Survey of tech professionals shows new forms of education are helping address Canada's skills gap

Course Compare first to measure career outcomes of coding bootcamp graduates exclusively across Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recent survey by Course Compare, Canada's marketplace for education, suggests nearly one-tenth of professional developers in Canada have studied at a coding bootcamp. The survey findings, which are based on 500 developers' salaries and educational backgrounds, are among the first to measure career outcomes of Canadians using coding bootcamps to land high-demand computer programming jobs.

The survey found that nine per cent of developers in Canada have studied at least part-time at a coding bootcamp and earn an average annual salary of $74,482. This was slightly lower than the average salary for all developers, which was $77,913. However, bootcamp graduates who participated in the survey had on average four years' work experience compared to six years' experience for those who had not studied at a coding bootcamp.

"We're only beginning to understand the labour market effects of new, accelerated forms of education like coding bootcamps," said Course Compare founder and CEO Robert Furtado. "Canada's first coding bootcamps opened their doors in 2012, but they've already helped a significant number of Canadians transition into and succeed in the tech sector."

Developer salaries and education

Course Compare analyzed developer salaries and educational backgrounds to determine which learning pathways lead to higher earning potential. Average annual salaries for developers based on their highest level of education were as follows:

• High school diploma: $60,124
• College diploma: $67,221
• Bachelor's degree: $82,825
• Master's degree: $94,545

Salaries for high school graduates working full-time exceeded the national average for all workers by more than $10,000 per year. The average salary of a bootcamp graduate ($74,482) exceeded the national average by more than $24,000 per year.

Changing attitudes about the value of a degree

Eighty-six per cent of workers told Course Compare they do not believe a university degree is required to succeed as a developer. Yet 48 per cent held a bachelor's degree, 21 per cent held a college diploma, and 14 per cent had completed a master's degree before enrolling in a coding bootcamp?many, although not all, in disciplines unrelated to computer science and engineering. Seventeen per cent listed a high school diploma as their highest level of education prior to graduating from a bootcamp.

"There is clearly growing demand for short, modular and flexible training programs designed to support continuous learning throughout one's career," said Furtado. "Driving this demand are early to mid-career professionals who want to upgrade their skills or pivot into a new career in technology. For this segment of the market, coding bootcamps aren't replacing four-year degree programs, they're complementing them."

To read the full report, visit: https://www.coursecompare.ca/software-developer-salaries-based-on-education/

About CourseCompare

Course Compare is Canada's marketplace for education. We help prepare people for the future of work by connecting them to top-rated courses and training programs in business, technology and design. Visit CourseCompare.ca to find leading schools and courses near you, to browse verified student ratings and reviews, and to accelerate your career with advice from Canadian and international thought leaders.

Media Contact

Sabina Wex
sabina[at]coursecompare.ca