Webmasters are responsible for the design, development, maintenance and success of Internet and intranet websites.

Duties and responsibilities vary considerably from one job to another in this occupation and there is considerable overlap with occupations such as Web Designer, Web Technician and Interactive Media Programmer. For the purposes of this profile, webmasters are defined as managers who are responsible for their organizations' websites.

In general, webmasters:

• ensure that websites advance their organizations' goals
• ensure optimum site performance on an ongoing basis (this often requires balancing graphic appeal against access speed requirements as well as overseeing technical activities)
• promote the website within the organization and educate people about related issues and technology
• develop and implement budgets for website development and maintenance
• co-ordinate the work of people who do website related work (for example, web designers, web technicians)
• select server or desktop environments and web development tools
• set standards and procedures regarding the design and production of additions to the site
• use software to generate and track site access statistics.

In large organizations, webmasters may work with a team of information specialists or a committee of representatives from various parts of the organization. In some organizations, webmasters also are responsible for developing and maintaining an intranet (an internal network similar to the Internet but accessible only to personnel within the organization).

In small organizations, webmasters may be personally responsible for everything from the initial design of the website to coding documents and monitoring site traffic and performance.

Webmasters generally work standard weekday hours in an office environment or from home. Evening and weekend work may be required for website installation and maintenance activities.

The work can be stressful when:

• there are technical problems with websites or intranets
• personnel from different parts of the organization have conflicting ideas about the purpose, design and content of the site or intranet
• people have unrealistic expectations regarding system reliability or the frequency or speed of information updating.

Occupational hazards include eyestrain from spending long hours looking at a computer screen and repetitive movement injuries.

Webmasters need a combination of management and technical expertise. The specific qualifications required vary depending on the nature of the position and the employing organization but generally include an understanding of principles and current practices in:

• management and administration
• technical writing and graphic design
• computer hardware and software systems.

Webmasters generally acquire the knowledge and skills they need through a combination of work experience and formal education. For example, an experienced marketing manager can acquire the required technical expertise through professional development activities such as attending seminars, reading extensively and working closely with other professionals (for example, graphic artists, writers, computer engineers, computer programmers, database analysts, librarians). Likewise, people educated and experienced in other occupations can acquire management related knowledge and skills through professional development activities.

Some employers require webmasters to have considerable computer expertise including a working knowledge of specific computer languages or database applications. For other positions, an overall knowledge of what is technologically possible is more important than programming skills.

Prospective webmasters should begin by taking a post-secondary program related to management and administration, computer science or web design. (For more information, see the Web Designer, Marketing Manager, Software Engineer, Computer Programmer, Graphic Designer and related occupational profiles.)

Information Systems Professional is a protected title under Alberta's Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act. This means that to call yourself an Information Systems Professional or use the I.S.P. designation, you must be a registered member of the Canadian Information Processing Society of Alberta (CIPS Alberta). You do not have to be registered if you do not call yourself an Information Systems Professional.

Webmasters may be employed by or work on a contract basis for organizations of all types including:

• wholesale or retail businesses
• large corporations
• government departments
• industrial establishments
• consulting firms
• post-secondary institutions
• not-for-profit organizations.

Webmaster is a management level position requiring previous related experience. Opportunities for further advancement depend on the nature of the organization and the webmaster's qualifications.

Webmasters are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 2175: Web Designers and Developers. In Alberta, 75 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• Information, Culture and Recreation
• Educational Services.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

Income figures for webmasters vary greatly depending on the scope of the position and the webmaster's training and experience. Webmasters in small, not-for-profit organizations may be volunteers.

Salaries for webmasters who have management responsibilities are generally higher than for those who do not.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Web Designers and Developers occupational group earned from $16.83 to $51.53 an hour. The average wage was $31.34 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) website: www.cips.ca

Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) website: www.ictc-ctic.ca

Discover IT website: www.discoverit.org

IT is all around you (Alberta ICT Council) website: www.checkoutit.ca