Career comparison
IT Support Specialist vs. Web Developer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Web developers earn more at the median ($92,650 vs. $61,860), while IT support specialists usually get to work faster (3–6 months of training). IT support specialists help people solve computer, account and network problems: the classic way into IT. Web developers build fast, accessible websites and web applications people love to use.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| IT Support Specialist | Web Developer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,860 ($29.74/hr) | $92,650 ($44.54/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,980 – $100,540 | $48,100 – $162,290 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -3.5% (a projected decline) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 39,700 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | Some college, no degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 3–6 months | 6 months to 4 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA A+ | Portfolio of projects |
| Work setting | IT support specialists work for companies of every kind, managed service providers (MSPs), schools and government. | Web developers work for agencies, tech companies, corporations, government and as freelancers. |
What each job does
IT Support Specialist
- Respond to help desk tickets, calls and chats
- Troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity issues
- Set up and configure computers, phones and peripherals
- Manage user accounts, passwords and permissions
- Install updates and support security tools
Web Developer
- Build web pages and applications from designs and requirements
- Write HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Develop back-end services, APIs and databases
- Make sites responsive, accessible and fast
- Test, debug and fix issues
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, desk work, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose IT support specialist if…
- I enjoy fixing tech problems
- I stay patient when people are frustrated
- I like learning new technology
Choose web developer if…
- I enjoy building things on a computer
- I like solving logic puzzles
- I care about design and user experience
Still torn? Take the IT Support Specialist fit quiz and the Web Developer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, IT support specialist or web developer?
Web Developers earn more at the median: $92,650 versus $61,860 for IT support specialists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
IT Support Specialists typically train faster (3–6 months) than web developers (6 months to 4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects web developers to grow +3.8% from 2025–35, compared with -3.5% for IT support specialists.