How to Become a Webmaster

How to Become a Webmaster: Career Path Guide

If you want to become a Webmaster, you first need to determine if this career path is well suited to your skills and interests. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for a career as a Webmaster:

• You enjoy publishing and managing the contents of a website

• You understand how programming, graphic design, and content development integrate within a website

• You have knowledge of how to maintain a server

• You enjoy working with little supervision

Those who become successful Webmasters are individuals who are able to combine technical and communication skills for the purpose of designing, developing and maintaining a successful website.

Those who become successful Webmasters are individuals who are able to work effectively independently, as well as in a team environment. They must be able to gather information from others regarding the needs of the website, and execute most of the tasks related to the operation of the website on their own.

Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a Webmaster. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!

Education Needed to Become a Webmaster

There is no certifying industry authority that allows Webmasters to work in their trade, and because of this, the educational requirements for becoming a Webmaster depend on the preference of the client or the employer that employs the Webmaster.

• While having a formal education may not be necessary if you want to become a Webmaster, pursuing a degree in computer science, graphic design or a related field can be highly beneficial for this career.

• Taking classes in C programming or obtaining a certificate in computer programming, whether or not they’re part of a degree program, can also be highly beneficial to you if you want to become a Webmaster.

• Other Webmasters combine a natural aptitude for computers with on-the-job training and other types of informal education in order to interpret how websites function.

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Webmaster Job Description

Webmasters are responsible for the design, development and maintenance of an organization’s or an individual’s website. Webmasters oversee websites for the Internet, such as e-commerce websites or informational websites, or intranet sites that are internal to organizations.

Webmaster Job Duties

• Publish and manager a website's content

• Fix broken links and other website errors

• Moderate chat rooms, message boards and comment strings

• Respond to functionality-related queries from the website’s users

• Track website access statistics by using software or online programs

• Ensure that the organization’s website is advancing its goals

• Oversee the technical activities of the site

• Oversee the work of employees or sub contractors

• Ensure the site is performing at optimal levels

• May liaise with web designers, programmers, content writers and other professionals

• May select server or desktop environments and web development tools

Who Creates Jobs for Webmasters?

Webmasters are hired by organizations that operate e-commerce, informational and social media websites, as well as large organizations that operate intranet websites that are internal to their organizations. The following types of organizations employ Webmasters on a part-time or full-time basis:

• Wholesale or retail businesses

• Large corporations in almost every industry

• Municipal, provincial/state and federal government departments

• Web service consulting firms

• Colleges and universities

• Non-profit organizations

Find Webmaster Job Opportunities

Webmaster Jobs - Canada

Webmaster Jobs - United States

Becoming a Webmaster: Building a Portfolio

Candidates for Webmaster jobs should be able demonstrate their creative, technical and overall website management skills with a professional online portfolio that features projects they have been part of.

A portfolio demonstrates a Webmaster’s ability to understand their client’s needs and objectives by displaying their work, as well as outlining what the needs and objectives were for each project. Clients and employers almost always prefer to hire Webmaster candidates with a solid, proven portfolio, regardless of their level of education.

Working Conditions for Webmasters

Working Hours and Setting: Webmasters may work in an office environment, or they may work from home. They typically work standard business hours, although they may also work mostly evening and weekend hours (when they have access to servers and systems while fewer users are online). Overtime is often required by Webmasters to meet project deadlines and to solve technical problems.

Work Environment: The work of Webmasters can be stressful in various instances, such as when there are technical issues with the website, personnel from different parts of the organization have conflicting ideas about the elements of the website, or clients have unrealistic expectations regarding the reliability or functionality of the website.

Skills and Traits Needed to Become a Webmaster

In order to become effective in a career as a Webmaster, you need to posses a certain set of technical skills, communication skills and personality traits. These skills and traits will help you make the most of your career as a Webmaster by allowing you to perform your job duties with competence, and by helping you to maintain a positive attitude towards your work.

Many of these skills and traits are also in high demand with companies that hire Webmasters; you will see many of these skills and traits, or variations of them, listed on Webmaster job postings.