WordPress powers 43% of websites, making it the most widely used Content Management System (CMS) in the world. The platform’s open-source, easy-to-use interface means it’s highly adaptable and likely to maintain its popularity regardless of future trends. It’s adept at housing any website, from personal blogs to enterprise eCommerce sites, and has a growing list of plugins that allow for endless customization.
Given the central role WordPress plays, working in development is not just a viable career option, it’s one that’s growing in demand. The life of a WordPress developer also offers opportunities for creativity and problem-solving that are hard to find elsewhere. Add to this the ever-evolving nature of digital technologies, and you have an exciting vocation that never grows stale.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll detail the best resources to use when learning how to become a WordPress developer. We’ll cover the skills every dev needs, and the best places to expand and test your knowledge. Finally, you’ll discover how to create a winning portfolio and learn how Codeable can advance your career.
WordPress development: a career path in high demand
The job market for WordPress development is vast. LinkedIn regularly lists thousands of openings for WordPress developers worldwide. Business review site Glassdoor reports an average salary of over $65,000 for devs, reflecting the industry’s financial incentives.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the number of companies shifting their focus online. As businesses increasingly rely on websites to reach customers, there’s never been a better time to enter the development field.
What does being a WordPress developer mean in practice?
So what does a WordPress developer do?
WordPress developers are technical experts who specialize in creating, customizing, and maintaining websites, including both frontend (user experience) and backend (server side) aspects.
Given the vast scope of development work, many focus on one or two areas. Any job search will bring up a variety of roles and titles:
- Theme developers, who focus on designing themes that dictate the look and layout of WordPress websites.
- Plugin developers, who create or customize plugins to extend the functionality of sites, catering to needs that are not met by the core platform or existing official and unofficial extensions.
- WooCommerce specialists, who are experts in implementing and customizing WooCommerce, a powerful eCommerce plugin for WordPress. These specialists can develop online stores from the ground up to meet the unique requirements of a business.
- API integration developers, who specialize in integrating third-party services into WordPress sites, ensuring everything functions in harmony.
- Performance optimization developers, who focus on enhancing site speed and efficiency across a site.
- Customization developers excel in tailoring plugins to meet specific business needs. They may also focus on themes or unique page designs.
- Full site builders create complete websites from scratch.
- Migration specialists work on transferring sites from other platforms to WordPress.
The future of the WordPress industry looks secure. Alongside a global shift towards online marketing, WordPress’ open-source nature means the demand for skilled developers is unlikely to dwindle.
As businesses try to find points of difference between themselves and their competitors, the need for customization experts will continue to grow. And that’s where we come in.
WordPress professionals who can deliver unique solutions are in high demand. Codeable aligns with this need by providing a platform for businesses to hire highly skilled developers for their projects.
Through Codeable, businesses can find the talent they require, and developers gain the opportunities needed to build a vibrant career. Unlike other platforms, there are no lowest-price-wins scenarios. With set bidding ratios, we enable developers to earn the money their skills deserve.
Becoming a WordPress developer
Knowing where to begin is a challenge all would-be WordPress developers face. To simplify matters, we’ve broken this down into a three-step process:
1. Identify your niche
Although a general knowledge of all things WordPress is essential, every developer needs a focus. This could be theme development, plugin development, or custom solutions, depending on your interests and strengths. By focusing on a specific area, you can develop a deep understanding of the relevant concepts and productivity tools and stand out in the job market.
2. Acquire essential skills
To excel in WordPress development, mastering key programming languages and technologies is vital. PHP, CSS3, JavaScript, and MySQL are great foundations for any developer to learn, and a variety of online courses are available, including Udemy and edX. The A11Y Collective also offer a host of useful courses relating to the importance of developing with web accessibility in mind.
Next up, mastering the WordPress core software is essential for creating user-centric and efficient websites. It’s also worth learning to use Version Control Systems (VCS) such as Git. When employed on complex tasks, these enable developers to manage workflows, collaborate with others on a project, and track changes.
Getting to know WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) is an added asset for any developer. This feature is an amazing time-saver for customizing design across a site, without having to make changes on a page-by-page basis. With FSE, you can create visually appealing websites that are easy to maintain and update.
In general, learning all frontend and backend aspects of WordPress enables a developer to manage overall site performance and create a great user experience.
3. Focus on WordPress-specific development
The platform’s own WP Codex and developer documentation contains detailed resources for those learning WordPress development. You’ll find information on core software, plugin development, modifying the API, and other advanced topics.
It’s also worth understanding Gutenberg – the WordPress block editor – custom post types, and template hierarchy. Knowledge of these helps with both frontend and backend organization while enhancing both the user experience and SEO.
The SEO advantage
A sound knowledge of SEO can give a developer an advantage in the marketplace. Like WordPress itself, SEO is ever-evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest algorithms is a must.
Developers often take care of maintaining site speed, structure, navigation, or fixing file errors. Perform these tasks in a way that search engine bots can understand, and you’ll add extra value to any project.
Continuous learning: advancing your WordPress development career
In order to remain proficient and offer value, ongoing education is essential for WordPress developers. The platform undergoes frequent updates to introduce new features, improve security, and optimize performance.
Beyond WordPress, the broader web development field evolves with the emergence of new programming languages, frameworks, and design trends. Digital never stands still, and developers who fail to move with the times are quickly left behind.
In an ever-changing industry, continuous improvement gives a WordPress developer the following advantages:
- Quality and efficiency: Having the latest knowledge means implementing best practices, resulting in better work, performed in less time.
- Innovation and creativity: Exposure to new ideas, tools, and techniques fuels innovation, allowing developers to offer greater solutions to complex problems.
- A competitive edge: Staying ahead of trends makes a developer more attractive to employers seeking cutting-edge expertise.
To keep up with the latest developments, you can follow various pathways. These range from formal education in computer science to online courses and self-teaching. Leading sources to refine and update skills include Coursera, Grow with Google, and the WordPress Codex.
Hands-on experience is also great for learning. Developers can practice techniques through self-led projects. You can also contribute to open-source initiatives and utilize staging environments for learning, such as Local by Flywheel or WP Stagecoach.
WordPress-related news sites – such as WP Tavern and the WordPress news blog – offer timely information on updates, security issues, and community events.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment! Testing out new features, plugins, or themes in a sandbox environment can lead to a deeper understanding of their usefulness and potential impact on future projects.
Engaging with the WordPress community for growth and opportunities
Becoming an active member of the WordPress community is a further gateway to expanding knowledge and finding work. Alongside meeting like-minded people both online and in person, you can gain insights into the latest fixes, trends, and products in development.
Dedicated WordPress podcasts such as Matt Report, WPCoffeeTalk, and kitchensinkWP provide a convenient way of staying up-to-date. They’ll usually be hosted by people with a genuine passion for the WordPress platform. And with a little experience, you can even set up your own podcast by using plugins such as Podcast Player or Simple Podcasting – a great way to widen your network.
Participating in the WordPress Support Forum or the Advanced WordPress Facebook group also has a number of benefits. These provide opportunities to test your knowledge and display your expertise. They’ll also give you the chance to become a known name within the development industry. When starting out, you can gain experience here to add to your portfolio and future job applications.
Attending a WordCamp conference provides opportunities to learn from experts, network with developers, and gain insights into the latest developments. For freelancers, having an ever-expanding contact list is a must.
Developers can further increase their credibility by contributing to the WordPress Core. Contributors work on everything from platform improvements to testing new features, fixing bugs, or coding ideas into reality. Others may focus on translations or writing documentation for WordPress users.
It’s a challenging process, but you’ll be able to learn from experienced developers and gain recognition for a job done well. Contributions to the WordPress core can bolster your skill set, enhance your portfolio, and open up new career opportunities.
Building a standout WordPress portfolio
To build an impressive portfolio, it’s vital to align completed projects with the types of jobs you’re applying for. Including a variety of work – from small customizations to full-site developments – will showcase a broad range of expertise.
A comprehensive skill set is best shown through projects that cover different aspects of WordPress development, including both frontend and backend work. Demonstrate your technical proficiencies by detailing the use of HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, APIs, frameworks, and any other technologies.
Include projects that show a high level of expertise in WordPress development. Any projects relating to custom themes or plugins can enhance a portfolio’s appeal to potential clients.
Incorporating case studies demonstrates problem-solving abilities and highlights the value delivered. By showcasing project outcomes and detailing the solutions provided, developers can showcase their skills in context.
Make your portfolio attractive and easy to access with a responsive design. To attract more clients, it’s recommended to have an online version – why not build your own site using WordPress? And remember to optimize it for search engines.
As a starting point, you should conduct keyword research to discover the terms business owners are using when looking for a developer. Enrich your page headers, portfolio descriptions, and case studies with these terms to help clients find you. This potentially reduces the time you need to spend looking for work.
Finally, including client feedback in a portfolio enhances credibility and builds trust with potential employers. Testimonials can help you gain an edge over other developers by demonstrating your working style and professionalism. Adding further trust signals, such as company logos or WordPress community contributions, will further validate your expertise.
Keep your portfolio updated with any new projects, courses taken, and events attended. Regular updates demonstrate growth and a long-term commitment to WordPress development.
For those using Codeable as a platform, you’ll already have proven your skill set by passing our entry process. Make sure you highlight this in your portfolio by focusing on the specific elements required by high-paying clients.
Codeable WordPress developers can add links in their portfolio back to their Codeable profile, increasing their trust factor and reputation.
Unlock your WordPress career potential with Codeable
Codeable stands out as the leading platform for WordPress developers looking to advance their careers. Anyone looking to master WordPress and reap the rewards of becoming a first-class developer will find all the opportunities they need.
Our stringent vetting process means only the top 2% of WordPress developers are accepted on our platform. This emphasizes the quality assurance that Codeable provides to businesses. Unlike many other platforms, our hiring process is based on skills and value; not the lowest bidder.
Minimum rates of $80-120 USD per hour guarantee a fair wage for excellent work, and we manage all payments – there’ll be no frantic invoicing to clients at the end of every project. Codeable developers are welcome to work from anywhere in the world with a reliable WiFi connection.
Our support team is on hand to help you navigate any tricky client relationships. You’ll also gain access to training videos and masterclasses through our Expert Academy.
Earning your place on the Codeable platform is a great way to grow as a WordPress developer. We provide opportunities for freelancers seeking flexible work and independent contractors who prefer long-term projects.
You’ll find openings for a wide range of jobs, from small customizations to large-scale site builds. Codeable developers are able to expand their skill sets and focus on their passions.
Getting started with Codeable
To get started with Codeable, work on your portfolio and join our waiting list to be notified of our next application window. Study the tips we listed earlier, paying attention to your technical prowess, project case studies, and client testimonials.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to watch a short video on our site and answer some related questions. Next, you’ll take a coding quiz, then a test project, focused on either frontend or backend development skills. Finally, you’ll have an interview with one of our expert team members. The whole process takes up to a month to complete, but you can reap the rewards for a lifetime.
Partnering with Codeable offers a unique opportunity for devs to become go-to experts in their field. Establish yourself as a leading WordPress developer by joining us today!