In my opinion, first we need to divide the "Web designer" title. Do You want to be a graphical designer, create GUI's (Graphical User interface), web designs or do You want to be a Web developer? The diference is quite simple - good web developer needs to know many different programming languages, begining from script language like PHP to Javascript, Java and even c/ C++ to create a proper, reliable and stable web applications. Both earn good money, only if they are really good. There are many peoples who thinks "heck' ill do the site, I'm a web developer/designer! hooray!"... well, it is not that simple. Average wage for web developers/designers oscillating in 1500$-2500$/month for a full job. The unique ones, who really love what they are doing and are good in it make a lot more, even to 120,000$ for a project (for example: in my country started a new mobile phones network... their site was priced for around 200,000$) Also, a bit of luck is also required - being THIS web developer/designer at THIS place in the RIGHT time...