isworthit

Is Coding a Good Career?

2026 data · Last updated 2026-07-05

The verdict

Yes — few careers match the pay-to-entry-cost ratio, and demand is projected to grow far faster than average. Worth it if you enjoy problem-solving and continuous learning; less so if you dislike sitting and self-teaching for the rest of your life.

The numbers behind the verdict

The pay and outlook that back up the call above — real BLS figures, not a salary table to browse.

Median salary
$135,980/yr
Job growth
+15.8% (2024-2034, much faster than average)
Cost to enter
$39,000

bachelor's degree (4 yr public in-state)

Payback period
~0.3 yr of median pay to recoup tuition
More BLS detail (pay range, employment, entry education)
Typical pay range (25th–75th pct)
$105,210 – $171,980
People employed (U.S.)
1,687,890
Avg. annual openings
~115,200
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Salary: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS). Growth: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. Cost & payback estimated from NCES tuition (AY2022–23); payback is a simplified tuition-to-median-pay proxy and excludes aid and opportunity cost.

Pay varies by state: Coding earns from $95,330 in Mississippi to $174,410 in California. See your state — adjusted for cost of living & tax.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Among the highest pay for a bachelor's-level field
  • Employment projected to grow much faster than average
  • Remote-friendly and globally portable
  • No license required; skills can be self-taught or bootcamp-learned
  • Clear paths into management, specialization, or startups

Cons

  • Constant re-learning — tools change every few years
  • Screen-heavy, sedentary work
  • Interview process is famously grueling
  • Layoff cycles and offshoring pressure in downturns
  • Entry-level market has tightened since the 2021-22 hiring boom

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Logical thinkers who enjoy building and debugging
  • Self-directed learners comfortable with ambiguity
  • People who want high pay without grad school

✗ Probably not if…

  • Those who want a skill set that stays fixed for decades
  • People who dislike long stretches at a screen
  • Anyone expecting to stop learning after landing the job

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Coding is worth it — titles link to the original threads.

FAQ

Do I need a computer science degree to code professionally?

No. Many developers are self-taught or bootcamp-trained. A degree helps with big-tech recruiting but is not required, especially with a strong portfolio.

How much does a software developer make?

The median annual wage is $135,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2024 release), with the middle 50% earning between $105,210 and $171,980.

What's the job outlook for a software developer?

BLS projects +15.8% (2024-2034, much faster than average) in employment from 2024 to 2034, with about 115k openings per year on average.

Coding salary by state

Tap a state for its median pay adjusted for cost of living and state income tax — 50 states with BLS data, highest first.

Sources