Software development is one of the few high-paying careers with genuinely multiple viable paths. A computer science degree, a coding bootcamp, or self-teaching and building a portfolio — each has real tradeoffs worth understanding.
What Software Developers Do
Software developers design, build, and maintain applications. Specializations include front-end, back-end, full-stack, mobile, and machine learning/AI. Most developers work remotely. The field moves fast — continuous learning is part of the job permanently.
Path 1 — Computer Science Degree (4 years)
Opens doors to large tech companies and provides deep foundations in algorithms and systems. Most expensive but most credentialed.
Best if: You want to work at major tech companies or pursue AI/ML.
Path 2 — Coding Bootcamp (3-6 months)
Focuses on practical, job-ready web development skills. Quality varies significantly. Research employer outcomes data before choosing.
Best if: You want to enter the workforce quickly and are highly self-motivated.
Path 3 — Self-Taught + Portfolio
Many working developers are largely self-taught. Free resources like freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, and MIT OpenCourseWare cover real fundamentals. Portfolio beats credentials at the junior level.
Best if: You're highly self-disciplined and willing to network actively.
What to Do in High School
- Take AP Computer Science Principles or AP CS A
- Build something — a personal website, a simple app, anything
- Learn Python or JavaScript first
- Join coding clubs or hackathons (Congressional App Challenge, FIRST Robotics)
- Start putting your code on GitHub now
Salary
Entry-level developers typically earn $65,000-$85,000. Senior developers at major tech companies regularly earn $150,000-$300,000+ including equity.