I pivoted into web development (had done a dozen things prior) after getting into a bootcamp as well. My first job took 3 months to secure (longest 3 months ever) and I got a low $48,000 salary (low for Manhattan). I worked it for 6 months and got a raise to $52,000. Then 3 months later got a raise to $58,000.
Almost a year and a half in, I left that company seeking a more healthy work environment and got a job earning $75,000. 6 months in I got a raise to $80,000.
Just over a year in, I left that company to join the group I’m with today earning $90,000 and I love my company. I’m basically getting paid to learn, have a great work-life balance and my team are incredibly supportive. As a bonus, I have a very good chance of getting a raise after 1 year (I’m 6 months in).
My point in sharing this is that not everyone gets a 6-figure job opportunity right out of bootcamp. I’ve known 1 who did but it doesn’t happen often. I worked hard, I studied a lot of documentation and books and kept asking for raises. When I felt like I’d hit the ceiling or needed a change of environ, I’d job hunt.
In the end, I prefer a better work environment with opportunities to grow over a 6 figure salary. I know I'll get there, it's just a matter of time. All that to say, I believe anyone can do well in dev space with persistence and ambition.
Thanks for sharing! I agree, getting the six figure salary straight out of bootcamp is definitely not the norm, especially for someone coming from a non CS background. I think for me, the interest for the pivot wasn't necessarily the idea that I could make that amount of money right out of the gate(because I knew that was the exception), but that it could give me to opportunity to hopefully make that much someday, all while doing something that I fed my intellectual needs and is something that I loved doing. With nursing I knew what my cap salary was going to be, I'd be lucky if I was pushing $80K/year after being in a role for 6+ years. The most senior nurses I worked with(being in the same role for 10+ years) capped out at $50/hr, and that's still working night shifts, odd hours, having call, and working weekends and holidays. That was something I knew I couldn't do, and I knew it'd muffle my ambition.
I agree that a good work environment trumps a six figure salary, any day. Hopefully someday we can both find ourselves in a role that offers both! Best of luck to you and thanks for the comment and the read!
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Excellent writing, thanks for sharing your story!
I pivoted into web development (had done a dozen things prior) after getting into a bootcamp as well. My first job took 3 months to secure (longest 3 months ever) and I got a low $48,000 salary (low for Manhattan). I worked it for 6 months and got a raise to $52,000. Then 3 months later got a raise to $58,000.
Almost a year and a half in, I left that company seeking a more healthy work environment and got a job earning $75,000. 6 months in I got a raise to $80,000.
Just over a year in, I left that company to join the group I’m with today earning $90,000 and I love my company. I’m basically getting paid to learn, have a great work-life balance and my team are incredibly supportive. As a bonus, I have a very good chance of getting a raise after 1 year (I’m 6 months in).
My point in sharing this is that not everyone gets a 6-figure job opportunity right out of bootcamp. I’ve known 1 who did but it doesn’t happen often. I worked hard, I studied a lot of documentation and books and kept asking for raises. When I felt like I’d hit the ceiling or needed a change of environ, I’d job hunt.
In the end, I prefer a better work environment with opportunities to grow over a 6 figure salary. I know I'll get there, it's just a matter of time. All that to say, I believe anyone can do well in dev space with persistence and ambition.
Thanks for sharing! I agree, getting the six figure salary straight out of bootcamp is definitely not the norm, especially for someone coming from a non CS background. I think for me, the interest for the pivot wasn't necessarily the idea that I could make that amount of money right out of the gate(because I knew that was the exception), but that it could give me to opportunity to hopefully make that much someday, all while doing something that I fed my intellectual needs and is something that I loved doing. With nursing I knew what my cap salary was going to be, I'd be lucky if I was pushing $80K/year after being in a role for 6+ years. The most senior nurses I worked with(being in the same role for 10+ years) capped out at $50/hr, and that's still working night shifts, odd hours, having call, and working weekends and holidays. That was something I knew I couldn't do, and I knew it'd muffle my ambition.
I agree that a good work environment trumps a six figure salary, any day. Hopefully someday we can both find ourselves in a role that offers both! Best of luck to you and thanks for the comment and the read!