Rithm School, located in the financial district of San Francisco, offers full-time coding bootcamps where students focus on JavaScript and Python. Curriculum also includes HTML, CSS, data structures and algorithms, web security, database configuration and management, and much more. The 17-week program comprises 11 weeks of instruction, 3 weeks of real-world experience, and 3 weeks of interview prep.... Read More
San Francisco Coding Bootcamps
Best of 2021: Rankings, Reviews, and Courses
By: The SwitchUp Team
Last Updated: September 21, 2020
The booming tech industry has turned San Francisco into a nationally-recognized center for innovation. After decades spent paving the way for the future of tech, Silicon Valley holds strong as the biggest hub in the industry. With a young talent base and a mindset focused on the future, San Francisco offers a wide range of bootcamps teaching hard skills necessary to succeed in the field.
To help you choose which bootcamp is right for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top coding bootcamps in San Francisco based on student reviews. SwitchUp has been a trusted resource for people choosing which bootcamp will help them achieve their goals since 2014. Each program on our list has been vetted by at least 5 students, and rated at least 4 out of 5 stars, on average.
For more information on our methodology, click here, or continue reading to find out about career opportunities for software developers in San Francisco. For more options, see our list of the Best Coding Bootcamps or the Best Online Coding Bootcamps.
1. Rithm School
Locations: Online, San Francisco
Courses: Web Development Program
Subjects: Algorithms, Bootstrap, Data Structures, Express.js, JavaScript +5 More
2. Hack Reactor
Locations: Online, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, NYC, San Francisco +1 More
Courses: 12-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Full-Time), 36-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Part-Time), 19-Week Software Engineering Online Immersive with JavaScript and Python (Full-Time)
Subjects: AJAX, Algorithms, AngularJS, Blockchain, CoffeeScript +19 More
Hack Reactor in San Francisco aims to prepare students to become software engineers who are equipped for any position in the tech space. After 80 hours of self-study, students enter an 11-week program of intensive study that can be completed either onsite or remotely. This is followed by a solo week for rest and/or work on individual projects, and the final week of the 13-week program focuses on career... Read More
3. Hackbright Academy
Locations: Online, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose
Courses: 12 Week Full-Time Software Engineering Program, 24 Week - Part-Time Software Engineering Program
Subjects: AJAX, CSS, Django, Git, HTML +3 More
Hackbright Academy is a women-only coding school in the Bay Area. Due to COVID-19, in-person classes have been canceled until July 2021, but three reduced-admission online classes are available: a software engineering program that can be taken full-time (12 weeks) or part-time (25 weeks), a five-week prep course for those who want to learn more about coding before committing to a longer program, and... Read More
4. App Academy
Locations: Online, NYC, San Francisco
Courses: Software Engineer Track: In-Person, Software Engineer Track: Online, App Academy Open
Subjects: Algorithms, CSS, Design Principles, Docker, Express.js +14 More
App Academy in San Francisco offers a 24-week online software engineering bootcamp that delves into Python, JavaScript, React/Redux, SQL, back end engineering, iOS development, and more. This program is full time—35 hours/week—with classes held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. The standard daily curriculum comprises lectures, live Q&A sessions, and collaboration with other students on various projects. Career... Read More
2021 Best San Francisco Coding Bootcamps received an average 4.66 of 5 based on 1499 reviews.
Job Outlook for Coding Bootcamp Graduates in San Francisco
What is the job outlook for software developers in San Francisco?
Virtually everyone agrees that the Bay Area and its environs have been and will continue to be the “center of gravity” for the tech industry. Yet, just like every other industry in every part of the world, the region has felt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Some tech companies have been forced to enact layoffs or hiring freezes, especially for those in management, marketing, and sales jobs.
However, there is plenty of reason for optimism among coding professionals as there are still many openings for software engineers to be found in the San Francisco area. Local companies of all sizes are engaged in developing new technology products, especially applications for various devices, all of which are driving an expected 22% increase in the demand for software engineers over the next decade, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those with patience, perseverance, and a portfolio that demonstrates up-to-the-minute software development or web development skills will enhance their chances of landing a new job.
What is the average salary for software developers in San Francisco?
According to job board Indeed, typical salaries in this region are generally higher than in other major cities, but then again, PayScale notes that the cost of living in San Francisco is 80% higher than the national average. Local professionals report that base annual salaries average $158,403 for software engineers, $157,444 for front-end developers, and $111,777 for junior software engineers. Across the U.S. the typical salary range is $85,750 to $92,046 for software engineers, $76,929 to $119,224 for front-end developers, and $64,056 to $74,148 for junior software engineers.
What companies hire software developers in San Francisco?
It is widely acknowledged that California's Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, is the tech capital of the world, providing countless opportunities for software developers, software engineers, web developers, UI and UX designers, and other coding professionals. Some of the biggest players in the tech industry are located here, including Alphabet, Facebook, Netflix, and Twitter. A wide array of other large corporations, many of them on the Fortune 500, are also headquartered in the Bay Area, creating even more job openings. These include such familiar brands as Williams-Sonoma, Levi Strauss, and the Gap.
Professionals who'd prefer to work in smaller companies or startups will find thousands of options in e-commerce, fintech, health tech, edtech, and ad tech. Possibilities include Instacart, DoorDash, Rally Health, Plaid, Opendoor, Lime, and Nuna. Sensor Tower, for example, employs full-stack software engineers and test software engineers to develop, test, and maintain the products they use to provide clients with the competitive data needed to succeed in the mobile space. To develop and maintain its platform that replaces corporate email with an inbox that aggregates all communication apps, Front employs front-end, back-end, and full-stack developers.
SwitchUp Rankings Methodology
SwitchUp's rankings are based on over 20,000 reviews from verified students and alumni, across over 500 bootcamps in operation. Because student and alumni feedback and ratings are indicative of bootcamp quality, rankings are ordered by review score. The order of the ranking is based on data at the time of publishing, but the ratings and review counts will change as more reviews come in.
To be considered for the 2021 rankings, bootcamps must help students land jobs in tech through excellent instructor support, curriculum, and career resources; each review left on SwitchUp evaluates the bootcamp on all of these aspects.
All bootcamps considered for the Best San Francisco Coding ranking were required to meet the following criteria at the time of publication:
- Offer an immersive or part-time Coding program in San Francisco
- Have at least 5 verified reviews of Coding programs in San Francisco
- For those San Francisco Coding program reviews, average at least 4/5 stars
Please see our full ranking methodology to see requirements for other rankings.
Bootcamp Highlights
Looking for a school with specific qualities? We've awarded merit badges to schools in several key areas:
Available Online
Offer either part-time or immersive courses that are available online. This includes courses that are offered temporarily online due to COVID-19.
Verified Outcomes
Offer a job outcomes report that was independently verified by a third-party auditor.
Flexible Classes
Offer self-paced, part-time, or evening classes.
Job Guarantee
Offer guaranteed job placement after graduation, or the student's tuition is refunded. Visit the official school site for related terms and conditions.
GI Bill
Approved to accept GI Bill funds according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
VET TEC Provider
Approved as a VET TEC Provider according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
References
- Fruehling, D. (2020). The Fortune 500 is out. How did the Bay Area do this year? [online] San Francisco Business Times. Available at: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2020/05/19/how-the-bay-area-fared-in-this-years-fortune-500.html [Accessed 2 September 2020]
- Loizos, C (2020). What recruiters are saying about the tech job market right now. [online] TechCrunch. Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/08/what-recruiters-are-saying-about-the-tech-job-market-right-now/ [Accessed 2 September 2020]
- Reed, J (2020). Tech hiring remains muted ahead of the latest jobs report. [online] CNBC. Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/06/tech-hiring-slowdown-bad-sign-ahead-of-jobs-report.html [Accessed 2 September 2020].
- Software Developers. [online] Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm?view_full#tab-1 [Accessed 14 September 2020]
