency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JQuery; Familiarity with PHP frameworks; Experience in both front-end and back-end development
Web developers are in charge of organizing, coding, and maintaining websites for businesses. They are versatile and have the necessary skills to create a website and keep it up to date.
Developers are usually permanent members of a business team. These developers continually ensure that their website is secure, stable, viewable on many platforms, and representative of the company.
However, freelance web developers may create websites for companies as a one-time deal. These freelance web developers generally work remotely.
Some of the most common duties of a web developer include the following:
- Designing the front and back ends of a website
- Creating a website’s layout to the specifications of a client
- Testing and optimizing the site’s user interface for ease of navigation
- Maintaining the website by testing for security, corruption, and multi-platform versatility
Front-End Web Developer
Median Annual Salary: $77,891
Average Requirements for Qualification: Fluency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, and JQuery; Familiarity with PHP frameworks
While a full-stack web developer may be in charge of both front-end and back-end development, a front-end developer specializes in the user interface of a website.
Plenty of entry-level positions are available for front-end web developers, and the job requirements aren’t too stringent.
Most clients prefer hiring people with a 4-year degree or certificate in computer science or a related field. Still, as long as you are fluent in various coding languages, have experience with some PHP frameworks, and are communicative, it’s easy to get an entry-level position with smaller businesses.
Larger businesses may require that you have experience, so there is an easy-to-follow hierarchy in front-end development.
Front-end developers generally:
- Optimize a website’s appearance to fit a client’s brand and specifications
- Optimize a website for use on platforms such as desktop and mobile devices
- Integrate applications such as menus, sidebars, interactive buttons, and animations
- De-bug sites and create the shortest paths possible for speedy, accurate navigation
- Work with back-end developers to optimize a website
Do you know that you can get an entry job in front-end development with no degree and in a few months of practice (exactly how I got my first job with no prior knowledge in coding)?
Back-End Web Developer
Average Annual Salary: $84,484
Average Requirements for Qualification: Fluency in HTML, CSS, Java, Ruby, and Python; experience; Preferred candidates have a 4-year degree in computer science or a related field
Back-end web developers are in charge of creating the foundation of a website for their clients. These developers usually work with front-end developers to delegate work and create a seamless, fast, and easy-to-use website.
Back-end web developers also typically use cloud computing to secure, store, and host their websites.
The average responsibilities of a back-end web developer include the following:
- Using cloud computing for server-side development
- Writing code and APIs for the base website
- Optimizing the website for speed
- Running tests to ensure the code works effectively and resolving issues
- Communicating and collaborating with front-end developers and clients
Careers in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is more of a specialist field than web development. These professionals are experts in networking, creating network infrastructure, and troubleshooting security and usability issues.
Cloud computing professionals either work with a cloud computing provider or with a client who needs help integrating, setting up, and optimizing their cloud integration.
Clients use these services in many ways, such as streaming, analytics, data storage, hosting, and security.
Cloud Administrator
Average Annual Salary: $67,467
Average Requirements for Qualification: 4-year degree or certification in cloud computing or a related field; Experience
Cloud administrators ensure that clients can seamlessly connect their websites, apps, and services to the cloud.
Admins generally work closely with cloud software engineers and those who use the cloud service, serving as an intermediary between the code and the client.
As the final cloud computing professional to oversee a client’s integration with the cloud, they have to be able to resolve security, code, and application issues quickly and effectively.
The primary responsibilities of a cloud administrator include the following:
- Setting up clients with their cloud computing service
- Training clients to use the cloud
- Initiating security measures from the cloud and monitoring a client’s connection for security
- Providing customer service and troubleshooting issues as they arise
Cloud Network Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $117,312
Average Requirements for Qualification: Degree or certification in cloud computing or a related field; Experience with most major operating systems and software development; Familiarity with virtualization and networking
Cloud network engineers build the code that allows businesses and clients to integrate with a cloud computer. These engineers also create systems to help clients and companies monitor the status of this integration, allowing them to catch security breaches and bugs early.
As a liaison between clients’ websites, applications, and other services, they also troubleshoot the useability of monitoring services to ensure that all involved parties can easily integrate with the cloud system.
The primary responsibilities of a cloud network engineer include the following:
- Maintaining the physical infrastructure and connections between the servers that a client uses
- Communicate with clients to make the integration more seamless, secure, and user-friendly
- Troubleshooting issues with the physical connections and software networks between cloud stacks
Cloud Architect
Average Annual Salary: $195,222
Average Requirements for Qualification: Certification from a cloud computing platform such as AWS; Experience in software development; 3+ years of experience in cloud computing
A cloud architect manages the infrastructure of cloud systems for clients and cloud computing providers.
These professionals are most often in charge of data migrations and optimizing the organization and size of the cloud system for future growth.
Cloud architects are less focused on the existing cloud integration than cloud network engineers and, instead, focus on the growth and sustainable development of the cloud in both the physical and software realms.
They are the brainstormers, the large-scale optimizers, and supervisors of cloud computing.
While the roles of a cloud architect vary depending on the specific job, most of them have the following responsibilities:
- Design new methods and strategies to improve the overall integration of the cloud in businesses and organizations
- Develop new systems, products, and solutions in cloud computing
- Manage other cloud computer professionals in a workplace
- Create automated testing systems and backups to keep all systems running smoothly in case of a setback
Web Development or Cloud Computing: Which Is Easier To Learn?
Web development is easier to learn than cloud computer management and administration. Cloud computing jobs build upon the skills involved in web development and generally require more education. In addition, it’s easier to get instruction on web development than cloud computing.
Web development is a career path that has been around for a while. Thus, you’ll find more resources available for self-teaching, and you’ll also find more options for employment.
However, cloud computing management and administration is a newer discipline, and it may be challenging to self-teach. Most employers in cloud computing also look for a 4-year degree or certification, anyway.
Cloud computing also requires more advanced skills than web development. In cloud computing, you generally work with a network of computers, whereas in web development, you focus on coding and UI alone.
Final Thoughts
Web development may be easier to learn than cloud computing, but cloud computing offers the most promise for salary increase and job security.
There will always be a place for web development in job postings, but as networks grow and data accumulates, the need for a more innovative, better-organized infrastructure on which to store data only increases.
Thus, with both of these careers, you will likely stay consistently employed as we move into the future.
