Top 3 Reasons to Become a Coder

Top 3 Reasons to Become a Coder

Thinking about becoming a coder? If you’re considering additional education to become a coder or enhance your current coding skill set, you’ll want to know if there’s a payoff at the end of all that career preparation — after all, you want to be sure you’re making a good investment. If you’re not sure whether you want to become a coder, we’re here to tell you: It’s worth the investment, and you don’t have to break the bank doing it. Here’s how to become a coder, and why it’s worth your while.

1. You’ll get a return on your investment

 If you want to become a coder, you need to obtain certain certifications and training. Learning new skills is an investment rather than a lost expense. This is because career training and education makes you more marketable and opens doors to new jobs. Acquiring new coding skills can provide you with new opportunities in many industries.

While investing your time and money is not a decision to be taken lightly, you are likely to gain more than you spend early in your coding career and in the long run.  A great example of this principle is paying for car repairs over and over again on a vehicle that should be replaced. Replacing a car may cost more at one time, but it will save you repair fees and provide reliable transportation.

2. Coder salaries are way above average

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earning in the U.S. in 2017 was $37,690. So how much do coders make? The BLS states the median pay for computer programmers in 2017 was $82,240 per year. That’s more than 50 percent higher than the national average! Even the lowest-paid of this group (that is, entry-level workers) made about $47,090—and the top 10 percent earned more than $132,530.

If you use your coding skills to get into software development, your salary could be even higher. The median pay for software developers was $103,560! Even the lowest earners made $65,670 per year. Plus, it is extremely common in coding careers to see your salary climb quickly after just a few years of experience. This can mean big money over time. For example, a salary bump of $10,000 early in your career (not guaranteed, but highly possible) would mean an additional $100,000 over the next 10 years!

3. Coding careers give you tons of options

Coding is one of the most in-demand skills in today’s digital job market, and you can apply it to many different positions. Computer programmers, software developers, web developers, and IT and cybersecurity professionals will all find coding skills useful. Better yet, you can become a coder without a degree, making it one of the best options for those without higher education.

There are many different coding languages you can learn, so your first step will be to choose one. Python is an excellent first language for those with no experience. Java is slightly more advanced, but is a must-know for anyone in the field. And those working with data will want to learn Oracle SQL, too. With ed2go, you can even combine them all into one with our Oracle SQL + Python Developer + Java Programmer course, and reach “expert level” in no time.

Get your coding career started!

It’s clear the expense required to be a coder is well worth the investment. Check out courses like IT Foundations to get started, or Full Stack Software Developer if you want in-depth instruction. You’ll get the skills you need to enter a coding career, a job track where salaries are rising, job outlook is good, and personal satisfaction is high. With all this in mind, can you afford to pass up a move that will help you land your dream job?

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