How Long Does It Take to Become a Software Engineer in 2025

It’s one of the internet’s most asked questions in tech: how long does it take to become a software engineer?

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In today’s market, roles that explicitly require AI skills pay 28% more, or $18k USD, yet entry‑level openings have tightened, so timelines hinge increasingly on your specialization, portfolio quality, your network, and the hiring market.

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The four main routes are

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1. Learning time - dependent on the path taken (e.g. 4 years versus 13 weeks)
2. Job-search time - dependent on market conditions, specialization, and portfolio strength

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Pathways Explained (2025 Reality): Degree, Bootcamp, Apprenticeship, or Self‑Taught

1. Degree

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Time commitment: 4 years
‍Cost: $27k–$34k
‍Time until job: 4.5-6 years
‍Top: MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon

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Traditionally this is the most common pathway but in recent years has become less so due to the time and cost investment, against a tougher job market and increase in average time before job offers.

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A degree is the most expensive pathway, with students expecting to be left in around $27k–$34k of debt, and also the longest pathway, with four years in the USA and three years in Europe the standard course length.

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The typical timeline is four years learning, plus 6-18 months on the job search, meaning candidates on this route can expect it to take 4.5-6 years to become a software engineer.

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Note: The time taken can be faster depending on the university's internship or hiring pipelines.

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2. Bootcamp

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Time commitment: 12-16 weeks
Cost: $3.5-30k
‍Time until job: 6-15 months
‍Top: Codesmith, Launch School, Fullstack Academy

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Bootcamps compress learning into 12–16 weeks and are far cheaper than a degree at around $3.5k–$22.5k, overall facilitating a swifter transition into the industry than years-long degrees or the uncertainty of self-taught pathways.

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The typical timeline is 12–16 weeks learning, plus 3–12 months on the job search, meaning most can expect to spend 10 months from day one to a first in‑field software role, with faster outliers around 6 months and most landing by 15 months.

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For example, based on Codesmith’s Software Engineering + AI/ML Immersive program outcomes data from CIRR 23.2% of grads are hired within 90 days of graduating, equalling a 6 month journey, while 70.1% got hired within 360 days of graduating, meaning a 15 month journey. 

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Note: The time taken can be faster depending on portfolio quality, referrals, and internships secured.

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3. Apprenticeship

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Time commitment: 16 weeks-12 months
‍Cost: Paid
‍Time until job: Program dependent
‍Top: Google Software Engineer Apprenticeship, Microsoft Leap, IBM “New Collar” Apprenticeship, Amazon Technical Apprenticeships

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An apprenticeship is an ideal pathway for many, with pay from day one and the company and job lined up—if expectations are met. However, in today’s market they are extremely competitive and a conversion to full time employment is not guaranteed.

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Popular apprenticeships include:

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• Microsoft’s LEAP program: a 16 week-long immersive program including both classroom and project work
• Google’s SWE apprenticeship: a 12 month-long program covering a range of early‑career and apprenticeship‑style programs
• IBM’s “New Collar” program: designed for those without degrees, aspiring engineers can break in as long as they demonstrate the required technical skills.

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The typical timeline is 16 weeks–12 months while on the apprenticeship, before conversion to permanent work.

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Note: The exact “time to offer”, if a position is available at all, depends on performance, headcount, and market factors.

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4. Self-Taught

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Time commitment: 6-18 months
Cost: Low (courses/tools)
‍Time until job: 2-2.5 years
‍Top: Harvard          CS50x, MIT OpenCourseWare, The Odin Project

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While many fantastic software engineers are self-taught, securing professional work is difficult today given the absence of referral networks and network or structured hiring pathways. This path combines free resources, tutorials, and building a portfolio, making it the most cost-efficient path, if the least secure.

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Self-learners must become technically proficient, build a portfolio of projects that demonstrates technical acumen, problem-solving ability, and an understanding of building for an end user and their pain points. 

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Additionally, around time must be spent on interview prep, including data structures and algorithms and systems architecture, just to become competitive for lower level roles against candidates with a degree, apprenticeship or bootcamp graduates.

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The typical timeline is 6–18 months learning, plus 6–12 months on the job search, meaning most can expect to spend 1–2.5 years in total becoming a software engineer.

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Note: The time taken can be faster with a standout portfolio and strong referrals. 

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Why Searches Are Longer for Many Newcomers in 2025

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1. The Entry‑level squeeze: a widely reported drop in graduate and entry‑level postings vs. pre‑2020, with 35% fewer software developer job listings on today, and shifting demand toward experienced hires and AI/ML-skilled hires.
2. AI/ML skills demand: roles requiring AI skills list 28% higher salaries ($18k), AI Engineer roles have increased 143% since May 2024, and a 38% increase across all AI-related roles since 2019.
3. Market shift: Employers increasingly favor specialist software engineers (AI, cybersecurity, cloud, ML) over generalist fullstack developers.

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How To Shorten The Time it Takes to Become a Software Engineer in 2025

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1. Portfolio fit: Build 3–5 projects that align with the job role and area of software engineering you are targeting.
2. Specialize: Target growth areas. Traditional fullstack developer roles are down, while employers are struggling to find specialist engineers in a number of fields (AI, ML, Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, etc).
3. Referrals: Referrals, often through networking, whether through in-person events of reaching out on LinkedIn, are still a deciding factor for those successful in getting a job offer. Prioritize expanding your network to make the most of any opportunities that may arise through personal contacts.
4. Apprenticeships & internships: While often not as desirable as a full time role immediately, they can become a ramp towards a permanent role that often outpaces the traditional job search.