Why You Should Take the Plunge and Learn to Code

The technology industry is growing faster than ever, and it shows no signs of slowing any time soon.

So what does this mean for students and professionals looking to further their career goals? Here are just five reasons why learning to code in the digital age is the right move.

1. You’re more attractive to potential employers

Look around. So many of the things we rely on today are a result of computer programming. Think about the amount of technology you used just to read this post. Each of these applications has been built by web developers.

According to a report by Burning Glass (PDF, 4.9 MB), there were 6.95 million IT job openings in 2018. This demand is only growing, with the majority of posted roles coming from non-tech industries, giving candidates with technical skills a higher chance of landing the job.

2. Demand is high

Players in the tech industry have been trying to outdo each other since the beginning of time. New companies are emerging and releasing enhanced technologies, and people can no longer deny the potential that lies in this field.

In fact, the expanding global adoption of technological components across industries has resulted in rapid employment growth for computer and IT professions: a projected 11 percent between 2019 and 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these occupations will add over 530,000 new jobs, with cloud computing, Big Data collection and storage, and information security roles in high demand.

3. Coding makes you valuable…in any field

Traditional IT or development positions are not the only jobs that use coding anymore. Research conducted by Burning Glass (PDF, 4.9 MB) revealed that about half of all IT job openings are in the non-tech sector, with top postings in the professional services, manufacturing, and financial services industries.

In 2018, there was significant overlap between desired skills in both the tech and non-tech sectors, including SQL, software development, and Java. Being able to demonstrate these skills can help you outshine the competition and increase your value to potential employers — if you can execute a winning project and code the website yourself, you’ll set yourself apart during interviews.

4. More room for opportunities

Jobs that require coding skills offer an average annual salary of $88,240 (PDF, 4.9 MB), much higher than the median wage for all occupations at just $39,810. Better yet, individuals just starting out in their careers can find plenty of entry-level opportunities that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Attending a boot camp can help you attain these skills in a short amount of time so you can enter the workforce within 3 to 6 months.

5. You can earn extra money

Even if your current job doesn’t require programming, or you just really love what you do, there are plenty of other opportunities out there to earn top dollar for your skills.

Crowdsourcing sites like Fiverr or Upwork allow freelancers to offer their services in exchange for cash. This gives you the opportunity to put your coding skills to work, build a great portfolio, and bring in some extra income.

So what’s stopping you? Take the plunge and start your web development career at The Coding Boot Camp at UT Austin today. Contact our admissions team and learn how you can get equipped with the skills for web development in 12 or 24 weeks.