Learn Essential Coding Skills From Top Programs

When you learn coding your career opportunities increase. Read ahead for information about how to learn essential coding skills from top programs today.

When you learn essential coding skills from top training programs you set your path in motion for a solid, lucrative career. The benefits of learning how to code are multiple, which is partially why careers in coding are increasing in popularity fast. Career fields vary from IT consultants to potential jobs as cybersecurity experts. Salaries range from the mid-thirty-thousands to above six figures. Read ahead to find out how and where to learn essential coding skills from top programs today.

Coding 101

Coding is essentially the programming of a computer to perform certain acts and respond in specific ways. Coding is also described as the complicated and detailed process of writing instructions in various computer programming languages. Coding involves communication between humans and computers. It also involves computer systems communicating with their internal software programs and fundamental applications.

The coding inside a computer dictates how it operates and interacts with various elements of its overall system. This type of programming helps computers understand what type of data and processes to prioritize. Coding also allows computers to understand the human commands entered by typing on the computer keyboard. Ultimately, coding is the foundation of a computer system, which allows it to function properly and as expected.

Benefits of a Career in Coding

Multiple benefits are provided when you obtain a career in coding today. Salary is often a primary consideration for people searching for new jobs. The median salary for coders through 2020 was more than $89,000 per year, which translates to $42.88 per hour. Entry-level salaries might be lower initially, but advancement opportunities are almost constant in coding career fields. Technology is advancing, which means job opportunities in coding are expanding in kind. This type of expansion creates long-term job security, which is another primary benefit of a coding career.

Coding careers also offer flexibility. The computer programming and computer science fields are wide and diverse. Entry-level to expert positions are available to coders with various levels of education, training, and experience. Candidates who graduate college or a vocational program course with a coding certificate or associate degree are likely to be hired over coders who are self-taught. Candidates with bachelor’s degrees have even better chances of getting hired for the jobs they seek and salaries they deserve.

Outsourced Coding Jobs

The same advancements in technology creating the demand for new coding employees is also responsible for the outsourcing of coding jobs to coders in other countries for significantly less money. Essentially, modern coding technology makes it possible for coding work to be handled from any location around the world. What does this mean for you and your career goals as a coder? The better you are educated the more you have a chance of obtaining quality coding jobs away from candidates with less education, but lower salary demands. In other words, a thorough coding education from an accredited coding school increases your value as an employee above the value of saving money on outsourced workers with higher turnover potential.

What Types of Coding Jobs are Available?

The median salary for coders is $89,000 per year but the full range of coding salaries is much broader. For example, entry-level mobile app developers might earn $50,000 per year. Experienced DevOps specialists or production managers potentially earn between $96,000 and $100,000+ per year, however. Website development is a highly popular coding field today. Salaries for website developers vary based on the subcategory of the career field one enters. For example, web development involves front-end, back-end and full-stack coding work. Front-end and back-end-only coders earn lower wages than full-stack coders who are capable of handling both front and back-end work with equal proficiency.

U.S. medical facilities in the U.S. are rapidly expanding their Telehealth systems. These facilities need trained and educated services programmers (coders) to set up, operate and maintain these Telehealth systems. IT consultants are needed for high schools, colleges, sales offices, law offices and more. Government and financial organizations require cybersecurity coders for online security protocol and account protective services. Additional types of coding jobs available today include:

  • Data scientist.
  • Data analyst.
  • Consumer experience designer.
  • Systems administrator.
  • Assurance engineer (quality control).

Top Coding Programs for Degrees and Certificates

Top coding programs for degrees and certificates offer a wide variety of education choices and specialized career fields. The school you choose will either be in or out of the state in which you live. In-state students commonly pay lower tuition prices. Online training is also available, which allows you to receive a top-quality coding education from the comfort of your own home. The coding program you choose needs to be aligned with your career goals first. Once you find a school or schools to match your preferences and needs you can apply for financial aid to help mitigate the costs as applicable.

Some coding schools also have well-known scholarship programs. The Flatiron School offers scholarships for qualified female candidates. Hack Reactor and General Assembly offer scholarships to their popular coding bootcamps. The Bachelor of Science Software Development coding (facilitated by Western Governors University) is widely considered to be the best online bachelor’s degree coding program in operation today.

A few more of the top coding programs for certificates and degrees include:

Some coding training programs are free. Coursera provides one-hundred percent free coding classes online. Different bootcamps cost between $5,000 to $20,000 on average. The Coding Dojo facilitates programs lasting between twelve and thirty-two-weeks, which vary in price between zero and over $16,000 per year.

Financial Aid Options

Whether you attend an online-only, in-person or hybrid coding program, it is important to research financial aid options to help pay for your tuition. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is available to help locate financial aid from various sources. Federal Pell Grants and other types of government-sponsored college education grant programs are available to students in financial need or who demonstrate academic or personal merit and excellence.