Education Requirements

Most developers need a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering.

• Top Traditional Schools: MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon
• Flexible Online Options: WGU (Western Governors University), SNHU
• Alternative: Coding Bootcamps (3-6 month intensive training)

Starting Position & Pay

Most graduates start as a Junior Software Engineer.

• Average Starting Salary: $75,000 - $105,000 per year.
• Big Tech (Google/Meta): Can reach $150,000+ for new grads.

The Career Ladder (To the Dream Job)

1. Junior Developer: Learning the codebase and fixing small bugs.
2. Mid-Level Developer: Building full features and owning projects.
3. Senior Engineer: Designing complex systems and mentoring others.
4. Dream Job (CTO or Architect): Leading the entire technical vision of a company.