What Is The Typical Work Schedule For A Web Developer

What is the typical work schedule for a web developer? Anyone considering a new career is curious about what their work schedule is going to look like. After all, dissatisfaction with your current work schedule is one of the top reasons people start to look into switching careers.

Nobody wants to take the leap into a new career field just to find out that they’re even more overworked than they were before. So, back to the original question: what is the typical work schedule for a web developer? The answer is that it’s hard to determine what a “typical” schedule is for web developers.

Your schedule as a web developer is going to depend largely on what kind of web developer you are. In fact, if your work schedule is something that you’re particularly concerned about, you may want to factor that in when you’re deciding what kind of web developing work to do. The variance in work schedules from one developer role to another is so big that we really have to answer this question separately for each type of web developer.

Working As A Web Developer For A FANG Company

For many people interested in being a web developer, working for a FANG company is the ultimate goal. It’s exactly the sort of work and lifestyle that the public tends to associate with any kind of tech related job these days- high paying, cutting edge, and a general perception of a great work environment. But is it accurate? And what is the typical work schedule for a web developer working there?

What Is A FANG Company?

First let’s back up a bit and talk about what FANG stands for. It’s an acronym for Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google. When the term was first coined in 2013 these four companies were dominating the marketplace and were considered the four tech giants that everyone wanted to work for.

You can add Apple and Microsoft to the mix now, and probably some others. Lots of smaller companies that don’t have the influence or market shares of the Big Six still try to emulate them, reasoning that it makes sense to copy their methods. That includes how they set up their working environment for their employees.

What Is The Typical Work Schedule For A Web Developer at a FANG Company

These companies tend to require that their employees work on site and in person. Right away that’s a problem for some people, because one of the big draws of being a web developer is the ability to work anywhere, and the freedom that comes along with it.

If you’re looking forward to being able to work as a web developer from anywhere in the world, a career with one of the big tech companies is probably not the best choice for you.

Jobs with these companies will also come with very high expectations, and that means long hours. There’s a lot of work to be done here, and a 40 hour work week may not be acceptable in the eyes of your boss. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of 100+ hour work weeks. Grueling hours and tough deadlines are often the norm.

That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, though. A lot of the people who work for these companies are exactly the sort who thrive in that kind of environment. You just need to be aware of what would probably be expected of you. You would be expected to work in the office and for long hours, and your schedule would be intense.

They Offer Incentives To Offset The Long Hours

The nice thing about these companies is that they’re very aware of how demanding they are, and of the pressure that can put on their employees. They know the toll that working those hours and meeting their deadlines can have, and they offer incentives to help offset that.

Company cafeterias with free food make it a bit easier to spend a 12 hour day at the office, because you don’t have to worry about cooking, grocery shopping, or finding a restaurant. And it’s common for the food they serve to be high-quality and fairly healthy, too, so you’re not just stuck eating junk.

They also offer amenities you’re used to finding in an apartment complex, not a workplace. A lot of them have a gym that employees can use for free. Things like that really do make it a lot easier to spend long hours in the office, because you won’t have to sacrifice other parts of a healthy lifestyle.

That said, if you want a flexible schedule that lets you travel a lot, a career with one of these companies may not suit you well. If you love this kind of work, if you’re a highly driven person who loves to overachieve, these jobs are ideal for you.

So, what is the typical work schedule for a web developer at a FANG company? Long hours, Monday through Friday. The exact hours would vary, too. But the benefits will be great, and for a lot of people that can make the grueling work schedule worth it.

It’s also worth pointing out that much of those hours are not imposed by the company itself, but by the workers. This is the most competitive environment for web developers to work in, and the drive to constantly put out the best product is intense. Workers tend to impose harsh schedules on themselves just to keep up.

What Is The Typical Work Schedule For A Web Developer At Non-FANG Companies

Of course, FANG companies aren’t the only ones in need of web developers, and the vast majority of web developers are going to find work elsewhere. There are plenty of companies and agencies in need of great web developers.

One huge advantage of working for these companies is that there’s far less pressure working here than in a FANG company. They probably won’t offer cool amenities like free meals and an on-site gym, but they probably also won’t be nearly such stressful places to work.

You can find work at a web development agency, or at a company that needs its own web developers on staff. Either way, you’ll find a lot of variation in both working conditions and work schedules. It’s going to be up to you to make sure that you end up in a position that has a work schedule you’re ok with.

Remote vs In Person

Some companies or agencies will insist on having you work on site with them. For some web developers that’s a big turn-off, but it really does have its benefits. For one thing, if you’re collaborating with other developers on a project, that’s going to go more smoothly if you’re all in the same building. Since it’s common for web developers to specialize in one aspect of web development, collaboration like that is fairly normal.

Some people also find that working in an office space really helps them to maintain a regular schedule and a better work-life balance. There’s something about leaving home and going to a different place to work that helps them to leave their work at work, instead of taking it home with them. It also usually gives them clear working hours. Since standard business hours are 9am to 5pm, it’s typical for those to be your hours too.

Still, many agencies and companies are happy to let their web developers work remotely. The work itself can be done from anywhere, and letting their employees work remotely helps keep overhead costs low. That’s a big plus for any employer. It also increases the likelihood that they’ll find the best employees, since they won’t be limited to just the developers living close by, or who are willing to relocate.

A lot of web developers like working remotely because it gives them the freedom to travel whenever they want, even if they’ll often have to work while they travel. It also opens up more job opportunities because they aren’t limited to finding jobs near where they live. They could literally take a job with a company on the other side of the country if they wanted to, and they wouldn’t have to relocate.

This also gives them a lot of flexibility in their work schedule. If they’re an early riser they can get all of their work for the day done before lunchtime and then have their afternoons free. Of course that still depends somewhat on their employers. They probably need to be available for phone calls and emails all day long in case someone needs to reach them. And if they’re collaborating on a project that will also limit their schedule flexibility.

The Good vs The Not Good

Even when discussing working for a company, we can’t really say what is the typical work schedule for a web developer, because it varies so much. In fact this is something you should be asking about during your interviews. Every company is different and the work schedule there is heavily influenced by the specific culture of the company.

Some companies are great about keeping a strict 40 hour work week and focusing on work-life balance. For those who really want a regular schedule that won’t interfere with their home life, these companies are ideal. It’s worth pointing out, though, that even here you might find yourself having to work on a weekend every now and then when there’s a big deadline coming up. That’s somewhat unavoidable, but companies that are focused on making sure their employees have a good work-life balance will minimize working weekends.

Other companies won’t do nearly such a good job of this, and can easily push 70+ hour work weeks with their employees. Sometimes they offer hefty salaries commensurate with such long hours, but sometimes they don’t. There are plenty of employers out there who will offer mediocre pay and demand crazy work schedules, claiming that this is what you have to put up with as a new web developer with no experience.

It can be easy to believe that, too. Just like any other field, getting your first job as a web developer with no experience can take a long time. If you’re holding out for jobs that offer good pay with reasonable expectations for their employees, it can take even longer. You may decide that it’s worth it to take a job where you’ll be underpaid and overworked just to get the experience that can land you a better job in the future.

And that might be the right decision for you, or it might not. We can’t answer that one for you. What we can say is that if you’re willing and able to hold out for better jobs, you can probably get one.

So, what is the typical work schedule for a web developer working at a non-FANG company or agency? In the best cases it’s a standard 40-hour work week, with the occasional weekend thrown in if there’s a big deadline coming up. Some jobs will demand more hours than that. If you’re working remotely rather than in person you’ll have the flexibility to work those hours however you like. If you’re working in person it’s usually the standard business hours, 9-5.

That said, you should expect most of those jobs to require you to be on call during business hours even if you’ve completed your work during the day. Sometimes they’ll need you to be on call to fix problems with a website immediately, even outside of business hours.

What Is The Typical Work Schedule Work Schedule For A Web Developer As A Freelancer

There’s no question that you’ll have the most freedom as a web developer when you’re working as a freelancer. That’s because, as a freelance web developer, you are your own boss. You’ll get to determine your own schedule. You choose which clients you work for, and when. You can often have a say in when your deadlines are. And, of course, you can work from whatever location you want to.

Typical Work Schedule For A Freelance Web Developer

More than for any other type of web developer, there really is no one typical work schedule for a freelance web developer. Since each freelancer is free to determine their own schedule, there are many different work schedules as there are freelancers.

Still, there are some things to bear in mind that will constrain even a freelancer’s work schedule. First, while you as a freelancer are free to work whenever you feel like, your clients probably are not. Most likely they’re working from 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. You’ll need to bear that in mind as you work.

You might like getting up at 5 and finishing your work for the day by noon, but you’ll probably still need to check your email or be available for phone calls during the afternoon. Your client might need to talk to you about something, and quick, responsive communication is an important part of good customer service.

While you might have some say in setting deadlines, that choice is ultimately up to the client. You can tell them how much time you think you’ll need to complete a project, but once the deadline is set, it’s always best to stick to it if you can. Your deadlines determine your schedule to a large degree.

Finally, while you can choose to take time off when you want to, you won’t be getting any kind of paid vacation. You get paid when you complete a project, so your financial needs are going to be a big factor in determining your work schedule. That makes it hard to answer what is the typical work schedule for a web developer.

Typical Work Schedules: Remote vs In Person

One of the biggest things that affects the typical work schedule for a web developer is whether they are working remotely or in person. Working in person at an office tends to limit the flexibility of your schedule, while working remotely usually gives you a lot more freedom to set your own schedule.

Both of these approaches have their pros and cons, so let’s dive in and take a look at each one.

What Is The Typical Work Schedule for A Web Developer Working Remotely?

Whether they’re a freelancer or not, a web developer working remotely can set their own hours and work at the times that suit them best. This can be a huge advantage, since many people just don’t work well from 9 to 5. Everyone has times when they find it easier to focus, buckle down and get to work.

You might find that you focus and work better from 7am until 11am, and then taking a couple of hours off lets you work with better focus from 1pm until 4pm. If you’re working remotely, you can do that. This is an important point for a lot of people. If you’re like us, you find yourself really struggling to focus on your work for an hour or two after lunch, and your productivity falls off a cliff for those two hours. In an office setting, that ends up being largely wasted time. But if you’re working remotely, you can use that time to relax, tackle some chores around the house, or run some errands. Then when you get back to work you feel recharged and ready to go.

There is a downside to working remotely, though. As a web developer, you can work from literally anywhere. As long as you have a laptop and a good internet connection, you’re good to go. While this is mostly a plus, it can be a problem. Since you can work from anywhere, it can be difficult to stick to a clear work schedule.

You might find that you’re working during times when you really would rather be doing something with your family. Your work is accessible to you at all hours, wherever you are. It can make it very difficult to establish a good work-life balance.Working remotely requires that you set healthy boundaries so that your work doesn’t take over your life.Some people are good at this, and they can thrive working this way. Other people have a hard time setting those boundaries, and they will find this kind of work very challenging for them and for their families.

What Is The Typical Work Schedule For A Web Developer Working In An Office?

A web developer working in an office has a work schedule that’s pretty typical for any office worker. Monday-Friday, and usually 9-5. They’ll get weekends off, except on occasion when there’s a big deadline coming up. Overall, it’s not too bad.

There are some exceptions to that. Working for a big FANG company is probably going to mean more than eight hours a day pretty regularly. Plus, you’ll have big deadlines coming up a lot more often, and that means more weekends spent working. They’ll make sure to compensate with a big salary and lots of cool amenities in the workplace, though, so it’s hard to view the more demanding schedule as much of a downside.

The other big exception are companies that aren’t as concerned with the welfare of their employees. These companies will often demand 70+ hour work weeks without offering an increase in pay, or at least not enough of a raise to justify the added hours. For the most part, you can probably avoid these companies.

Anytime you’re working for a company, your typical work schedule is going to depend really heavily on their company culture. Some companies are great about limiting you hours to 40/week, some are a bit more lax about that if you’re willing to put in the extra work, and some will outright demand that you put your work before anything else in your life. That’s true in any career field, so it’s not unique to web developers.

How To Get Your Ideal Work Schedule As A Web Developer

Since there’s no one typical work schedule for a web developer, it’s probably better to focus on what your ideal work schedule would be. Everyone is different, and the best schedule for you isn’t necessarily the best schedule for anyone else.

Now that you know more about how different work environments as a web developer will influence your schedule, you can focus on which kind of work to look for based on your ideal schedule.

Some of us definitely benefit from the stability and constancy of a regular office job. Having a set schedule that never really changes is exactly what some people need. It makes it easy to plan your life in advance and, especially for families with children, it can often be the best choice.

Working as a web developer in an office job, you can have a regular work schedule just like anybody else. You’ll work Monday through Friday, eight hours a day, and you’ll have most weekends off to spend time with your family. A lot of people find it much easier to set clear boundaries and not take their work home with them in this kind of a setup, too. Since they work 9-5 at the office, it’s a simple thing to leave their work behind when they go home. That can help create the best work-life balance for a lot of people.

Other people, though, will absolutely hate that kind of schedule. Being required to be in the office and work specific hours determined by someone else can just feel constraining, not stable. It’s mind-numbing, stressful, and it feels like several hours are wasted each day when you’re struggling to be focused and productive.

If that’s you, working remotely will give you the freedom to create a work schedule that’s customized to you. You can work only during the times when you’re best able to focus. For people with small children, this can actually be best. You might find that waking up early and getting in a couple of hours of deeply focused work before your family gets up is really enjoyable. In fact, some web developers who work remotely are able to do all of their work while their kids are sleeping. They wake up early, work for a couple of hours before the kids are up, then knock out some more work while they’re napping, and then finish up after the kids go to bed. That way they’re free to run errands, do chores, and spend time with their children during the rest of the day.

As long as you’re able to set good boundaries, working remotely can be a great way to work as a web developer. Plus, it lets you travel whenever you like. You don’t even have to take vacation days, because you can work while you travel. Plenty of web developers have caught on to this, and they’ll travel with their laptops. It lets them visit popular destinations in the off-season, when prices are low and there are not crowds of tourists.

Conclusion

What is the typical work schedule for a web developer? It depends entirely on who you’re working for and where you’re working. But in general, most web developers work Monday through Friday, and take weekends off. Since you can do your work from anywhere, many web developers prefer to work remotely so they can set their own hours and travel whenever they like.