Many aspiring developers dive into the world of coding hoping for lucrative programming jobs in the future. But what if you could start earning money while you are still learning? The question on many beginner coders’ minds is: is it really possible to Get Paid To Learn Coding?
In this article, we explore practical strategies and real-world examples of how you can make money as a beginner coder. Inspired by stories of individuals who’ve successfully earned while learning, we’ll show you how to turn your coding journey into a financially rewarding experience from the start.
If you’re eager to discover how to get paid to learn coding from the comfort of your home or through part-time programming gigs, keep reading. This guide provides actionable tips and insights to help you start earning while you learn!
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In 2017, Joe Previte decided to pivot his career and delve into the world of coding. His ambition was clear: get paid to learn to code by actively seeking out freelance coding opportunities suitable for beginners. Remarkably, by investing less than $30 in online learning resources, Joe earned close to $5,000 in his first year of learning.
Joe’s journey culminated in landing a full-time position as a front-end engineer, proving that making money while learning to code is not just a dream, but a tangible reality.
Here’s a breakdown of Joe’s earnings in his first year, demonstrating the potential of part-time coding jobs. These figures are pre-tax:
💻 $3,510 – Web Design Agency Internship ($25/hour)
👨🏫 $1,338 – Local Meetup TA/Instructor ($15/hour for TA, $25/hour for Instructor)
💰 Total: $4,848
Image: A person working on a laptop, illustrating the concept of getting paid to learn coding.
These figures highlight that earning money through coding is achievable much sooner than many beginners imagine. In fact, stories like Laurence’s, who secured her first tech side gig just two weeks after starting to learn basic HTML/CSS, are not uncommon. She earned $15/hour assisting a web developer, proving that you can indeed make money while learning to code.
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the essential steps to begin your coding journey, effective strategies to get paid to learn coding, and how to maintain motivation throughout the process. We’ll share insights and tips that helped beginners like Joe develop their skills and start earning while still learning.
How to Start Learning to Code Effectively
Before you can explore ways to get paid to learn coding, establishing a solid foundation in coding is crucial. The first question many beginners ask is, “Where do I even begin?” Joe Previte started with freeCodeCamp, a platform praised for its free, well-structured curriculum and supportive community.
freeCodeCamp uses a challenge-based learning approach, where you learn by doing. Completing challenges and projects earns you certificates, making the learning process feel gamified and goal-oriented. The structured curriculum provides a clear path, ideal for beginners.
💸 Supplement Free Coding Resources with Paid Options
While numerous free resources are available, investing in paid resources can significantly accelerate your learning. Consider it an investment in your future earning potential as a coder.
Joe recommends The Web Developer Bootcamp by Colt Steele on Udemy. This comprehensive course covers a wide range of essential web development technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, jQuery, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB, providing a strong foundation in a relatively short time.
Image: Hands typing on a laptop, representing project creation as a way to make money while learning to code.
Supplementing free resources with paid courses is beneficial because while free resources often provide a good introduction, paid courses typically offer more in-depth knowledge and advanced techniques. They bridge the gap from beginner to more proficient levels faster, equipping you with skills to get paid to learn coding at a higher rate.
💡 Pro-Tip: Explore career paths offered by platforms like Codecademy’s Web Development Career Path. These structured paths guide you from zero coding knowledge to becoming a job-ready junior web developer.
Other reputable paid platforms for advanced coding courses include:
- Udacity
- Coursera
- Pluralsight
- Scrimba
For more options, check out reviews of Coursera coding courses for aspiring programmers.
🤝 Join a Thriving Coding Community (Online or In-Person)
Community is paramount in the learning process, especially in coding. Learning to code can be challenging, and the support of a community is invaluable. Connecting with peers who are facing similar challenges or have already overcome them makes the journey significantly easier and more enjoyable. Coding communities can also open doors to beginner programming jobs.
Chingu is a highly recommended online community that originated within the freeCodeCamp ecosystem. Chingu focuses on cohort-based learning, grouping individuals with similar skill levels to foster collaboration and accountability.
Joe credits his Chingu community for providing crucial support and accountability. Building projects together and growing as a group led to lasting friendships and professional connections.
💯 Another excellent online community is the #100DaysOfCode movement on Twitter. This challenge, discussed in detail in a Learn To Code With Me Podcast interview, encourages consistent daily coding. Twitter is a hub for coders, and engaging with the #100DaysOfCode community can be highly motivating and beneficial for networking.
Many online coding bootcamps and courses also host private communities. Launch School, for example, provides a student forum for sharing study tips, problem-solving, and code discussions.
Image: Two people working side-by-side at computers, emphasizing the collaborative aspect of coding communities.
For in-person connections, Meetup is a great platform to find local coding groups. Facebook also hosts freeCodeCamp groups, some of which are location-specific.
Danny Thompson, who transitioned from a gas station cook to a Google employee, highlights the power of meetups: “Through meetup communities through freeCodeCamp and many other websites, I was able to learn how to program…I was able to create an amazing network of developers and people that I could tap into in a moment’s notice. But the bigger thing is, I was able to have people that I can rely on and fall back on.”
“I owe everything in my career to meetups […] where the resources and the compounding knowledge just exists in a way that you can absorb it in your own time and pace.”
Being part of a coding community accelerates your learning, keeps you motivated, and can even lead to paid opportunities. Community connections can be a direct pathway to get paid to learn coding, as members often share job leads and freelance opportunities.
🎧 Immerse Yourself with Coding Podcasts
Podcasts are a fantastic way to learn passively, especially when you are away from your computer. Listening to coding podcasts during commutes or downtime keeps you engaged with the subject matter and reinforces your learning.
Here are some popular coding podcasts to get you started:
- Syntax.fm
- CodeNewbie
- The Changelog
- Software Engineering Daily
- Learn to Code With Me Podcast
👩💻 Make Coding a Non-Negotiable Habit
Consistency is key to mastering coding. Turning coding into a daily habit is crucial for continuous progress and building the discipline needed to get paid to learn coding professionally.
The #100DaysOfCode challenge, initiated by Alexander Kallaway, is designed to help you build this habit. The core idea is to code for at least one hour every day for 100 days. Even if you can only dedicate a short amount of time each day, consistency is more effective than sporadic long sessions.
Joe modified the challenge to 30 minutes a day and found it highly effective. Even 5 minutes of daily coding is beneficial.
Image: A woman focused on coding at her desk, emphasizing the habit of consistent coding practice.
Developing a daily coding habit prepares you for the demands of professional coding work, where consistent effort and problem-solving are essential to get paid to learn coding and thrive in the field.
How to Make Money Programming: 8 Proven Tips for Beginners
Many beginners wonder, “How do I actually get paid to learn coding?” The key insight is that you can start earning much sooner than you might think. As a seasoned developer advised Joe, “It’s worth applying now instead of waiting for the right moment. Because by the time you feel ready, in reality you were ready months ago.”
Don’t wait until you feel like an expert. Start seeking opportunities now. The worst outcome is simply not getting a particular job, which is just feedback to keep learning and trying.
Here are eight effective tips to help you find your first paid coding gig or internship while you are still in the learning phase:
🏢 Tap into Local and Family Businesses for Opportunities
Beginner coders looking to get paid to learn coding can find great opportunities in their local communities. Reach out to friends, family, and local businesses to see if they need help with websites or web applications. Many small businesses need a website revamp or a new online presence and are often willing to hire beginners at reasonable rates. Think of local coffee shops, restaurants, hair salons, and other small businesses that might need web development help.
This approach allows you to gain practical experience, build your portfolio, make local connections, and get paid to learn coding in a supportive environment.
Image: Two women collaborating on a laptop, representing working with local businesses to get paid to learn coding.
Danny Thompson, for example, earned $1,800 by revamping a local Mexican restaurant’s website simply by asking the manager during a visit. This illustrates how approachable and fruitful local opportunities can be for beginner freelance programming jobs.
📱 Leverage Social Media and Your Network
Don’t underestimate the power of your personal network. Sharing your coding journey and progress on social media can open doors to unexpected opportunities. Let your friends and family know you’re learning to code and looking for projects. They might know someone who needs web development help and think of you. This proactive approach can significantly increase your chances to get paid to learn coding.
Joe himself received inquiries from four friends for website help, with two offering to pay. These opportunities arose because he openly shared his coding journey on Twitter and Facebook. Even offering free help initially can lead to valuable exposure, references, and eventually, paid gigs.
Image: A phone displaying social media apps, emphasizing the role of social media in finding opportunities to get paid to learn coding.
Sarah Greer, a homeschooling mom turned freelance developer, started her freelance career by informing her friends about her coding journey. This led to her first website project for a friend’s contact. Similarly, Adda Birnir landed her first paid project through a friend’s referral, building a WordPress blog for $500.
These stories highlight that you don’t need to be an expert to get paid to learn coding. Beginner gigs can be a learning experience in themselves, providing real-world application of your skills and a paycheck.
💻 Explore Freelancing Platforms for Beginner Coding Jobs
Freelancing platforms are excellent resources for finding paid beginner programming jobs. Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer connect freelancers with clients needing coding services.
Start by bidding on simpler projects and setting competitive rates to attract initial clients. On Upwork, you can filter projects by “Entry Level” to find suitable freelance coding jobs for beginners. As you gain experience and confidence, you can take on more complex and higher-paying projects to get paid to learn coding at increasing rates.
Focus on beginner-friendly tasks like building basic websites, customizing existing sites, or working on small application features. Entry-level web development gigs on platforms like Upwork often pay in the range of $20-$40 per hour, offering a viable way to get paid to learn coding.
To succeed on these platforms, avoid common freelancer mistakes and learn to write compelling freelance proposals.
Image: A computer mouse pointing at job search keywords, symbolizing the job search process to get paid to learn coding.
Chris Misterek doubled his full-time salary using Upwork. He initially faced rejection but persisted and eventually landed small projects that grew into substantial income. Kyle Prinsloo’s freelance side gig also grew to match his full-time salary within two years, demonstrating the long-term potential of freelancing to get paid to learn coding.
💬 Engage in Local Tech Slack Groups
Networking is crucial for career growth in tech, and local Slack groups are goldmines for finding paid programming jobs. Search for tech organizations in your area; many have Slack groups where job opportunities are often shared. These groups are excellent places to network and discover how to get paid to learn coding locally.
In Arizona, Joe found opportunities through groups like the Arizona WordPress Slack group and #yesphx Slack group. He secured his first web development internship and a TA/Instructor position at a local meetup by actively participating in these Slack communities.
Image: Two men networking with laptops, highlighting the importance of networking in tech to get paid to learn coding.
Join relevant Slack channels, introduce yourself, and engage with the community. Many opportunities to get paid to learn coding are shared within these networks; proactive participation is key to uncovering them.
💭 Be Open to Hybrid Roles in Tech
Your first tech job doesn’t have to be purely coding-focused to help you get paid to learn coding and advance your career. Consider hybrid roles that blend coding with other skills. Joe’s first full-time tech job was in digital marketing, which he secured because of his coding skills. He was hired for a hybrid role combining marketing and web development and even negotiated a higher salary due to his tech skills.
Be open to “tech-adjacent” roles like:
- Technical Support: Troubleshooting technical issues, often involving basic coding or scripting.
- Web Content Management: Managing website content, sometimes requiring HTML/CSS knowledge.
- Marketing Automation: Setting up automated marketing campaigns, often involving coding for email templates or landing pages.
- Data Entry/Analysis (with scripting): Automating data tasks using scripts (like Python) to improve efficiency.
- Quality Assurance (QA) Testing: Testing software and websites, sometimes involving writing automated test scripts.
These roles can get your foot in the door in the tech industry, provide valuable experience, and allow you to get paid to learn coding in a professional context, even if coding isn’t your primary responsibility initially. Logan Tran started in quality assurance and transitioned to a junior software engineer role within two years, illustrating the career progression possible through hybrid tech roles.
✍️ Start a Blog to Showcase Your Skills
Blogging is an effective way to build your personal brand, establish yourself as a knowledgeable coder, and attract potential clients. Write about your coding journey, share insights on industry trends, or discuss topics you are passionate about. A blog can serve as a portfolio and a platform to demonstrate your expertise and attract opportunities to get paid to learn coding.
Once you build an audience, your blog can also generate income through various monetization strategies like ads, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing. Including a “Services” or “Contact” page can signal to potential clients that you are available for paid coding gigs.
While ad revenue might start small (e.g., $10-$25 per month for 1,000 monthly page views), it can grow significantly as your audience expands. Successful bloggers like Ryan Robinson earn hundreds of thousands annually from their blogs.
Platforms like Bluehost, DreamHost, WP Engine, or HostGator are excellent starting points for setting up your coding blog.
Image: A man enthusiastically blogging on his laptop, representing blogging as a way to get paid to learn coding.
🏆 Participate in Coding Competitions for Cash Prizes
Coding competitions offer a unique and potentially lucrative way to get paid to learn coding, especially as you gain more experience. Online platforms like CodeChef and HackerEarth host regular coding contests with cash prizes for top performers.
CodeChef’s Cook-Off and LunchTime competitions offer prizes up to $100 for top global rankings. HackerEarth provides various coding challenges with prizes often reaching thousands of dollars.
Participating in these competitions is not only a great way to practice and hone your coding skills but also to build your portfolio and potentially win cash prizes. While it might not be a consistent income stream, it’s a fun and challenging method to get paid to learn coding and test your abilities.
📱 Develop and Monetize Your Own Apps
As your coding skills advance, consider creating your own mobile apps. If you are learning mobile app development, building free apps with ads or paid apps can be a viable way to get paid to learn coding and generate income.
Success in app monetization requires dedication to marketing and treating app development as a business. Even while learning, you can use no-code or low-code tools to build apps or create plugins, WordPress themes, or other online tools to sell in marketplaces.
The top apps in app stores can earn substantial daily revenue. While achieving top-tier earnings takes significant effort, the app market offers considerable potential if you identify a niche and build a valuable app.
Image: The interface of an app store, representing app development as a way to get paid to learn coding.
How to Stay Motivated While Learning to Code and Seeking Paid Work
The journey to get paid to learn coding can be challenging. It’s essential to maintain motivation, especially when facing setbacks or slow progress. Here are strategies to help you stay persistent and motivated:
🤓 Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Embrace a growth mindset in your coding journey. Recognize that coding is a field of continuous learning. Intelligence is not fixed; you can always learn, improve, and grow your skills. Angela Duckworth’s book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” emphasizes that passion and persistence, not just talent, are key to achieving outstanding success.
Stay curious, always seek new knowledge, and remember Gandhi’s wisdom: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Remember that every successful developer started as a beginner. Look at the early work of developers you admire to see their starting points and appreciate your own progress.
For example, Maxence Henneron & Oxana Ivanchenko built a successful home cleaning app earning $40K monthly recurring revenue. Oxana, who learned to code just before building the app, initially felt intimidated by meetups but overcame her fears and achieved remarkable success, demonstrating that perseverance pays off in learning to get paid to learn coding.
Join supportive forums and communities like freeCodeCamp’s “You Can Do This!” forum, where developers share their challenges and victories, fostering a sense of shared experience and encouragement.
⏰ Optimize Your Time by Waking Up Early to Code
If you feel time-constrained, consider waking up earlier to dedicate more time to coding. Creating dedicated time slots, especially early in the morning, can significantly boost your learning progress.
Joe Previte started waking up at 5:30 am to code for half an hour before his day began, which was crucial for his rapid progress. While it required discipline, the early morning coding sessions were highly effective.
Kazumi Karbowski, a mother and part-time worker, switched from late-night to early-morning coding and found it much more beneficial.
Robin Sharma’s book “The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life” offers more strategies for maximizing morning productivity, which can be invaluable for carving out time to get paid to learn coding.
🖥️ Re-Engage with the #100DaysOfCode Challenge
If you need a motivation boost, restarting or continuing the #100DaysOfCode challenge can be highly effective. The challenge provides structure, accountability, and a sense of accomplishment.
Joe planned to continue with another round of #100DaysOfCode after completing his initial rounds, highlighting the ongoing learning and growth mindset essential in coding.
Image: Close-up of code on a screen, emphasizing the continuous learning and practice involved in coding to get paid.
The field of programming is constantly evolving, with new technologies and tools emerging regularly. Embrace lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Remember, you don’t need to know everything to get paid to learn coding. Focus on continuous growth and building your skills incrementally.
Key Takeaways: Get Paid To Learn Coding
After reading this article, remember these core principles:
- Self-Learning is Achievable: You can learn to code effectively on your own. Investing in affordable resources like Udemy courses, combined with free platforms and community support, can launch your coding career. Motivation and a willingness to learn are the most critical factors.
- Start Earning Sooner Than You Think: You are likely ready to get paid to learn coding right now. If you can solve coding problems or build projects, you have skills that are valuable. Don’t hesitate to offer your services and explore opportunities.
- Persistence is Key: Coding is challenging, and finding paid gigs can feel difficult initially. Don’t give up. Stay persistent, keep learning daily, and your dedication will lead to success in getting paid to learn coding.
How to Get Paid to Learn Coding: FAQs
What Coding Specializations Offer the Highest Earning Potential?
According to Stack Overflow’s 2021 survey, the top-paying programming languages in the United States include Clojure, F#, Elixir, Erlang, Perl, Ruby, Scala, Rust, Go, and LISP.
However, earning potential while learning to code also depends on project types, complexity, location’s cost of living, and the number of clients you can manage.
How Can Beginners Find Their First Paid Freelancing Client?
Finding your first client can be challenging without referrals or a portfolio. Leverage your network, inform people you are available for freelance work, create a portfolio showcasing your projects, and use freelancing platforms like Upwork to gain visibility.
👉 Explore more tips on how to land your first freelance coding client.
What’s a Realistic Earning Expectation for Beginner Coders?
As Joe Previte demonstrated, earning $5,000 or more in your first year of learning is achievable. Through internships, TA/instructor roles, freelancing, and local business projects, beginners can make significant income while learning and gain even more experience and earning potential over time.
How Can Beginners Overcome Imposter Syndrome When Getting Paid to Code?
Imposter syndrome is common, especially when getting paid while still learning. Remember that these feelings are normal, even for experienced programmers. Strategies to overcome imposter syndrome include:
- Visualize success.
- Journal your feelings.
- Focus on your accomplishments.
- Practice positive self-talk.
- Learn from mistakes as growth opportunities.
- Build a support network.
- Recognize the value of your time.
Don’t underestimate your capabilities. Everyone starts somewhere, and you don’t need to be perfect to get paid to learn coding.
Ready to take the next step? Register for resources on landing technical side gigs to further your journey in getting paid to learn coding.
Stay connected with Joe Previte on Twitter @jsjoeio to share your journey and connect with others on a similar path.
About the Author
Joe Previte is a self-taught front-end developer with a passion for travel and continuous learning. His experiences in freelancing, teaching, and leading communities highlight his commitment to helping others succeed in tech.
