A List Apart has released the results for its third annual “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.

As in years past, what emerges is the first true picture of the profession of web design as it is practiced by men and women of all ages, across all continents, in corporations, agencies, non-profits, and freelance configurations.

A sampling of the results from this year’s survey:

• Most satisfied: Educators. Least satisfied: Art directors.
• The more web-related your work, the less likely you are to work less than 20 hours/week.
• Traditional job titles (e.g. creative director, writer/editor, marketer) have the most pronounced skill gaps.

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

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.