You are thinking about learning to code, and at some point the question stops being "is this interesting" and becomes "what does it pay." That is a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer with real numbers, not vague promises about six-figure salaries that may or may not apply to someone just starting out.
This article uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to break down what entry-level tech roles actually pay, which jobs are growing, and where geography matters. The numbers are based on the most recent BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Occupational Outlook Handbook data, covering median wages, entry-level ranges, and projected growth through 2034.
What "Entry-Level" Actually Means in Salary Data
Before looking at specific numbers, it helps to understand how the BLS reports wages. The BLS publishes median wages (the midpoint where half of workers earn more and half earn less) along with percentile breakdowns. The 10th percentile, which represents the lowest-paid 10% of workers in a role, is the closest proxy for what someone earns when they are just starting out. It is not a perfect measure of "entry-level," but it gives you a realistic floor rather than a misleading average inflated by senior salaries.
All salary figures below come from BLS data and reflect national numbers. Your actual starting pay will depend on your location, the size of the company, and the strength of your portfolio.
Web Developers
Web developers build the websites and applications that people use every day. This is the most direct career path from a coding certificate, and the salary data is encouraging at every level.
The BLS reports a national median salary of $90,930 for web developers. The lowest 10% earn under $48,000, which gives you a realistic picture of early-career pay. The highest 10% earn above $168,000, which shows the ceiling as you build experience and specialize.
There are approximately 214,900 web developer and digital designer jobs in the U.S., and the BLS projects 7% growth from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average. That translates to about 14,500 job openings per year, driven by both new positions and turnover as experienced developers move into senior roles.
The industries paying the highest wages for web developers include information services, finance, and professional and technical services. If you are working at a smaller company or agency, starting salaries tend to be lower, but you often get broader experience and more autonomy earlier in your career.
UX/UI Designers (Web and Digital Interface Designers)
UX/UI design sits at the intersection of coding and visual design, and it pays accordingly. The BLS classifies this role under "web and digital interface designers" and reports a median salary of $98,090, making it one of the higher-paying entry points in the creative-technical space.
The lowest 10% earn under $47,840, which is a strong entry-level floor. With approximately 128,900 positions and 7% projected growth, this is a role with both immediate opportunity and long-term trajectory.
If you have coding skills and an eye for how people interact with digital products, UX/UI design gives you access to salaries that many pure development roles take years to reach.
Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
QA analysts and testers make sure software works correctly before it reaches users. The role rewards methodical thinking and attention to detail, and the pay reflects its importance: the BLS reports a median salary of approximately $104,290.
There are about 186,740 QA positions in the U.S. Entry-level salaries sit lower than the median, but QA has one of the more accessible entry points in tech because the work is structured, the expectations are clear, and coding skills give you a real advantage over candidates who only do manual testing. Writing automated test scripts is increasingly expected, and it is a skill that commands higher pay.
Computer Support Specialists
Technical support is often the first rung on a tech career ladder, and the salary data shows why it works as a starting point.
User support specialists help people troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues. The BLS reports a median salary of $60,340, with the lowest 10% earning under $38,780. There are approximately 729,500 of these positions in the U.S., making it one of the largest tech job categories by volume. While overall employment is projected to decline slightly (about 4% through 2034 as AI handles more routine support), the BLS still projects roughly 50,500 annual openings across all computer support roles due to retirements and turnover.
Network support specialists earn more, with a median salary of $73,340 and entry-level pay starting under $46,010. These roles involve maintaining and troubleshooting network infrastructure, and they typically require more specialized knowledge. There are about 152,700 positions, with 2% projected growth.
What makes support roles valuable as a career entry point is that your coding knowledge lets you move past scripted troubleshooting and into actual problem-solving. That difference shows up in both your effectiveness and your pay trajectory. Many people start in support and move into development, DevOps, or solutions engineering within a few years.
How Geography Affects Pay
Tech salaries vary significantly by location. Major metro areas like San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Washington, D.C. consistently pay the highest wages for technical roles, but cost of living eats into those premiums. A web developer earning $120,000 in San Francisco may have less take-home spending power than one earning $80,000 in Austin or Raleigh.
The BLS provides interactive tools that let you look up wages by state and metropolitan area for any occupation. If you want to see what these roles pay in your specific area, the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics database lets you search by location and job title.
Remote work has changed the geographic equation significantly. A growing share of web development, QA, and technical support positions are available as fully remote roles, which means you can live in a lower-cost area while earning closer to the wages offered in higher-paying markets. This is especially relevant if you do your best work from an environment you control.
Salary Growth Over Time
Starting salaries are only part of the picture. What matters just as much is how quickly pay increases as you gain experience.
In web development, moving from an entry-level position (10th percentile, around $48,000) to the median ($90,930) typically happens within three to five years of consistent work. Developers who specialize in high-demand frameworks, learn back-end development, or move into lead roles can reach the 90th percentile range ($168,000+) within seven to ten years.
QA testers who learn automation frameworks and move into senior or lead QA roles see similar trajectories. The jump from manual testing to automated testing is one of the biggest salary inflection points in the field.
Technical support specialists who add coding and networking skills transition into higher-paying roles relatively quickly. The path from user support to network support to systems administration or DevOps is well-established and comes with meaningful pay increases at each step.
How AI Changes the Salary Picture
AI is reshaping tech work, but the salary impact is not what most headlines suggest. AI coding assistants are making trained developers more productive, which means employers get more output per developer. That does not reduce demand for developers; it raises the bar for what a junior developer can accomplish, which makes the skills more valuable, not less.
The BLS growth projections already account for the current trajectory of AI adoption. The 7% growth projection for web developers and the continued strong demand for QA analysts reflect a market that needs people who can work with AI tools, not be replaced by them.
If you learn to code alongside AI tools from the start, you enter the job market with a workflow that matches what employers are actually using. That is a competitive advantage, not a liability.
Getting Started
If these numbers have you thinking about learning to code, the next step is to try it and see if the work fits you. Fidgetech runs free Preview Workshops where you write real code in a live session, experience the teaching style, and find out whether the work clicks for you. No commitment, no cost.
The Web and App Development Certificate, the credential inside Fidgetech Code, covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React through structured, project-based coursework with small classes, live instruction, and AI tools built into the curriculum. It was designed for how you learn, not adapted after the fact.
If a creative or AI-focused path sounds closer to your interests, the Multimedia Certificate covers digital design and video production, and the AI Upskilling Explorer Program builds practical AI skills you can use across roles. All three programs share the same teaching approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average starting salary for a web developer?
Based on BLS data, the lowest 10% of web developers earn under $48,000 per year, which is the closest proxy for entry-level pay. The national median is $90,930. Your actual starting salary will depend on your location, portfolio strength, and the type of company you work for.
Do you need a degree to get these salaries?
No. Many tech roles, especially web development, QA testing, and technical support, hire based on demonstrated skills and portfolio rather than formal degrees. A strong set of completed projects and familiarity with current tools often matters more than a four-year degree.
Which entry-level tech job pays the most?
Among accessible entry-level roles, UX/UI design (web and digital interface design) has the highest median salary at $98,090, though the entry-level floor is similar to web development. QA testing also pays well, with a median around $104,290, though entry-level QA salaries start lower than the median suggests.
Are tech salaries going up or down?
Tech salaries have been trending upward, driven by sustained demand and relatively limited supply of trained developers. The BLS projects 7% growth for web developers through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. AI is increasing productivity per developer rather than reducing demand.
Does remote work affect tech salaries?
Yes, and generally in your favor. Remote work lets you access higher-paying job markets without relocating. Some companies adjust pay based on location, but many tech employers offer location-independent salaries, especially for development and QA roles. The flexibility also means you can work from an environment that supports how you focus best.