Have you just learned the art of programming? If so, you’re ready for your first entry level programming job.
The good news is that you have plenty of options. Since the skills are largely transferable, you can move into another area of interest later.
Before you run off to ZipRecruiter to start your job search, read this overview of positions so you can find one that would best suit you. Here are the best entry level programming jobs for you to consider:
4 Top Entry Level Programming Jobs
We’ve included the starting salary for all of these positions. The good news is that you can earn an average of $100,000 in all of these roles! You just need to know how to negotiate the right salary.
As the #1 job site in the United States, ZipRecruiter can help you find entry level programming jobs with great starting salaries. All you need to do is create a profile and upload your resume. Then, ZipRecruiter’s AI technology will match you with jobs that fit your skills, interests, and experience. It will also tell you which jobs you’re the most qualified to get. So, you won’t waste your time applying for positions you’re less likely to get!
1. Junior Software Developer
As a junior software developer, you’ll be working under more senior developers to design and develop software. You’ll also troubleshoot problems, test programs, and more. This position will open a lot of doors for you in the future. In fact, you’ll be able to explore whatever industry and projects interest you. Better still, there is always a strong demand for software developers.
You can choose to be a front-end or back-end developer. Front-end developers focus on user experience. They also make sure the goals of the software translate into a seamless experience for users.
Back-end developers work on all the things that make software work that the end user cannot see. You’ll often find roles on ZipRecruiter that are coding language specific, too. So, if you have a preferred language, you may be able to specialize in it right from the start of your career.
You can also look for full-stack developer entry level programming jobs, which means you’ll be doing both front-end and back-end work. This is a good option if you don’t want to specialize. Just make sure the company hiring you isn’t looking to hire one person when they need two, as you’ll likely end up overworked.
Starting salary: $40,000
2. Junior Web Designer
As a junior web designer, you may be creating and managing websites for a brand. In this entry level programming jobs position, you’ll be able to combine your love of coding with visual creativity and UX design, depending on how big the team you’re working with is.
Starting salary: $33,000
3. Junior QA Engineer
Software QA engineers analyze and quality check software, identify problems, and debug code as necessary. It’s a QA engineer’s job to ensure that the code the back-end developers write translates well into a great user experience.
Starting salary: $50,000
4. Junior Game Developer
Bringing a game to life is a dream job for many game lovers. If this sounds like you, this position will get you into the game industry and make you a part of the creative process. While a junior game developer will have less input into the final design of a game, it will open the door to roles that will give you more final say.
Starting salary: $40,000
Get Your Entry Level Programming Jobs
If you’re still in college or are learning part-time while you work, try looking for apprenticeships that could lead into entry level programming jobs. Ready to find entry level programming jobs? We’ve got a list of job boards where companies look for students here (hint: ZipRecruiter is your best choice!).
