Online coding bootcamps present opportunities to develop the web development skills needed to make a career switch or advancement.

Additionally, bootcamps are a great learning alternative to traditional two- or four-year degree programs. If you’re interested in web development, this online coding bootcamp guide is for you. 

An online coding bootcamp borrows the “bootcamp” concept from the military. Just like an Army bootcamp, a coding bootcamp is an immersive experience. You’ll learn specific skills during a short, intensive period of education and growth compared to a master’s degree. When it’s over, you’ll know how to make web applications using the latest tools and techniques. 

In an online coding bootcamp, you’ll typically learn how to:

All these skills can help build a career as a full-stack web developer. Full-stack developers are capable of working on the front-end (user-facing) side of web applications, as well as the back-end side that controls the functionality of an application.

If you’re serious about a career in web development, a coding bootcamp may help you get started quickly. Coding bootcamps are generally less expensive than a traditional degree and lead more directly to a job. Some online coding bootcamps wait to collect tuition until after you get a job in the field. Many bootcamps also help with job assistance, so you could have a new position lined up by the time you finish. 

Online coding bootcamps have part- and full-time tracks, so daily activities may vary. But in either case, you’ll generally follow a curriculum that will equip you to become a full-stack web developer.

In an online bootcamp, you spend a lot of time in front of a computer watching your instructor lecture and demonstrate how to use applications and create code. Then, you’ll try it on your own. You’ll also spend time reading and reviewing course material.

Group projects are also common, as well as assisting classmates with lessons. Team learning is a big part of many bootcamps, which reflects the collaborative nature of the coding world. In most camps, you’ll create at least one large project. It could be a new app or an enhancement of an existing one. You’ll get to demonstrate what you’ve learned and receive feedback from your instructors and peers. 

Keep in mind that online coding bootcamps can be intense, so you’ll have to keep up with the pace. In a full-time program, you might be in class from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. In a part-time program, you may be in class on Saturday mornings and weekday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

There are a variety of jobs available for graduates of online coding bootcamps. You could work directly for a company to support its web infrastructure. Or you could work with an agency that offers web services to many companies. You could even become a freelance developer, building a business of your own.

Here are some web developer job titles you might look for after coding bootcamp:

The web development job you get depends on what you look for in terms of industry, location, job responsibilities and salary. Luckily, the job outlook for web developers is positive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of web developers is expected to grow 8% from 2019 through 2029, much faster than other occupations. That’s the equivalent of 20,900 additional web development jobs. The BLS also reports web developers earned a median annual wage of $73,760 in 2019. The highest-paid 10% of web developers earned more than $142,080. 

Finding the best online coding bootcamp for you involves clearly defining your goals. We came up with the questions below to help you think through why you want to enroll in a bootcamp and what type of bootcamp best suits your priorities.

Thinking about the above questions and possibly writing down your answers will help you choose a bootcamp. Here are some online coding bootcamps to consider:

Last updated: July 2020