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2:00Careers & Trades
Breaking Into Tech Without a CS Degree
Maya Brown
Career pathway
Software Developer
Design, build and maintain the software that runs businesses, products and services.
Typical salary range
$70K – $130K
Median $98,000
Entry $70KExperienced $130K
- Time to qualify
- 1–4 years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Outlook
- High (17% growth)
- Remote
- Yes
A typical day
What the work actually looks like between nine and five
A representative day combines hands-on work, coordination with a team, documentation, and problem-solving against a deadline.
The pathway
What the route actually looks like, stage by stage
- 1
Learn the fundamentals
Coursework, certificate or the first stage of an apprenticeship.
≈ 6 months
- 2
Get credentialed
Pass the license or certification the role requires.
≈ 6 months
- 3
Work and specialize
Build hours, take the harder jobs, pick a specialty.
≈ 2 years
- 4
Lead or own
Move into supervision, or take the ownership route.
≈ 3 years
Skills that matter
- Problem solving
- One language deeply
- Version control
- Testing
- Communication
Credentials
No formal license required. Employers weigh demonstrated skill and portfolio.
The path to ownership
Where this leads if you want to run it yourself
Senior engineer → staff/lead → consulting or founding a product company.
Explore training
Where to start, and where the openings are listed
- Education, training and licensing profileO*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor)Training · opens in a new tab
- Find local training programsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)Training · opens in a new tab
- Search current job listingsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)Openings · opens in a new tab
Occupation profile at U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (illustrative)
Hear from someone doing it
Clips tagged with this pathway
Demo footage: these clips were recorded for this build, not sourced from a broadcaster.
