Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It in 2026?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that software developers earn a median salary of $146,869 with 17% projected job growth through 2034—and coding bootcamps promise to get you there in 14 weeks instead of 4 years. But are they actually worth it? The answer depends on who you are, what you're leaving behind, and how much effort you're willing to invest.

Here's the headline number: Course Report's 2025 outcomes survey found that 79% of bootcamp graduates land tech jobs within 6 months, earning an average first salary of $70,698. That represents a 51% salary increase over the average pre-bootcamp income of approximately $38,000. With the average bootcamp costing $13,584, the math looks compelling—a ~$32,700 annual raise that pays back your investment in roughly 5 months.

But the other side of that coin matters. That means 21% of graduates do NOT get tech jobs within 6 months. Self-reported salary averages include career changers who already had adjacent experience, inflating the numbers for true beginners. And the junior developer hiring market in 2024-2025 was significantly tighter than the 2020-2021 boom that many bootcamp marketing materials still reference.

In this analysis, we break down the real ROI math, identify exactly who benefits most from bootcamps, and provide an honest assessment of when you should choose a computer science degree or self-teaching instead. We also include the red flags that separate legitimate programs from those selling false promises. For a detailed breakdown of what you'll actually pay, see our bootcamp cost guide.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you enroll through our links, Hakia may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our analysis, which is based on independent research and publicly available data.

Let's run the numbers on what a coding bootcamp actually costs and returns, using real data rather than marketing claims.

The Investment: The average bootcamp costs $13,584 (Course Report 2025). Add opportunity cost—if you leave a $38,000/year job for a 14-week full-time bootcamp, that's roughly $10,300 in lost wages. Total investment: approximately $24,000. If you're doing a part-time bootcamp while working, the opportunity cost drops to near zero, making total investment closer to $13,584.

The Return: Average first salary post-bootcamp is $70,698, a $32,698 annual increase over the average pre-bootcamp salary of $38,000. At that rate, the $13,584 tuition investment pays for itself in approximately 5 months of work. Even factoring in opportunity cost, the full-time bootcamp investment breaks even within 8-9 months.

Comparison with a CS Degree: A four-year computer science degree costs $40,000-$160,000 at a public university (in-state to out-of-state range) and $120,000-$250,000+ at a private institution. The median starting salary for CS bachelor's graduates is approximately $80,000-$85,000—higher than bootcamp graduates, but the 4-year time investment and dramatically higher cost shift the ROI calculation. A CS graduate may not break even on their total education investment for 5-15 years, depending on cost.

The Caveat: ROI only works if you get hired. The 79% employment rate means roughly 1 in 5 graduates are still job-searching after 6 months. For those graduates, the ROI is negative—at least in the short term. Additionally, average salary figures include career changers who had 5-10 years of professional experience in adjacent fields (project management, data analysis, engineering), which boosts the average above what a true career beginner might earn.

CIRR Data vs. Self-Reported Data: Programs audited by the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) use standardized measurement methodologies. CIRR-audited placement rates tend to be lower but more reliable than self-reported rates. When evaluating bootcamp claims, always ask whether the data is CIRR-audited or self-reported.

The first salary after bootcamp is just the beginning. What makes the bootcamp investment truly worth it is the salary trajectory over the following 3-5 years as graduates gain experience, switch jobs, and specialize.

What Drives Salary Growth: Job switching (not internal promotions) drives the largest raises. Specializing in high-demand areas like data science ($128,078 median) or cloud infrastructure boosts earning potential. Contributing to open-source projects, speaking at meetups, and building a professional network accelerate career growth more than any certification or additional course.

Bootcamps aren't for everyone, but they are exceptionally effective for specific profiles. Here are the five scenarios where a coding bootcamp consistently delivers strong ROI:

Honesty about when bootcamps are the wrong choice saves people thousands of dollars and months of frustration. Here are five scenarios where a bootcamp is not the right investment:

The tech job market for junior developers has shifted dramatically since the 2020-2021 hiring boom, and bootcamp graduates need to understand the current landscape to set realistic expectations.

What Changed Since the Boom: During 2020-2021, remote work exploded and companies over-hired aggressively. Junior developer roles were plentiful, and bootcamp graduates reported 85-90%+ placement rates. Then came 2022-2024: mass layoffs at Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and hundreds of startups flooded the market with experienced developers willing to take mid-level roles. This compressed the junior market, as employers could hire experienced developers for salaries that used to go to juniors.

The 2025-2026 Recovery: The market has stabilized but not fully recovered to boom-era conditions. BLS data still projects 17% growth for software developers through 2034—well above the national average. Hiring has resumed at most major tech companies, and startups are rebuilding teams. However, the bar for junior developers is higher than it was in 2021. Employers expect portfolio projects, some production experience (even from internships or open-source contributions), and stronger problem-solving skills.

Junior Developer Saturation: The honest truth is that the entry-level tier is the most competitive segment of the developer job market. Bootcamp graduates compete with CS degree holders, self-taught developers, international candidates, and recently laid-off junior developers. Standing out requires more than just completing a bootcamp—you need a strong portfolio, GitHub contributions, networking, and targeted applications.

Where Demand Is Strongest: Not all tech roles are equally competitive. Cybersecurity analysts (33% growth, 750K+ unfilled positions) and data scientists (36% growth) have sustained demand that far exceeds supply. DevOps engineers and cloud infrastructure roles also face strong demand. If you're choosing a bootcamp specialization, these high-growth fields offer better placement odds than general web development.

Realistic Timeline: In 2026, expect the job search to take 2-6 months after graduation, not the 2-8 weeks some bootcamps advertise. Budget for living expenses accordingly. Graduates who network actively during their bootcamp, build a strong portfolio, and apply to 200+ targeted positions consistently report better outcomes than those who rely solely on career services.

Not all bootcamps are created equal, and the lack of regulation in the industry means some programs prioritize enrollment revenue over student outcomes. Watch for these warning signs before committing your time and money:

1. Placement rates above 95% without CIRR auditing. Any bootcamp claiming 95%+ job placement without third-party verification is likely using creative counting—including freelance gigs, contract work, non-tech roles, or excluding dropouts from the denominator. Ask specifically: 'Is this CIRR-audited?' If the answer is no or evasive, be skeptical.
2. High-pressure enrollment tactics. Legitimate programs give you time to decide. If a bootcamp uses 'limited seats,' 'price increases tomorrow,' or 'enroll now or lose your spot' urgency, they're prioritizing sales over education. Good programs have applicants on waiting lists—they don't need pressure tactics.
3. Vague curriculum with buzzword overload. Quality bootcamps publish detailed syllabi week by week. If the curriculum page is full of buzzwords ('cutting-edge AI-powered curriculum') but light on specifics (no mention of actual languages, frameworks, or project descriptions), the program may not have substance behind the marketing.
4. No refund policy or deceptive ISA terms. Read the Income Share Agreement (ISA) fine print carefully. Some ISAs charge effectively 2-3x the tuition over time. A deferred tuition ISA of 17% of income for 2 years on a $70K salary means paying $23,800—nearly double a $13,584 upfront tuition. Legitimate programs offer transparent refund policies for students who withdraw early.
5. Promises of specific salaries or guaranteed employment. No ethical program guarantees a $100K+ job. Job guarantees with tuition refund (like Springboard's) are legitimate because they put the bootcamp's money at risk. But promises of specific salary figures or 'guaranteed placement at top companies' are red flags.
6. No alumni network visibility. Search LinkedIn for bootcamp graduates. If you can't find alumni working at real companies, or if all the LinkedIn testimonials look scripted and similar, the program may not have meaningful outcomes. Reach out to 3-5 alumni directly and ask about their real experience.

Bottom line: the best bootcamps publish CIRR-audited outcomes, offer transparent pricing with clear refund policies, and have visible alumni working at real companies. If a program can't provide all three, keep looking.

The difference between bootcamp graduates who land $75K jobs in 3 months and those still searching after 6 months often comes down to what they do during and after the program. Here's how to maximize your investment:

1. Start coding before the bootcamp begins. Complete at least 40-60 hours of pre-work (freeCodeCamp, Codecademy, or your bootcamp's pre-course materials). Students who arrive with basic fundamentals learn faster, build more impressive projects, and are more likely to complete the program.
2. Build 3-5 portfolio projects that solve real problems. Todo apps and weather widgets won't impress employers. Build a project that solves a genuine problem you've experienced—a tool for your previous industry, an automation script, or a data visualization. Employers want to see that you can think like a developer, not just follow tutorials.
3. Network relentlessly during the program. Attend every meetup, hackathon, and networking event your bootcamp offers. Connect with alumni on LinkedIn. Join tech Slack communities and Discord servers. Over 50% of jobs come through referrals, and your bootcamp cohort becomes your first professional tech network.
4. Contribute to open source. Even small contributions—documentation fixes, bug reports, minor features—demonstrate that you can work in a real codebase with real developers. Employers value this more than another portfolio project.
5. Practice data structures and algorithms. Bootcamps often under-invest in algorithm practice, but many employers (including mid-size companies, not just FAANG) use LeetCode-style interviews. Spend 30-60 minutes daily on LeetCode Easy/Medium problems starting halfway through your bootcamp.
6. Apply broadly and early. Don't wait until you feel 'ready.' Start applying in the final weeks of your bootcamp. Target 10-15 applications per day, customize each one, and track responses in a spreadsheet. The job search is a numbers game—expect a 2-5% response rate on cold applications.
7. Don't stop learning after graduation. The bootcamp gives you foundations. Continuously learn new tools, frameworks, and concepts. Subscribe to newsletters, follow tech blogs, and build side projects. The developers who grow fastest are the ones who never stop being students.