Charted.

Technology

How to become a Software Engineer

Becoming a Software Engineer isn't one leap — it's a ladder. You can start as an IT Support Technician and climb from there, with each rung showing the real time it takes and what it pays. Here's the honest path, and what a technology route actually costs along the way.

The path, rung by rung

Each step is a real role you can hold. The time is how long to reach it; the pay is a national figure for that rung.

  1. IT Support Technician
    CompTIA A+ certification
    $45,000
    1-3 months training
  2. Junior Web Developer
    Bootcamp or self-study portfolio
    $65,000
    3-6 months
  3. Full Stack Developer
    Proven full stack projects
    $85,000
    1-2 years
  4. Software Engineer
    Strong technical skills, system design
    $110,000
    2-4 years
  5. Senior Software Engineer
    Leadership experience, deep expertise
    $150,000
    5-7 years
  6. Staff/Principal Engineer
    Architectural expertise, strategic thinking
    $200,000
    8+ years

Start this week

You don't need to commit to the whole climb today. Here's one small, real thing you can do this week.

Spend 20 minutes on the first free lesson of freeCodeCamp. Set a timer if you need to.

If it's boring, you've learned something real. If the 20 minutes vanish, you've learned more. Either way you moved.

freeCodeCamp →

The honest reality

What this path actually asks of you — in time, money, and effort.

  • The first rung, IT Support Technician, typically asks for compTIA A+ certification and pays around $45,000.
  • Reaching Staff/Principal Engineer usually takes 8+ years and pays around $200,000 — and getting there means architectural expertise, strategic thinking.
  • An early credential many people start with, IT Support (CompTIA A+), runs about $500-1000 and takes 2-3 months. Costs climb with each degree or license after that.
  • These are national figures. What you'll actually earn and what training costs shift with your city and the current market.

Common questions

How long does it take to become a Software Engineer?

Charted lays it out as a 6-step path. You can start as an IT Support Technician right away; reaching Staff/Principal Engineer typically takes 8+ years. You don't have to climb every rung — many people stop at a step that already fits their life.

What does it cost to get started as a Software Engineer?

The first credential most people get, IT Support (CompTIA A+), runs about $500-1000 and takes 2-3 months. Each degree or license after that adds more — the entry step is the cheap part.

Can you become a Software Engineer without a degree?

The entry role, IT Support Technician, asks for compTIA A+ certification. This path leans on formal credentials sooner than some, so plan for schooling as part of the climb.

Not sure this is your path?

Take the assessment. Fifteen minutes, and it points you to the fit.

Take the assessment