Can You Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp? Know Your Coding Bootcamp ROI

Coding bootcamps have been instrumental in helping people develop in-demand skills. These programs are regarded as an alternative way to launch a career in tech and have made it possible to break into this thriving industry without a traditional degree.

If you are interested in this fast-paced form of training, you may wonder if getting a job after a coding bootcamp is easy. In this article, we answer that question for you and highlight some of the best jobs you can qualify for with coding bootcamp training.

Getting a Job After a Coding Bootcamp: Quick Facts

• Bootcamp’s curricula are designed to help students acquire up-to-date skills and knowledge on tech industry trends as quickly as possible.
• Seventy-two percent of hiring managers think coding bootcamp grads perform just as well on the job as people with a university degree.
• Many hiring managers prefer bootcamp grads because they have strong practical experience.

What Is a Coding Bootcamp? 

A coding bootcamp is a brief, immersive technical training program that focuses on in-demand programming skills. These accelerated programs are ideal for students with little to no coding experience. They often start with the basics to later move on to intermediate and advanced concepts.

In most cases, coding bootcamps use project-based training so that students can apply the practical skills they have learned. The main goal of such programs is to help students transition into a career in tech. These programs are fast-paced and can get students ready for their future careers within weeks. 

Coding bootcamps cover topics like web development, software engineering, UI/UX design, data science, product management, and even digital marketing. The average job placement rate for bootcamps stands at 79 percent. Most bootcamps boast strong career assistance services, helping students with the job search to set them up for success in tech. 

How Can I Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp? 

Coding bootcamps help you get a job by offering more than just technical skill training. Students benefit from a wide range of services geared toward helping them land a good job in tech. Such services including things like mock interviews, job fairs, and workshops where they can connect with potential employers. 

1. LinkedIn training and resume review. Bootcamps teach students how to research potential employers on platforms like LinkedIn while reviewing their resumes to ensure that they meet the standard recruiters are looking for. 
2. Interview prep. Bootcamps also help students prepare for interviews, whether behavioral or technical. This helps students be more confident during interviews and make an excellent first impression.
3. Portfolio building. Bootcamps place a lot of importance on building strong portfolios. Since bootcamp programs are mostly project-based, students get to work on individual and group projects that they can showcase to potential employers.
4. Personal branding. Some bootcamps also help students build their personal brands. Students learn to leverage social media and their resumes to present an image of themselves that attracts the best employers.
5. Salary negotiation. Bootcamps may also go as far as helping students to negotiate their salaries so that they don’t sell themselves short. 

Can You Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp?

Yes, you can. Coding bootcamp graduates find jobs in both tech and non-tech companies. According to the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR), 79 percent of graduates found a job in their field within 180 days of completing their program. 

The success rate varies between different bootcamps as it is determined by different factors. Flatiron School, for example, reports that it has an 86 percent job placement rate. Meanwhile, 79 percent of Hack Reactor students find a job within 180 days of graduation. 

Tech Elevator reports a 90 percent job placement rate. Finally, Codesmith and Codeup, both popular bootcamps, boast job placement rates within 180 days of 80.5 and 69 percent respectively, according to figures that have been independently verified.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp?

On average, most bootcamp grads find a job within six months. However, a lot of factors influence how long it takes to get a job and start your tech career, so take this stat with a grain of salt. Fortunately, bootcamps have career services to help students find well-paying jobs as fast as possible.

How Much Do Coding Bootcamp Graduates Make?

How much bootcamp alumni earn after their programs depends on factors like their area of specialization and location. Hack Reactor reports that graduates from its full-time software engineering immersive program earn a median salary of $80,000. Thinkful online engineering graduates, on the other hand, earn a yearly median salary of $60,000.

Location can also influence the potential salary of graduates. In most cases, salaries in a particular city reflect the cost of living. For example, people have a higher earning potential in San Francisco than in Texas. 

Epicodus is a great example of this. Fresh graduates of the Portland campus earn a yearly median income of $60,000, while students at the Seattle campus start with an average salary of $75,000. 

10 Jobs to Pursue After a Coding Bootcamp

A coding bootcamp can give you a lot of career options. However, the kind of job you can get depends on the bootcamp program you enroll in. Below, we take a look at common jobs for fresh bootcamp grads organized from highest to lowest median salary.

Software Developer

• Median Salary: $110,140

Software developers are responsible for creating computer applications to tackle any task. They also create apps for systems that run control networks and devices. These experts work with programmers to make sure that the code they create is up to par and meets the needs of the user.

Software Product Manager

• Median Salary: $98,526

Software product managers are responsible for ensuring that the software development process moves along as smoothly as possible, acting as liaisons between different elements of the team. These experts need to have a firm grip on business development and technology and must be familiar with the needs of the user.

Data Scientist

• Median Salary: $98,230

Data scientists work with both structured and unstructured data to help organizations make informed decisions that drive profit and growth. To become a data scientist, you must have expertise in computer science, statistics, and mathematics. You must also learn SQL.

Software Engineer

• Median Salary: $87,530

Software engineers work with designers to develop software products such as applications, video games, or operating systems. They use their knowledge of engineering and programming to plan and execute projects.

Backend Web Developer

• Median Salary: $81,161

Backend developers are responsible for creating the server-side of a website, also known as the behind-the-scenes part. These experts often work with application programming interfaces (APIs), servers, and data storage processes. They also work with other experts to ensure that websites are meeting client specifications.  

Front End Web Developer

• Median Salary: $75,293

Front end developers are responsible for the client-side of the website, what the user sees. They deal with images, fonts, videos, and buttons. Front end web developers collaborate with other professionals to ensure a smooth development process and need to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Full Stack Web Developer

• Median Salary: $75,057

Full stack web developers are skilled in the client-side and server-side of web development, known respectively as front end and backend programming. These developers must be well-versed in programming languages like CSS and HTML. Learning JavaScript is a must.

UX/UI Designer

• Median Salary: $74,741

User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designers make sure that the product they are working on—whether a mobile app, website, or another type of software—is as user-friendly as possible. These professionals conduct research on the product’s usability and make decisions about its visual elements.

Data Analyst

• Median Salary: $61,752

Data analysts are responsible for preparing and analyzing information to help inform business decisions. To become a data analyst, you must learn the intricacies involved in the process of gathering, cleaning, and organizing data and be able to create reports that management can easily understand. These experts are needed in every industry. 

Junior Developer

• Median Salary: $53,803

Most junior developers are professionals who have recently graduated and still have a lot to learn. Junior developers can work in software development, web development, or mobile app development, and may be asked to focus on the backend or the front end.

10 Companies That Hire Coding Bootcamp Graduates

Lots of big and small companies hire coding bootcamp graduates. According to a report by HackerRank, 72 percent of hiring managers that have employed bootcamp grads believe they are just as well-equipped for the job as those with four-year degrees. 

Seventy-one percent of those interviewed said that bootcamp grads are able to learn new languages and technologies quickly. Sixty-one percent thought those with bootcamp experience have strong practical skills while 52 percent praised them for always being eager to assume new responsibilities. 

Companies like Apple, Google, and IBM have dropped their degree requirements and are hiring bootcamp graduates. Startups are towing the same line. Below we take a closer look at some of the companies that hire people with bootcamp experience. 

Google

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Google is an American company offering Internet-related products and services. This includes the biggest and most successful search engine in the market. Google’s operations also encompass cloud computing, hardware, and software. It is one of the largest companies in the world. 

Facebook

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Facebook is the social media behemoth founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. This company claims over 2.8 million active users and it’s in the top 10 most visited websites. Most of its revenue comes from targeted advertising.

Microsoft

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Founded by now billionaire Bill Gates, Microsoft is a multinational technology company that specializes in a wide range of products, from software programs to video game consoles and operating systems. It is considered a great employer, earning 4.4 out of five stars on Glassdoor.

Slack

• Company Size: 1,000 to 5,000 employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Owned by Salesforce, Slack is the company responsible for one of the most popular team communication tools today. Many companies use Slack to facilitate communication between employees. Slack is able to replicate the feeling of being in an office, and it has helped many workers feel closer to their colleagues during the pandemic.

Salesforce

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Headquartered in San Francisco, Salesforce offers customer relationship management (CRM) services. It also has a suite of enterprise applications for marketing automation, customer service, application development, and analytics. 

Uber

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

Uber started as a company offering ride-sharing services to people in the US. It is now present in many cities around the world and has expanded to food and package delivery. It also offers freight transportation.

Wayfair

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor

Formerly known as CSN Stores, Wayfair is an ecommerce company that sells home goods and furniture. With over 11,000 suppliers globally, Wayfair now has more than 14 million items for sale. This company now has a presence throughout the United States as well as in Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Ireland.

Amazon 

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Galvanize, Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor

Once a humble online book store, Amazon is now a multinational company considered by many as the world’s most valuable brand. This ecommerce giant now offers products and services in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital streaming. Together with Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook, Amazon is one of the Big Five. 

Tesla

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Galvanize

Led by charismatic billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, Tesla is an American company that manufactures electric vehicles. The company offers other green energy solutions, including batteries for homes and businesses and solar panels.

IBM

• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Hires Coding Bootcamp Graduates From: Fullstack Academy, App Academy, Hack Reactor, Galvanize

With a rich history that extends beyond 100 years, IBM is a technology company that manufactures computer hardware and software solutions in a host of areas, from cloud services to nanotechnology. IBM is headquartered in New York.

Getting a Job After a Coding Bootcamp FAQ