What Salary Can Bootcamp Grads Expect?

So a coding bootcamp has caught your eye. Now you’re weighing the pros and cons, costs and benefits. 

Chances are, one of your biggest concerns is whether you’ll make your money back once you complete the program with a higher salary at a job you love.

To answer that question, we’ll dive into what the average salary after a coding bootcamp is depending on the job you get, along with the types of jobs bootcamp grads typically end up in.

Is tech really that lucrative?

Yes, tech can be an incredibly lucrative career. This is mostly because of the resources and demand backing the industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for tech workers in software development, web development, data science, and information technology and security — categorized as the “Computer and Information Technology Occupations” — is $100,530. This is substantially higher than the average salary of all U.S. jobs, at around $46,000 a year. And even at the entry-level_{Switch to Tech for Jobs that Pay 80K a Year (Without a CS Degree!)}, you can still bring in between $70,000 and $80,000 a year. 

Worried that pay won’t last forever?

Note, however, that your starting salary in tech depends not just on the role but where you work. Software engineers_{The Top 18 Companies That Pay Software Engineers the Most in 2024} at veteran California-based tech companies Stripe and Cruise are earning an average of around $269,000 a year. Elsewhere, where the cost of living is lower or at a company that’s newer, that median salary might be lower. (Other perks, such as good work-life balance or robust health insurance, might be worth that trade-off.)

Keep in mind, too, that your income may include stock or bonuses — money that can be just as, if not more, valuable than a paycheck over the long term.

Salaries for bootcamp grads: the data

Median salaries for TripleTen grads by program

OK, so all signs point to tech jobs paying well. But what about for people specifically trying to land jobs after a coding bootcamp?

Let’s consider TripleTen’s outcomes: In 2024, the median salary after a coding bootcamp was $76,600 a year. Broken down by type of job, here’s what that looks like:

Software engineer

The skills needed_{What Skills Do You Need to Become a Software Engineer}:

• Programming languages such as Java, Python, HTML, or CSS
• UX/UI design
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Critical thinking
• Creativity 

Demand: The field of software engineering is expected to grow 25% in the next 10 years, according to the BLS.

Average salary out of a bootcamp: $75,100 a year, according to TripleTen’s 2024 Outcomes Report

Average entry-level salary in the US_{More Than $100k: How Much Do Entry-Level Software Engineers Make?}: $86,558 a year, according to Glassdoor

Data scientist

The skills needed_{The Top Data Science Skills for 2024}:

• Programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL
• Statistics and probability theory
• Machine learning and modeling
• Data preparation and visualization
• Communication
• Business awareness
• Problem solving
• Ethics

Demand: The field of data science is expected to grow 35% in the next 10 years, with 17,700 job openings for data scientists each year, according to the BLS.

Average salary out of a bootcamp: $89,300 a year, according to TripleTen’s 2024 Outcomes Report

Average entry-level salary in the US_{What You Can Earn as an Entry-Level Data Scientist}: $96,375 a year, according to Glassdoor

BI analyst

Business intelligence (BI) analysts_{How to Become a Business Intelligence Analyst} use data to drive key business decisions and initiatives. Their role might entail creating systems for managing data, sifting through data to catch mistakes or outliers, and presenting predictions or outcomes deciphered from data pulls.

The skills needed:

• Data management, data visualization, and data analytics
• Programming languages such as SQL and R
• Data warehousing solutions
• ETL (extract, transform, and load) tools
• AI and machine learning
• Ethics
• Presentation and storytelling
• Time management
• Attention to detail

Demand: The field of business intelligence is expected to grow much faster than the average of all occupations, according to the BLS.

Average salary out of a bootcamp: $75,500 a year, according to TripleTen’s 2024 Outcomes Report

Average entry-level salary in the US: $73,713 a year, according to Glassdoor

QA engineer

The skills needed_{How to Become a QA Engineer}:

• Programming languages such as JavaScript, Ruby, or Python
• Automation testing tools
• Database knowledge
• API platforms
• DevOps
• Attention to detail
• Time and change management
• Written and verbal communication
• Resilience

Demand: The field of QA engineering is expected to grow 25% in the next 10 years, according to the BLS.

Average salary out of a bootcamp: $67,000 a year, according to TripleTen’s 2024 Outcomes Report

Average entry-level salary in the US: $65,363 a year, according to Glassdoor

But that’s just the start

Seventy thousand dollars might not feel like a lot as a coding bootcamp starting salary for some people, but that’s only the beginning of your career. Half of TripleTen graduates land a job before they even graduate. Just a year or two in, they’re able to increase their salary to that coveted six-figure mark by working for prestigious companies including Apple, IBM, and Google.

The best part: Only 65% of them have college degrees, and a whopping 87% don’t even have a STEM background before the sign up — meaning even as a complete newbie you can be earning an impressive salary in no time. In 2023, most of TripleTen graduates increased their income by more than $27,000 a year. 

How to increase your chances of a higher salary after a coding bootcamp

Bootcamps are what you make of them, which means you have to do a bit of the heavy lifting. You have to actually attend lectures, complete assignments, ask questions, and learn alongside fellow students and experts. But that’s not so hard, right?

Just think that with only a few weeks of this commitment, you can supercharge your job search. You’ll have the skills employers want, a portfolio to prove you walk the walk, and a network of mentors and referrals to back you up and support you through it all.

And once you land that first role right out of a bootcamp, your experience will take you the rest of the way in the job market — both in terms of fulfilment and income:

• Software engineers with one to three years of experience make up to $151,000 a year, according to Glassdoor.
• Data scientists with one to three years of experience make up to $183,000 a year, according to Glassdoor.
• BI analysts make upwards of $113,000 a year with three or fewer years of experience, according to Glassdoor.
• QA engineers with between one and three years of experience make up to $122,000 in annual salary, according to Glassdoor.

Is a bootcamp right for you?

So you’re not sure whether a bootcamp will provide you with everything you need — skills building, mentorship, flexibility — to land your dream job. Take the first step without any upfront cost by taking our five-minute quiz.