If you’re new to the exciting field of tech and you think of starting a career there, then joining a coding bootcamp will prove beneficial down the road — especially if you’re looking to hone in on some technical skills.
According to statistics, the tech industry in the U.S is worth approximately $1.6 trillion and is expected to reach a $5 trillion market value by the end of 2021. With such a boost in market value, you can imagine the number of most common job titles awaiting graduates — whether they’re graduating from college, university, or coding bootcamps.
Another exciting piece of data comes from the Bain & Company consulting firm, which indicates that technology has been the main contributor to economic growth since 2015. The most significant increase they’ve seen here came from companies with technology integration as part of their identity.
When it comes to coding boot camp jobs title prospects in the tech field, the industry is expected to grow at around double the total employment rate in the U.S. It paves the way for a promising job market to graduates from coding bootcamps who wish to work across various tech fields: data visualization, data management, user experience, AI/machine learning, mobile/web development DevOps, quality assurance, cybersecurity, and more.
What is a coding bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is an intensive technical program designed to cover all things programming, helping students add something extra to their skillset in today’s competitive tech space. Compared to a Computer Science university program, for instance, coding bootcamp experience is a more affordable way to get into the technicalities of the field and step foot into learning the practical skills required to compete in today’s job market.
What often makes coding bootcamps an attractive option to students is that they take less time to complete than a university degree, helping students access the industry in less time. Another pro to coding bootcamps is that most of the programs are led by industry professionals who are already in the field. It means that students get to network with a variety of tech professionals, in addition to gaining access to the program’s partners — who are often also potential employers.
Coding bootcamp options vary from one school to another: While most offer full-time, part-time, or online options, they sometimes differ in the range of courses they offer. The majority of coding bootcamps do focus on teaching programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, Python, etc., on training developers in the field. In addition, coding bootcamps teach everything related to web and app development, which is essential for those looking to design/build websites and apps and UX/UI design, data science, machine learning, software engineering courses, and more.
Other coding bootcamps even teach digital marketing, arming those interested in analyzing marketing data with the skill sets they need to do so in the tech field.
When choosing a coding bootcamp, you’ll want to compare critical things like the school’s course options, but also: employment rates, jobs guarantee program options, successful career resources, and an average coding bootcamp salary received upon graduation.
13 most popular jobs for coding bootcamp grads
| Who | What they do | How much they earn |
| Full-Stack Web Developer | JavaScript, Python, Java, SQL | $105,868+ |
| Front-End Web Developer | HTML, JavaScript and CSS | $100,323+ |
| Back-End Web Developer | Python, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, PHP | $115,353+ |
| UX/UI Designer | User Research and Strategy, Wireframing and Prototyping, Responsive Web Design | $69,000+ |
| Software Engineer | JavaScript, Python, C++, Scala | $116,053+ |
| Software Developer | JavaScript, Python, C++, Scala | $107,510+ |
| Software Product Manager | JavaScript, Python, C++ | $87,317+ |
| Data Scientist | Python, JavaScript, Scala, SQL, Julia | $74,968+ |
| Data Analyst | C/C++, Python, JavaScript, Scala, SQL, Julia | $64,916+ |
| Digital Marketer | JavaScrip, Python, Bash, SQL | $60,925+ |
| Technical Support Specialist | Installing, configuring, and updating hardware and software | $48,722+ |
| Application Developer | JavaScript, C++, Python, PHP | $80,043+ |
| DevOps Engineer | PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby, JavaScript, C++, Puppet, Chef | $117,555+ |
Full-Stack Web Developer
Duties: Upon completion of the coding bootcamp, a full-stack developer will work on developing and deploying front-end and the back-end elements of a website, application, or even a computer program. Full-stack developers work alongside a range of other functions in a company, like UX/UI designers and web designers.
Some responsibilities of a full-stack web developer revolve around: converting the elements of web designs into executable code, coding the server-side aspects of a web product, working with different programming languages and technologies to develop websites, web applications, or computer programs, testing and modifying web products or software, and more. In addition, full-stack developers can get ahead of the game by researching industry trends and developments in the digital tech world to help further advance their careers and keep up with all the trends.
Average salary: $105,868+
Front-End Web Developer
Duties: Front-end web developers work alongside their back-end colleagues, implementing all the visual and audio elements required for a web design and incorporating them into a web format. Building effective web products and developing responsive user experiences are also at the forefront of a front-end web developer’s duties.
Moreover, front-end web developers are responsible for web and mobile development and computer programming. They are the ones responsible for designing and editing websites or web applications, developing code that translates design wireframes into visual elements of a web product, optimizing front-end elements for scalability in areas such as loading speed and performance, and more.
Front-end web developers should know how to collaborate effectively with UI/UX designers, back-end developers, and hosting services to create an end-product that paves the way for a successful user experience.
Average salary: $100,323+
Back-End Web Developer
Duties: Back-end web developers are responsible for building and maintaining everything related to the back-end of a website, from the server, application code, to the database. They collaborate with key team members like front-end developers, system administrators, web designers, software engineers, and customers to create effective web and mobile applications.
Some of their primary responsibilities include: optimizing speed, efficiency, and scalability of web/mobile applications, designing, implementing, and maintaining database storage for these applications, writing, debugging, documenting code that runs on the web server, and more.
Some of the above may vary, depending on every back-end developer’s educational background, work experience, and skills, of course.
Average salary: $115,353+
UX/UI Designer
Duties: A UX designer works across every digital facet of a product, with the end goal of producing a responsive and seamless user experience. It includes things like the visuals of a product and its functionality.
UX designers are responsible for testing and noting the usability of a web/mobile product, performing market research to understand the product better, and researching target audiences to comprehend how they interact with the product. Another element of a UX designer’s job is to create product prototypes to help illustrate functionality to management.
As for UI designers, they work closely with visual designers, UX designers, and developers. Most of the time, UI designers understand front-end development, including some coding skills that help facilitate their vision into reality. They work in agile teams, and some of their responsibilities include creating, improving, and using wireframes, prototypes, style guides, user flows, and effectively communicating their ideas.
Average salary: $69,000
Software Engineer
Duties: Software engineers are the ones behind computer programs. One of the first questions they may ask their customers is how they plan to use the software — this helps them identify functionalities that users require from software programs. Another aspect of their job is determining the software security and performance needs and designing the program accordingly while giving specific instructions to programmers, who then write the computer code.
When programs don’t work as planned, or if testers find that a program may be too difficult to use, it’s software engineers who revert to the design process and help fix these issues. Once a program is released to customers, software engineers perform regular updates and maintenance.
Some of the other day-to-day responsibilities of these tech specialists may look like: analyzing users’ needs, followed by designing, testing, and developing software that meets those needs; designing applications/systems and working out how the pieces fit together; documenting every aspect of an application/system; creating a variety of models and diagrams like flowcharts that aim to show programmers the software code required for an application, and more.
Average salary: $116,053+
Software Developer
Duties: Software developers help create and develop software and programs and generally work alongside a team of programmers to code programs that meet the needs of a company or a customer. They are part of the design and implementation phase of software and take part in the computer coding phase. While software developers often hold degrees in Computer Science or Computer Engineering, some get jobs after coding bootcamp.
Here go some responsibilities of software developers: recommending software upgrades for customers’ existing programs and systems, making sure that a program properly functions throughout the software maintenance and testing phase, documenting every element of an application/system for future maintenance and upgrades, analyzing users’ needs followed by designing and testing software to meet those needs, and more.
Average salary: $107,510+
Software Product Manager
Duties: Software product managers assess customer needs and perform market research that helps them analyze and suggest new features to develop for existing products. They typically work with product management software and management tools, and they’re required to have solid project management skills. In addition, software product managers should be well-versed in the agile methodology and manage and participate in Daily Scrum and Sprint Planning.
Successful specialists in this field are also required to have a deep understanding of the product vision and product launch to communicate deliverables to other team members better, ensuring a positive end result to customers/users.
Upon graduating from a coding bootcamp, some of the responsibilities that software product managers can expect to have are as follows:
- ultimately overseeing and managing the software development lifecycle, working with the market research and management teams on the discovery phase,
- collaborating with the product owner to help develop a product vision for the new product,
- analyzing the entire competitive landscape to learn what competitors are doing in the market,
- analyzing trend reports, industry content, market statistics, sales data, user stories, mockups, and metrics to develop an effective strategy.
Average salary: $87,317+
Data Scientist
Duties: Data scientists are tech professionals responsible for interpreting and analyzing large chunks of raw data. Those getting coding bootcamp jobs can expect to work across different industries in the field, and they often work on teams alongside other tech professionals.
Some of the responsibilities of data scientists include: identifying data-analytics issues, collecting raw sets of data and validating it to make sure that it’s accurate and complete, devising and applying specific algorithms and models to mine the data stores, analyzing the data for trends and patterns, and more. Data scientists also interpret raw data and communicate its findings to key stakeholders across an organization.
Average salary: $74,968+
Data Analyst
Duties: One of the most common coding bootcamp graduate jobs, Data Analysis, allows graduates to collect and organize data using computer systems and calculation applications to accomplish specific goals. All in all, data analysts are responsible for digesting the data and then putting together findings into a report to explain them. These reports help identify a number of inefficiencies or issues.
Typical day-to-day for a data analyst includes the following responsibilities:
- receiving data from relevant resources and tools and providing data reports for upper management,
- interpreting data results using statistical tools,
- identifying specific trends and patterns that may help boost the business, communicating and collaborating with key stakeholders, including marketing,
- creating and maintaining databases and data systems, and more.
Average salary: $64,916+
Digital Marketer
Duties: After graduating from a coding bootcamp, some alumni may find interest in working as digital marketers for tech company. A digital marketer primarily helps companies grow their revenue and build their brand by helping create a successful online presence. It’s done by creating digital display ads, content marketing, social media, and landing page designs.
In addition, digital marketers design and manage marketing campaigns, review their results and analyze the success of campaigns against metrics, create content strategies, and more. While this profession is not on top of the list for those graduating from coding bootcamps, digital markets still need to possess the good technical knowledge to succeed in the tech field.
Average salary: $60,925+
Technical Support Specialist
Duties: Coding bootcamp jobs can successfully lay the groundwork for students interested in becoming technical support specialists who assist customers experiencing software/hardware issues. Their primary duties involve answering and resolving complaints by phone or email, handling issues associated with connectivity, computer performance, misplaced or deleted data, etc. Most technical support specialists end up working for software/hardware manufacturing companies.
More of technical support specialists’ duties include:
- installing and testing new technology for customers,
- performing maintenance checks on hardware and systems to help diagnose issues,
- overseeing and updating employer’s data, contact information, knowledge banks, and more.
Essential skills required to succeed as a technical support specialist include analytical thinking, problem-solving, exceptional customer service, clear and concise communication, and of course, the right technical expertise.
Average salary: $48,722
Application Developer
Duties: Application developers are IT professionals who are well-versed in computer systems and programming languages. They use their knowledge and expertise to create user-friendly and responsive software applications for computers, mobile devices, and other technologies. Graduates of coding bootcamps interested in this niche face employment opportunities across various industries.
Some of the day-to-day responsibilities of application developers include: using findings from marketing research to create user-friendly and responsive applications for users/customers, creating upgrades for applications, working alongside customers and hearing their recommendations in altering the app’s design if needed, regularly performing maintenance tests on existing software, and more.
Average salary: $80,043+
DevOps Engineer
Duties: The list of jobs for coding bootcamp grads wouldn’t be complete without a DevOps engineer role. These specialists work alongside developers and IT staff to oversee code releases while creating and implementing systems software to analyze data.
The primary duties and responsibilities of a DevOps engineer include but are not limited to:
- successfully deploying software updates and fixes regularly,
- building the right tools required to reduce any error occurrences and improve customer experience,
- developing software that integrates with internal back-end systems, performing root cause analysis for production errors,
- investigating and resolving technical issues,
- creating scripts to automate visualization,
- designing procedures for system troubleshooting and maintenance, and more.
Average salary: $117,555+
Some numbers behind jobs for coding bootcamp grads
Coding bootcamps are well worth it for qualified candidates looking to expand their skill sets and enter the large tech companies. Compared to university or college degrees, coding bootcamp is more immersive and has a different approach to helping their graduates land their dream job after graduation for a successful career.
Apart from being more affordable than the former, most coding bootcamps pride themselves on maintaining partnerships with reputable companies and industry experts in the tech field. It helps ensure that graduates are hooked up with the right connections for networking through job placement guarantees and successful tech career services.
Cities where coding bootcamps grads earn most
Coding bootcamp graduates are prone to earning more in cities that house most of the country’s tech giants. From New York City, Austin, and Boston to San Francisco and Houston, graduates from coding bootcamps can expect to earn higher in these cities.
New York, for instance, has always enjoyed being a tech hub and has been ranked second globally for being one of the best tech environments in 2020, according to GSER — coming in behind Silicon Valley as the first. In New York, the average salary in the tech career in 2020 was $114,274, which was an 11.6% increase from 2019. Coding bootcamp graduates in New York City can expect to work for some top plates in the tech world like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Facebook, and more.
Another city where coding bootcamp salary is excellent is Atlanta due to the most in demand skills, which has recently seen a boom in its tech job market. According to Dice, Austin saw an increase of 9.7% to its average tech salaries, making the city’s job market a promising one for tech enthusiasts. Austin is home to some giants like Amazon, Home Depot, and Apple and offers salaries on the higher end of the spectrum compared to the rest of the country.
Of course, when looking at salaries and comparing which cities do offer the highest range, it’s essential to keep in mind the standard of living cities you’re looking for. While it’s a good idea to research which cities offer the most for coding bootcamp grads, expensive cities with higher living expenses will take a more significant chunk of your salary, so plan and budget accordingly.
Which coding bootcamp grads earn the most?
With an ever-increasing demand for tech professionals in the market, there is also an increase in coding bootcamp offerings across the country or remotely in other parts of the world. With so many coding bootcamp options, students often find it difficult to compare options and decide on which coding bootcamp best meets their needs.
Researching your potential coding bootcamp salary is a must. Some key things to consider are which bootcamps have the highest jobs placement rates and which have the highest earnings for their students upon graduation. While the average wage for coding bootcamp graduates is around $70,000, below, we quickly highlight which bootcamps potentially offer the most to graduates.
Keep in mind, though, that your salary upon graduating from a coding bootcamp will considerably vary depending on your location. Not all cities have the same living expenses and average earnings. If you live in San Francisco or New York, for instance, you may be earning more than the average tech worker across other parts of the country, according to Forbes.
So, keeping that in mind, which coding bootcamp can offer the most for their students upon graduating?
- Flatiron School graduates earn around $76,000 in New York City.
- Fullstack Academy graduates have an average starting salary of $72,000 in Chicago and $90,000 in New York City.
- Thinkful online bootcamp graduates have an average starting salary of $62,000 in the full-time program.
In addition, graduates from some of the most respected coding bootcamps can expect to earn higher than their peers in the industry. These include Hack Reactor, Lambda School, App Academy, Thinkful, Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, Springboard, Codeworks, Codeup, and General Assembly schools.
Companies that hire coding bootcamp grads
Coding bootcamp graduates are often well sought-after in the industry, given the nature of the immersive programs that most schools offer and the partnerships the schools have with companies in the industry. When researching a coding bootcamp to enroll in, it’s a good idea to also look at the job placement guarantees they offer, if any. Schools with these programs help ensure that their students are guaranteed a job placement one way or another and provide invaluable networking opportunities through things like Demo Days, one-on-one mentorships, and career resources.
Many companies hire coding bootcamp graduates; some of these include: The Home Depot, WarnerMedia, IBM, Slack, Mailchimp, Vimeo, Scribd, Embark, Synapse, Simon Data, WhereTo, DigiFi, Greenhouse, Segment, Tochech Technologies, Give Lively, Stride Consulting, PwC, Mixpanel, and many others.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a job after coding bootcamp?
Yes, you can. After graduating from a coding bootcamp, you can expect to land a dream job given the industry’s demand for new talents. Most bootcamp grads find employment within six months after graduating, but the job market holds no guarantees. Coding bootcamp jobs are becoming increasingly popular for students to gain the programming skill sets they need to compete in this space and land jobs in various coding fields, from web development and data science to digital marketing. Given the nature of coding bootcamps, which offer an immersive environment, students’ networking opportunities are endless. Taking advantage of these networking opportunities is key to landing a first job after graduating, so be sure to build out your professional network.
What jobs can you get after coding bootcamp?
Here are some of the most common job titles you can expect to land after graduating from a coding bootcamp, depending on where your interest, skills, and expertise lie: Full-Stack Web Developer, Front-End Web Developer, Back-End Web Developer, UX/UI Designer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Product Manager, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Digital Marketer, Technical Support Specialist, Application Developer, and DevOps Engineer.
What are some companies that hire coding bootcamp graduates?
Depending on where you live, here are some examples of companies that hire coding bootcamp graduates: Home Depot, WarnerMedia, IBM, Slack, Mailchimp, Vimeo, DigiFi, Greenhouse, Segment, PwC, and Mixpanel. But sure thing, this list is not complete, and coding bootcamp jobs in tech companies are many.
What is an average coding bootcamp salary?
After successfully completing a coding bootcamp, you can expect to earn anywhere between $67,000 – $97,000 depending on your technical background and the job you’re applying for. Those starting generally make a median average of around $65,000. Keep in mind that these numbers vary depending on where you live, as each city offers different earning averages.
Can you fail a coding bootcamp?
As well as with any educational institution, you’ll more than likely fail the program if you don’t put in the effort. Following the curriculum closely, attending classes, consistently practicing code, and learning from your mistakes, for instance, are all excellent ideas to avoid failing a bootcamp. Most importantly, keep in mind that a coding bootcamp is no four-year degree, so be prepared to immerse yourself in the demanding nature of a coding bootcamp, especially if it’s a full-time one.
Is it worth doing a coding bootcamp?
If you’re a newbie or a junior specialist looking to advance your skills for better job opportunities, then a coding bootcamp is worth it. Those graduating from coding bootcamps have a higher chance of getting hired when compared to their peers. The programming skill sets they add to their roster help them get hired quickly and arm with the ability to tackle challenges in the tech world. A coding bootcamp is also worth it because of the networking opportunities that students face, whether with fellow peers or industry experts; these connections are vital when it comes to advancing their careers.
Summary
Coding bootcamps arm students with the up-to-date tools they need to succeed in the tech industry – these tools are technical and often acquired through practical learning, not only theory. Depending on your interest, coding bootcamps will help you land jobs across various professions.
The most popular and high-demand coding bootcamp jobs, depending, of course, on where your interest lies and your skills and expertise, are: Full-Stack Web Developer, Front-End Web Developer, Back-End Web Developer, UX/UI Designer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Product Manager, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Digital Marketer, Technical Support Specialist, Application Developer, or DevOps Engineer.
After graduating from a coding bootcamp, you can expect to work across a range of tech companies, from startups all the way to tech giants like Netflix, Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Cisco, Pinterest, and more. Remember that the average earnings in any tech startup or any of these giants listed will vary depending on where you live. So if you’re flexible on location, be sure to budget and plan accordingly.