As a kid Career Day was always my least favorite school event. I would sit in the gymnasium with a sea of parents eager to talk about their work, but none of what they said seemed to interest me. It wasn’t until recently that I realized what I was missing: an understanding of the endless opportunities a career can offer. Coding is a perfect example of this. When most people think of coding, they picture someone sitting in front of a computer all day, but coding is so much more than that. A career in coding can involve anything from developing video games to building websites to creating apps. And the best part is that you don’t need to be a genius to do it!
But why a career in coding? For starters, coding is an in-demand skill. In today’s economy, businesses are relying more and more on technology, which means they need coders to help them keep up with the times. And as our world becomes increasingly digital, the demand for coders will only continue to grow. But it’s not just the job market that makes a career in coding attractive; it’s also the pay. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a coder is over $80,000 per year. And experienced coders can make even more than that! Plus, many companies offer great benefits, like flexible hours and the ability to work from home.
So, what are the best coding careers for kids? Here are some of our favorites:
Game Developer
Do your kids love playing video games? Why not encourage them to turn their passion into a career? With a little coding knowledge, they could one day be the ones designing the games they love to play. All it takes is a little creativity, imagination as well as some coding skills. Game developers work in teams to create games from start to finish. So, if your kids are the type that likes to work collaboratively, this could be the perfect career for them. Some companies to look out for are EA Games, Ubisoft, and Activision, Blizzard, you’ve likely heard of these companies as they’ve helped develop games like Madden NFL, Assassin’s Creed, and Call of Duty. The starting pay for these positions is about $56,000 but with experience, that number can go up to six figures. You can prepare for this coding career by taking the game developer courses at SkoolofCode!
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer science or a related field.
Computer Languages to Know: C++, Java, and Python.
Skills needed: problem-solving, artistic ability, and storytelling.
App Developer
With the popularity of smartphones, it’s no surprise that apps are in high demand. And with over two million apps available on the App Store, there’s definitely room for more. If your kids are creative and have a knack for problem-solving, they could excel in this career. App developers work alone or in small teams to create new and innovative apps that help common people achieve some sort of goal. Once the app is created, they run it by a team of testers to make sure it’s up to par before finally releasing it to the public. Some popular apps that were developed by individuals include Vine, Flappy Bird, and Instagram. While some developed by teams include Snapchat and WhatsApp. This proves that this job is a great option to do whether you’re working alone or with a team. The average salary for an app developer is $107,000 but can go up to much more with experience.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer science or a related field.
Computer Languages to Know: Objective-C, Swift, and Java.
Skills Needed: problem-solving, artistic ability, creativity, and marketing.
Web Developer
Websites are a necessary part of everyday life, and they’re not going anywhere, anytime soon. While at times they may seem like they don’t take much effort to create, that’s not the case. In fact, web developers have a lot on their plate. They’re responsible for creating and designing websites, as well as making sure they function properly. This means constantly testing the site and fixing any bugs that may pop up. In fact, almost every website that you encounter has some sort of team working behind the scenes to make sure it’s up and running. And that team is composed of web developers. If your kids are interested in design and have an eye for detail, web development could be the perfect career for them. Web developers generally work in teams to create and maintain websites. They often specialize in either front-end or back-end development. Front-end developers focus on what the user sees when they visit a website while back-end developers focus on the behind-the-scenes coding that makes the website function. starting salary for an app developer is around $40 per hour but can go up to $100 per hour or more for experienced developers.
Required Education: Associate’s degree or some college coursework in web design or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: JavaScript, SQL, and HTML.
Skills Needed: Originality, artistic ability, strong problem-solving skills, and keen attention to detail.
Software Engineer
Software engineering is a field that’s essential to just about every industry. From retail to healthcare, there’s a software engineer behind every computer system. And with the world increasingly becoming digitized, the demand for software engineers is only going to rise. If your kids are logical and good at solving problems, they could excel in this career. Software engineers generally work in teams to create and maintain computer systems. They often specialize in specific areas like front-end or back-end development, mobile development, or DevOps, this means that there’s always something new to learn. And the best part is, that they get to see the results of their work in action. The average salary for a software engineer is $84,000 but can go up to $100,000 or more with experience. Being a software engineer requires a lot of training and experience but it’s a rewarding career that your kids will love.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
Computer Languages to Know: Java, Python, and C++.
Skills Needed: Analytical and problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail, leadership, and excellent communication skills.
Database Administrator
Databases are a crucial part of every company’s computer system. They store all the important data that companies need to function on a daily basis. And without a database administrator, that data would be lost. Database administrators (DBAs) are responsible for managing these databases. This includes tasks like data entry, security, and performance optimization. And that’s where database administrators come in. They’re responsible for managing and organizing all that data. DBAs often specialize in specific types of databases like MySQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra, these are all just fancy terms for different types of databases. Understanding databases takes a prior understanding of different coding languages, data, and math which means that a job like this could be quite challenging. Despite that, it’s a high demand rewarding career with a lot of opportunities for growth. The average salary for a database administrator is $77,000 but can go up to $100,000 or more with experience.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, and Java.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, leadership, technical aptitude, and analytical skills.
Systems Administrator
All companies have specialized systems in place that help them run their businesses. And without a systems administrator, those systems would quickly fall apart. Systems administrators are responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining those systems. They take care of everything from email servers to financial databases. This is a crucial job that keeps companies running smoothly. And the best part is, it can be done remotely! Systems administrators often specialize in specific areas like networking, security, or storage but they need to have a broad understanding of all systems in order to be successful. This is a career that’s perfect for kids who are detail-oriented and good at problem-solving. Being a systems administrator requires a lot of training and experience but it’s a rewarding career that’s optimal for a company’s success. The average salary for a systems administrator is $69,000 but can go up much more with time and experience.
Required Education: a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: Python, Java, PowerShell, and Bash.
Skills Needed: Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and analytical skills.
Cybersecurity Analyst
As the world becomes more and more digitized, keeping your digital assets secure is more important than ever. And that’s where cybersecurity analysts come in. They identify, investigate, and resolve security issues in order to protect their company’s data. Cybersecurity analysts work in a variety of industries including government, healthcare, and finance. They are often responsible for developing and implementing security policies as well. The demand for cybersecurity analysts is constantly growing as the need to protect digital assets becomes more and more important as the amount of data we create grows. This is the perfect career for kids who are interested in coding and security. The average salary for a cybersecurity analyst is $92,000 but can go up to $100,000 or more with experience.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: Java, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, and Python
Skills Needed: Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, technical aptitude, and communication skills.
Data Scientist
These days everything collects data. From your phone to your car to the devices in your home, everything is collecting data about you. And that data is valuable. Data scientists are responsible for extracting that valuable data and turning it into insights that can be used to make better decisions. They use a variety of tools including statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization to do their job. They also use their coding skills to organize and analyze data so that it can be used to make better decisions. Data scientists often work in fields like healthcare, finance, and marketing, but there is a need for them in every industry. This is a perfect career for kids who are interested in coding and math. Data science is a relatively new field, but it’s growing quickly as the need for people who can understand and analyze data becomes more and more apparent in our digitized world. The average salary for a data scientist is $113,000 but can go up to $130,000 or more with experience.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: Python, R, SQL, and SAS
Skills Needed: Strong math skills, problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and communication skills.
User experience (UX) Designer
Every website and application that you encounter is designed with the user in mind. That’s because good user experience is essential for keeping people engaged with your product. Companies understand this, which is why they are willing to pay good money for people who can design great user experiences. As a UX designer, you would be responsible for designing websites and applications that are easy to use and navigate. You would also be responsible for conducting user research to understand the needs of the people who will be using your product. UX designers work closely with developers to ensure that the products they are designing can be built. This is a perfect career for kids who are interested in coding and design. The average salary for a UX designer is $75,000 but can go up to $90,000 or more with experience.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
Computer Languages to Know: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Skills Needed: Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, communication skills, and creativity.
How SkoolofCode can help you
While these careers are all great, they may seem out of reach for your kids. But with the right guidance and an early start, your kids can be coding their way to one of these amazing careers.
SkoolofCode offers the best coding classes for kids that are designed to teach them the skills they need to succeed in a career in coding. With our experienced instructors and fun, interactive classes, your kids will be coding like pros in no time. SkoolofCode offers a variety of courses that are designed to teach kids the skills they need to succeed in a career in coding. Our courses like pro gaming and gaming with python can help your kids learn the coding skills they need to get a job as a game developer. While our courses like dynamic and static webpages can help your kids learn code skills, they need to get a job as web developers or UX designers. So, why wait and Book a FREE trial class today.
By – Prisha Sood