Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Coding is a skill where you can combine your creative and technical knowledge to create something new for end users. Learn more about different roles that require coding and their salaries.
Depending on your job title, you can earn an average of $79,059 to $106,399 per year as a coder. Roles that require coding typically have lucrative salaries that are influenced by industry, location, and level of experience.
While you can choose from a variety of jobs that use coding, computer programmers are responsible for writing, testing, and maintaining code that instructs computers how to execute tasks. From the smartwatch on your wrist to the video game console in your living room, computers and electronics are an integral part of our daily lives. These electronics all use a specific numerical language known as binary code, which consists of only 0s and 1s. Since computers have their own separate language, computer programmers write code that converts human input into binary code.
Explore the average coding salary for computer programmers as well as many other job titles, and discover how different factors can influence your pay when you're skilled in coding.
What is coding?
Coding is like a set of instructions that determines the actions that computers can and cannot do; it allows humans to communicate with electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, computers, and more. Coding is essentially a translator that converts human input to numerical sequences computers and other electronic devices can understand.
How much do computer programmers make?
According to various job sites, computer programmers in the US earn an average annual salary of between $61,756 and $99,700. Compare the average yearly income for computer programmers as provided by five sources:
Keep in mind your salary will likely be influenced by factors like geographic location, industry, years of experience, and education level.
Read more: What Is Programming? And How To Get Started
Factors that impact coding salary
Your cash compensation in this field ultimately depends on a variety of factors. To get a good idea of what you might earn as a coder, consider where you live, what type of coding job you want to pursue, your level of education, and how much experience you have.
Location
Your salary may depend on where you live, the cost of living, and the demand for coding professionals. Check out the median computer programmer salary based on location, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of June 2024 [6]:
Top paying states for computer programmers:
California: $124,660
New York: $116,230
Texas: $100,470
New Jersey: $122,830
Florida: $97,480
Top paying metropolitan areas for computer programmers:
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $167,190
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $152,390
Boulder, CO: $148,970
Houma-Thibodaux, LA: $144,140
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $141,820
Cities with more elevated cost of living tend to have higher annual salaries.
Job title
Coding falls under a wide range of job titles, from junior entry-level roles to more advanced engineering positions. Explore some of these positions and how they impact the average coding salary in the US:
*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of June 2024.
Web developer: $80,275
Computer programmer: $79,719
Computer systems engineer: $90,966
Systems analyst: $106,399
Programmer analyst: $96,897
Database administrator: $103,474
Front-end developer: $85,412
Back-end developer: $83,690
Mobile app developer: $79,059
Software developer: $100,157
Read more: Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ
Education
Formal college degrees are sometimes but not always a requirement for a coding career. Graduates of a boot camp program—a short, intensive, coding-focused course—can be just as and sometimes even more prepared for a programming career as college graduates. That said, some organizations require a formal degree.
As you weigh your educational options, consider the average annual salaries based on education level for computer programmers, according to Zippia [7]:
Associate: $66,048
Bachelor’s: $72,834
Master’s:$75,184
Doctorate: $76,657
Read more: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science: A Guide
Experience level
As you work in the field, you’ll gain knowledge and experience, which may mean a better salary. Review the typical average salaries based on years of experience as a computer programmer, according to Glassdoor [3]:
0–1 year: $59,218
1–3 years: $65,715
4–6 years: $71,751
7–9 years: $72,817
10–14 years: $78,061
15 or more years: $90,189
How to become a coder
Coding can be a rewarding field where you can exercise your creativity and desire to work with the latest technology. Check out the following steps to becoming a computer programmer.
Earn a degree.
Typically, coders will start their career path by earning a degree in computer and information technology. You can also choose another closely related field to major in. Degree coursework is a great way to learn the principles of coding, computer hardware, networking, and more. Majoring in this field also offers opportunities for various careers in the tech industry. Keep in mind that a degree is only sometimes required by employers.
Read more: Is a Computer Science Degree Worth It?
Consider a bootcamp.
A coding boot camp is an intense, coding-focused course and a great way to get hands-on coding experience. It also gives you an opportunity to build your portfolio and showcase your work and abilities to prospective employers. Boot camps also help you create a network of contacts in your field and often offer job placement assistance.
Some coders prefer to forgo college altogether and only attend boot camp because they can enter the workforce quicker than by earning a degree. Another benefit of the boot camp-only option is tuition, which typically costs $7,800 to $21,000 [8] compared to the $108,584 average cost of earning a bachelor's degree [9].
Read more: Coding Boot Camps: Options, Benefits, Requirements, and More
Get certifications
While certifications aren’t always necessary, you can boost your desirability as a computer coder by becoming certified in certain programming languages or specific vendor products. Some standard certifications coders obtain include:
C and C++ certifications: The C language has been around since the 1960s, and the C++ language has been around since the 1980s. Despite being among the oldest languages, they're still in high demand. You can earn entry-level, associate, and professional certificates in each language.
Chef Certification: Chef is software that converts infrastructure into code for automated server deployment and management. The Associate Chef Certification and Executive Chef Certification may be in high demand as organizations look to this type of automation to shorten development time and increase build quality.
Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP): This vendor-neutral certification is best for software developers, quality assurance and penetration testers, engineers, and other similar roles. It shows that you have demonstrated competency in securing applications throughout the software development lifecycle.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate: This is an excellent certification if you're interested in developing cloud technology. It shows your competence in cloud development, deployment, and maintenance.
Earn Professional Certificates.
A Professional Certificate provides tangible evidence you engaged in further education in a specific subject, typically through a course, Professional Certificate program, or Specialization. Some certificates to consider that may help advance your career or marketability include:
Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate by Google
Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose by Princeton University
HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers by Johns Hopkins University
Get started with Coursera.
Coding can be a rewarding career with a broad collection of roles and lucrative salaries. If you’re interested in pursuing a coding career, consider Python for Everybody Specialization from the University of Michigan. Learn to program and analyze data while you earn a certificate to include in your resume, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile.
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