Top 5 Coding Languages to Land a Job in San Francisco [with Salaries]

This blog post is one of 4 in the serie Learning to Code in San Francisco.

With unprecedented job cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic – and the threat that some of those jobs will never come back – many people are considering what skill sets
are a safe bet for next steps in their careers.

If you’ve considered exploring something in the tech field, but can’t afford – or don’t have the time - to go back to school  – a bootcamp in coding – might be just the ticket.

There are a number of boot camps available - with a range of prices - in the Bay Area. And many more “virtual” options. The price range of bootcamps is as varied as what you’ll learn there. If cost and value are important to you (and who doesn’t want the best deal?), consider a “hybrid” (online and in-person) bootcamp.

Hypertext markup language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheet (CSS)

Considered the “building block” coding languages, HTML and CSS control the look and feel of a website. For a career in coding, you’ll need to know these languages “fluently.” HTML classes should be your first step when learning about web design and development. HTML can be used for formatting a blog or an eblast, embedding external content on a website, placing content on a page without regard to its appearance.

“ If HTML is the house, then CSS is the paint”

CSS is a language you use to design HTML pages to attract users and keep them on your site. CSS coding is detailed and nuanced and can be intimidating to learn. The trick is to master the tech skills (the language), then put them into practice bit by bit. (Remember, it’s like building blocks!). Together, these skills can “open the door” to a career in coding.  

The average salary of a HTML CSS developer in San Francisco is $102,000 [Zip Recruiter]

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language that is sometimes compared and confused with CSS. Both are visually focused and give you transferrable skills you can build on later.

Compared to CSS, which is used to create static and permanent web pages, JavaScript is more dynamic coding language. JavaScript allows you to create more sophisticated features you see on websites like animations and page sliders.  Since it is such a versatile coding language, widlely used on almost all websites you see today, mastering JavaScript is becoming a requirement for anyone looking to enter into a career in coding. 

The average salary for a JavaScript Developer in San Francisco is $164,000 [Indeed]

React

While we’re on the subject of JavaScript, a coding languages that is based on JavaScript is React, which allows developers to create attractive, dynamic, functional user interfaces without having to reload (React Native does everything the original platform does on mobile). 

The pair, which are a great way you reach people on iOS and Android platforms, allow you to package an entire website into a mobile app.

The average pay for this expertise varies from $58,000 to $188,000. [Glassdoor]

Bootstrap

How about if you want to incorporate all of the above? Bootstrap is a free, open-source, interactive repository for HTML, CSS and JavaScript code. This web development framework is a front-end developer’s dream! With Bootstrap, you don’t have to create code from scratch; you can “steal” freely available blocks of code. This powerful tool enables developers and designers to build websites quickly and easily, giving them more time to focus on the interface.

Average income in San Francisco for Bootstrap proficiency: $93,000. [Payscale.com]

Become a Full Stack Expert

There you have it: the top five languages to help you get a job in the tech sector. And you’re living in one of the best cities for tech-job growth – regardless of the pandemic.  

One place where you can learn all of these languages is Nucamp. With an eye to costs and value, Nucamp curriculum is designed to help coding students get a job in the tech sector.  With the current social distancing policies, all bootcamps have shifted to 100% online without sacrificing the collaborative learning environment.  Nucamp continues to provide a hybrid learning experience where students can learn at their own pace during the week, and “meet” online with their instructor and classmates for weekend workshops.   It’s the next best thing to being there. 

There are myriad other languages to learn but any of these will get you started in a new career with a bankable future.