XHTML CSS Coder Salary

Not really. XHTML/CSS top notch studio designers are reluctant to work at a rate of $50 / hour.

$32 is just too normal for an intermediary XHTML/CSS worker.

 

Reminds me of a guy named Johnny I worked with when I was a commercial framer years ago.

He made 4X as much as anyone else, but most of his job entaled fixing others mistakes. Technically he wasn't a framer. He got paid really well to bring what the framers did up to code.

[X]HTML/CSS is alot like framing. You have the bulk laborers, & you have the people who bring it up to expected standards. At least that's the way I see it.

 

I agree with Joebert! XHTML/CSS coding does have it's mass production side and then there is the side of it where the coders take GREAT pride in the work they do. The latter of the two, I feel does a lot more work and holds themselves to a much higher standard than your average mass production sub-contracted from India coder.

I have been payed anywhere from $18-$25/hr at normal contract gigs, for doing just that. Building websites with high quality semantic XHTML and CSS that validates to the W3C's recommendations. For freelance, I've charged up to $45/hr to build pages in XHTML/CSS.

Though, now I charge by the page and I still make a considerably good amount per hour. So, it just goes to say on what level you are when it comes to XHTML/CSS Coding. CSS is a specialty where there are a lot who do specialize in it, but when compared to the amount of people who consider themselves CSS coders, the number of CSS/XTML specialists really is small.

So here is my break down on the typical CSS/XHTML coders pay rate (that's full-time employee/contract):

Hourly:
Entry level (1-2 yrs exp.) - $12-$16/hr
Inter. level (2-4 yrs exp.) - $17-$26/hr
Expert level (3-5 yrs exp.) - $24-$35/hr
Advanced Prof (5+ yrs exp.) - $$$$ Make pretty much what they wanna make and they won't be primarily a CSS/XHTML coder.

Salary:
Entry level (1-2 yrs exp.) - $25k-$33k/yr
Inter. level (2-4 yrs exp.) - $34k-$54k/yr
Expert level (3-5 yrs exp.) - $50k-$72k/yr
Advanced Prof (5+ yrs exp.) - $$$$ Make pretty much what they wanna make and they won't be primarily a CSS/XHTML coder.


These pay rates are based off the fact that some people can gain a lot more experience and knowledge in this field in a much short time than others, if they are soley doing just CSS/XHTML and are pretty much forced to keep up with new trends, cross-browser compatibility and the standards.

Peace,
Patrick

 

So does the XHTML/CSS you talk about include the design and originality of ideas? Suppose not.

1 - 2 years is quite a span for entral level, XHTML/CSS themselves alone never have that much to learn about, and yes, experiences included.

 

No that does not include design and originality/creativity, but it does include the time it takes to learn how to use Photoshop and Illustrator to slice and optimize image of a design.

As for the code, I beg to differ, because to learn and master XHTML/CSS, there is a LOT to learn and accomplish. Really, your not learning just the XHTML and CSS themselves, but how the languages work across different browsers, knowing what attributes can be applied to each element, unthe box model and how it is used in every browser, and so much more. Also, it's not just cross-browser compatibility, it is also learning and using best practices of both languages, and using the two languages with Javascript. In addition, there's knowing how to write XHTML and CSS for accessibility, semantics. Really there is a lot about the two languages that takes longer than 2 years to become very proficient in and be able to have a strong understanding of all things XHTML/CSS.


But that is based of my experience and the experiences of those I know who are or have been XTML/CSS coders.

-Patrick

 

And you would be right, Patrick. The (X)HTML/CSS coders who know what they're talking about (I happen to be one of them - and trust me, I'm always learning and trying new things out) are a different breed of animal than the dime a dozen coders who know just enough to be dangerous and have decided that's all there is to learn about the subject (by the way, no disrespect is intended towards this particular group).

 

Can't agree more, but actually I think you two have got me wrong.

Patrick, if one can perfectly do all the stuff you talked about, he is already way beyond entry-level. I have never come to the conclusion that XHTML/CSS is just a piece of cake to be knocked down, and yes, to get to the full potential of them definitely requires time, effort, continuous learning and practicing. But still, 5 years of time just to become expert of XHTML/CSS, I don't think so. One can achieve much more than that and XHTML/CSS is never that hard.

Of course, Dan, I totally agree with you in terms of the eternal evolution of web coders / workers.