Last July, A List Apart (ALA) held its second “Survey for People Who Make Websites“, which gives professional writers, editors, designers, students, and hobbyists who have a role in web design a chance to share their experience with the field.

More than 30,000 people participated in the 2008 survey, which covered salary, education, job satisfaction, and much more.

This year’s findings paint a clearer picture of the distinctions between full-time and freelance web professionals: how you work, what you earn, and what you love about the job. Interestingly, too, despite the brutality of a global recession that was already in full swing (like an axe) when we offered the survey, most respondents revealed a surprisingly high level of job security, satisfaction, and confidence in the future.

Here are just a few of the interesting results:

• More than half of those surveyed are employees, and 26.2% are freelancers
• More than 70% have a personal site/blog
• Number one way to stay current: read relevant websites/zines/blogs

Check out the full results on the survey’s website. You can also download the raw data here.