A good web designer needs to know graphic design, HTML, CSS, Javascript, mySQL, PHP, and Perl, all distinct subjects, but he doesn't necessarily have to be a master in any one of them. I imagine most site admins are in more or less the same situation. A Perl programmer, on the other hand, being in a much more specific job, will be required to have advanced skills in Perl. Assuming you don't yet have those advanced skills, you can either (a) pick a job that uses Perl but doesn't focus solely on it or (b) apprentice yourself to a really excellent Perl programmer and work your way up. Or you can do consulting work and hope you get paid before someone smarter than you looks at your code.