How Much Do Coding Bootcamp Graduates Earn in 2021?
Coding bootcamps offer short and intensive training for people who want to pursue the highest-paying tech jobs without a college degree. People who are interested in web development, software engineering, UX design, product management, data science, and cyber security fields can attend bootcamps to learn the necessary skills.
However, some people wonder whether coding bootcamp graduates can get jobs in tech or earn a decent salary like college graduates. Read this guide to learn how much bootcamp graduates earn and the average salary after a coding bootcamp. You can also find tips on how to increase your salary potential after attending a coding bootcamp.
What Is a Coding Bootcamp?
Coding bootcamps are tech training programs that teach specific tech skills. Bootcamps are intensive because they are shorter than degree programs and can last between a couple of weeks to six months or longer. This gives you enough tech experience for an entry-level role with a decent median income.
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These immersive coding bootcamps are often less expensive than degree programs. Also, they offer more payment plans to ease the financial burden. These payment plans include an income share agreement, installment payments, and deferred tuition. In some cases, you don’t have to pay tuition until you graduate and get a job.
Students enrolled in coding bootcamps can attend online or in person. This flexibility is one of the reasons it is so popular among working professionals who need to learn outside of work. Furthermore, coding bootcamps offer different learning schedules such as self-paced, part-time, and full-time programs.
Can You Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp?
Yes, you can get a job after graduating from a coding bootcamp. Most coding bootcamps publish statistics of their graduate outcomes, and some are verified by organizations such as the Council on Integrity and Results Performing (CIRR). The CIRR has graduate outcome statistics for Launch Academy, Hack Reactor, Tech Elevator, Codesmith, and more.
Most of the bootcamp graduates secured roles as software developers, web developers, software engineers, and data scientists. Some were full-time roles, while others were part-time. Other graduates secured internship positions as well. In most cases, bootcamp graduates can earn high salaries with their skills and experience.
How Much Do Bootcamp Graduates Make?
Bootcamp graduates earn between $60,000 and $100,000 per year. Since bootcamps have their own outcome reports, you can get a good sense of median salaries. Your average salary increase depends on your experience, location, and job. People with previous computer science degrees will earn more than people with only a bootcamp education.
According to Turing School in Denver, its graduates earned an average salary of $79,500 for entry-level positions in online web development. Hack Reactor reported that its graduates in Los Angeles earned an average salary of $70,000, while those in New York made $95,000 for entry-level jobs.
Graduates of Fullstack Academy reported an average salary of $72,000 for entry-level roles in Chicago and $90,000 in New York. Graduates of Tech Elevator earned a median starting salary of $61,000 in Columbus, while those in Cincinnati earned $55,000. In Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the average starting salary has risen to $62,000 and $55,000 respectively.
This demonstrates that the salaries of bootcamp graduates are not uniform due to a variety of factors. However, most are higher than the average salary for all occupations. You can check each bootcamp you’re interested in applying to and see what kind of salaries their graduates earn.
How to Increase Your Salary Potential After a Bootcamp
After attending a coding bootcamp, there are numerous things you can do to increase your earning potential. You need to maintain a competitive advantage over your peers to remain valuable. This means you should make an effort to stay current on emerging trends and seek out new learning opportunities.
1. Improve Your Skills
Hiring managers are always on the lookout for qualified candidates. Specialized soft skills can come in handy as well, so don’t overlook them. Follow new trends, remain up to date, and learn new programming languages to broaden your professional experience. The tech industry is dynamic, so you need to change with it if you desire to have better career opportunities.
2. Get Certified
Your value as an employee increases when you have more qualifications. When you are certified, it demonstrates that you are unequivocally skilled in your field, and employers will be willing to pay a higher salary for a certified candidate. For example, you can get cyber security certifications, Python certifications, tech sales certifications, and more.
3. Network
Even if you’re extremely skilled, you need to network in order to market yourself. The best job opportunities often come from recommendations from industry professionals. Networking can make it easier to connect with people who can recommend you for jobs or offer you jobs with a higher salary.
4. Change Careers
Sometimes, staying in one tech company or sector can prevent you from increasing your salary potential. Therefore, keep an eye out for fast-growing industries and in-demand professions and break into them. Consider the sectors with the best long-term prospects. If you do so, you will not only increase your salary potential, but you will also learn new skills that will increase your employability.
5. Relocate
As previously stated, location can affect how much a person earns. Salaries are often tailored to the standard of living in a particular location. A higher standard of living translates into a more lucrative salary. For example, the average salary for software developers in San Francisco is $106,238, according to PayScale.
Highest-Paying Jobs for Bootcamp Graduates
Bootcamp graduates can earn up to six figures depending on their field. However, DevOps, data science, and product management fields are among the highest-paying jobs. Other fields include software engineering, user design, and web development. Below are the salary expectations for different career levels.
| Job Title | Entry-Level Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Late-Career Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backend Developer | $61,042 | $95,000 | $130,000 |
| Development Operations (DevOps) Engineer | $74,394 | $103,919 | $130,367 |
| Data Scientist | $85,055 | $109,912 | $135,591 |
| Full Stack Developer | $65,653 | $92,502 | $100,384 |
| Software Engineer | $77,166 | $96,418 | $115,375 |
| Product Manager | $79,963 | $105,955 | $121,009 |
| User Experience (UX) Designer | $64,078 | $84,552 | $98,685 |
| Application Developer | $59,309 | $81,048 | $93,552 |
| User Interface (UI) Designer | $50,022 | $69,601 | $99,296 |
| Web Developer | $50,640 | $67,220 | $82,598 |
Companies that Hire Bootcamp Graduates
Bootcamp graduates secure full-time jobs in different tech companies, ranging from small startups to well-known companies. IBM, Mailchimp, Slack, Uber, Google, Apple, Eventbrite, and Tesla are among the companies that hire coding bootcamp graduates. Read below to learn more about the job opportunities you can find as a bootcamp grad.
1. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a popular marketing platform that allows users to create email campaigns. The platform also enables users to create landing pages using its marketing CRM and content creation tools. This company hires coding bootcamp graduates for software engineering roles. In this tech role, they benefit from perks such as 401(k) and parental leave.
2. IBM
IBM is a tech company that develops and sells computer software and computer hardware. This company hires coding bootcamp graduates as software engineers and offers a competitive benefits package. You should get a job at IBM if you want the opportunity to collaborate with tech experts around the world.
3. Slack
Slack is the market leader when it comes to enterprise communication. The platform offers cloud-based, flexible, and intuitive tools for teams at organizations and companies and uses advanced technology to create these functions. Slack often hires software engineers from coding bootcamps to design, build, and implement API methods.
4. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a ticketing and event management website. Users of this service can create, browse, and promote local events. This web-based event management service simplifies the ticketing and registration process. Eventbrite also employs coding bootcamps graduates such as software engineers. They enjoy perks like 401(k), paid vacations, and free lunch.
5. Uber
Uber is best known as a ride-hailing platform that connects users to drivers and restaurants. It has an app that estimates fares based on the user’s location. Uber hires front end developers and software engineers to build and maintain the application’s software. They can enjoy benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, gym membership, and fertility assistance.
Should You Enroll in a Coding Bootcamp?
Yes, you should enroll in a coding bootcamp if you want to enter the tech scene. A coding bootcamp is the easiest way for people to acquire the technical skills required to build a successful career in tech. This skill can come in handy in your current profession and even increase your earning potential.
Salary After Coding Bootcamp FAQ
You can make between $60,000 and $100,000 per year after attending a coding bootcamp. Your salary depends on your location, skills, and previous education.
Can you really get a job after coding bootcamp?
Yes, you can get a job after completing a coding bootcamp. The jobs are mostly in fields such as software development, software engineering, and web development.
Is a coding bootcamp worthwhile?
Yes, a coding bootcamp is worthwhile if you want to quickly acquire in-demand skills and break into the tech industry. It is significantly less expensive than attending a university.
What companies hire coding bootcamp graduates?
Companies that hire bootcamp grads include Eventbrite, Google, Uber, Tesla, Slack, Mailchimp, and IBM. Most of these companies hire coding bootcamp graduates as software engineers or web developers.
