Web Development: profitable or not??

[GUJUm0deL]

Hey guys, something just dawned on me while I was working on a client's project: how profitable is web development?? So far i've done a few contarct projects (aside from working) and the proft margin just isn't there...
Some of my friends do some consulting work as network admin. or database admin. and they can pull in 2-3K per project, while web development can pull in anywhere from 750 dollars (USD) - 1200K, am I the only one that sees something wrong here??
I'm seriously considering changing fields. And let's face it guys, bottom line is that we do what we do to make money, sure the love of the work is there, but the major point is making money.
I've done some google search on what some web developers charge for their servies, and the most i've come up against is 1200K (again USD), while admin. work can pull in three times, sometimes four times that amount, and it's less agrivated. Like web developers have to constantly check the sites on numorous browsers, OS platforms, and diff. screen resolutions, way too much and less pay. So, is web developement profitable if someone were to start their on web development business??

[sub]I have this little thing, Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage. It's no big deal really...[/sub]

 

[dwarfthrower]

It's certainly not as profitable as it used to be. But I'm inclined to think that the prices we charged 4 years ago were a little inflated.

It depends on what you're doing and who you're doing it for. A few years ago, HTML was a fairly specialised skill and HTML coders were in short supply. Now, my nine-year-old cousin can make a HTML web page. So you can't expect to be paid a lot of money for simply putting together a few web pages. Likewise, a few years ago, only the big firms could afford to have their web sites built for them, and could afford to pay the sort of money that HTML coders were asking. Now, nearly every business has a web site and nearly every business owner either has a teenager or knows a teenager capable of creating a satisfactory web site. So you will never get particularly wealthy putting together 6 page web sites for local bakeries and shoe stores.

My last project was AU$250,000... A little over $150,000 US. It's all a matter of what you're doing and who you're doing it for.

Web development is a constantly changing industry and those who wish to keep their head above water need to be willing to change as rapidly as the requirements of the industry. Five years ago I was making a comfortable living with plain old HTML. Now I'm using Java and XML to put together large scale web-applications. You can't expect to be able to make a living of a limited set of skills in this industry.

So to answer your question, yes - web development is and will continue to be profitable. The proviso is that anyone who wishes to be competetive will have to work very hard to keep in front of a very large pack.

[sub]Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world.
There's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams.[/sub]

 

[lebisol]

dwarfthrower
has put it nicely about changes in web world....
as far as admin vs. programmer I think I can speak from both perspectives. Most people value the fact that "someone" can setup their little office network and put a file server, ATM machines, faxes etc. since that brings their business to "speed" while website.....well it's "just a site". Depends on what kind of work u do and for whome.
"Like web developers have to constantly check the sites on numorous browsers, OS platforms, and diff. screen resolutions, way too much and less pay"
---please...as if admin peeps dont get enought exploits and security wholes...viruses...mouse-disabled useres...and besided who is the one updaing the very same servers u run your web stuff on?hm? <--- I am not talking about MS certified-read a few books-installed a few machines-I can figure it out-guy but rather a true Admin of 2000+ users

Trust me, X no. of machines that lived for 2-3 yrs without maintnance....corroupted DBs..infected mail severs are NO fun just as much as it is to de-code a web project.
this outside job of 3 day ( I mean 22 hrs of work/day)payed great....(1/2 of my monthly salary) but they dont come arroud as often.
Netadmin is not what it used to be....giant companies are not as big...IT demand is down (US perspective)

bottom line: U can not participate in &quot;IT -related&quot; job (soft, hard or admin) and claim that u can only do 1 thing....(unless ur a son of B.Gates) but rather be versitile and do &quot;what it takes&quot;.

I remember 6-7 yrs ago my words were: &quot; I will do anything but program...I hate to sit still and go through the lines of code&quot; riiiiiiight
....so I majored in MIS and studied it all (friday night C++,VB class(es) was no warmup for a party LOL)....u can look at my profile and see where most of my times goes now...NOT a whole lot of admin I can tell u that much!
Tomorrow....who knows...perhaps I find a company whose GUI I can steal and call it &quot;MicroViews&quot; that runs on &quot;View 2003&quot;.....wait.....I think this was done LOL!
I am not sure how this helps your post....but here it is!
All the best!

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