Are you interested in learning how to earn money from coding?
Below, you’ll find out the various ways you can monetize your coding skills. From getting a job as a web developer to creating and selling WordPress plugins and themes, this article covers it all.
I’ve had quite the experience with coding, so you’ll get to learn the pros and cons of each option and tips on how to get started. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced coder, this article will help you if you’re looking to turn your passion for coding into a profitable career.
Quick Summary
Making money from coding can be achieved through web development, game or app development, and freelance programming.- Web development involves creating websites, selling plugins and themes, or improving WordPress software.
- Game or app development requires proficiency in C++ and Java, while freelancing offers flexibility and demands a broad understanding of coding languages.
1. Get a Job as a Web Developer
As a freelance developer, your main job is to create and maintain websites and applications. You’ll do this using HTML, CSS, and a one programming language such as JavaScript. Web developers also have to work with other departments like web design, graphic design, and so on.
They may also be required to handle other things like SEO, monitoring web traffic, improving website performance, and handling problems in order to limit downtime.
Types of Web Developer Jobs
There are many different types of developer jobs.
Front End Developer
A front-end developer works on the client (or visitor) side by building and maintaining the parts of the website or application you can see. This is ultimately what allows users to interact with the website or application.
You still require a decent amount of tech skills for this job as it is different from what a web designer does.
Back End Developer
A back-end developer specializes in building and maintaining the server side of a web application. As a back-end developer, you oversee data storage, security, and performance.
You’ll often need to know a programming language such as PHP, Python, Ruby, or Java and use frameworks like Django, Rails, or Spring to build web applications. This work is typically not visible to the end user, but it is essential for the overall functionality and performance of the web application.
Full Stack Developer
A full-stack developer can perform the functions of both a front and back-end developer. This means they manage both the client and server sides of websites and applications.
WordPress Developer
WordPress developers are also mostly full-stack developers who specialize in building websites using WordPress creation tools. They are trained to use WordPress plugins and themes and work to make WordPress websites user-friendly and more functional.
Sell Plugins and Themes
WordPress is exceptionally well-known, and many people choose to build their sites using it. According to an article published by ManaFerra, there were 835 million WordPress websites in 2022. This means that there is a huge need for various plugins and themes.
WordPress developers can also work on their own plugins and themes and sell them to WP users.
Testing WP Software and Making Improvements
WordPress developers can also use their skills to test WP software and make improvements. This could be testing functionality, scalability, performance, etc. The ultimate goal is to optimize various software used by WordPress users.
The Pros and Cons Of Being A Web Developer
- It’s simple to get started and there are plenty of learning resources
- You don’t need a physical product, and you get to monetize your skills
- This business model offers high-profit margins
It takes a lot of work to ensure you deliver a high-quality service or products for clients.
Next Steps
To find out where to start, it’s a good idea to research what others are doing right now. Look for popular coding courses on Udemy, for example. Or check which YouTube channels offering coding tutorials are doing really well.
2. Develop Games or Apps
Another way to earning money coding is to become a game or app developer. This requires an understanding of C++ since this is the most commonly used programming language in game design.
Video game developers are responsible for both designing and developing games. This includes games for PC, consoles like Playstation or Xbox, and mobile applications. They generally get ideas from the design team and then code the base engine based on these designs.
Another type of coding field to go into is app development. Apps frequently use Java as the main programming language, so it’s a good idea to gain knowledge and experience in this.
This type of work often entails creating mobile apps. You could also create your own apps and your own blog and earning money coding by selling them.
The Pros and Cons
- You can pursue freelance work or be your own boss
- Game or app development is good for those who want to get more creative
- This gives you an exciting way to earn money programming
- You can earn really well
- You need a high skillset
- You need to have sound coding skills and experience
- If you work a full-time job, you’ll mostly be designing other people’s ideas
How to Get Started
- Get qualified. Game developers are often required to have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field. That’s because this job requires lots of technical skills.
- Develop solid coding skills. Even with a degree, it’s good to ensure you understand the coding you’ve learned and that you do have some coding skills. This may involve brushing up on your Math skills which are really important when improving your coding skills.
- software development engineering skills. When it comes to creating games or apps, you may need to know how to use various coding languages and technologies including C, C#, C++, Java, Python, Lua, and MySQL.
- Explore your creative skills. Asides from coding skills, in smaller companies, you may need to come up with ideas or storylines as a game or app developer. It’s a good idea to focus on your creative side and get extra experience in graphics, storytelling, etc.
- Build a portfolio. Whether you’re a freelance app developer sourcing potential clients or you’re looking to land a full-time job as a game developer, having a portfolio is essential. You can design your own game apps to do this.
Read this guide to get more information on how to make a game developer portfolio. - Get an entry-level game developer job. Not only is this a great way to earn a full-time income, but it also gives you access to the job market. This allows you to gain experience and build your professional network.
Next Steps
Learning to code and getting experience in the field are the first steps. Once you’ve gotten to a place where you can develop a game or app, you can pursue opportunities to make money.
A good platform to find work as a game developer is Toptal. You can check it out here.
3. Start Freelancing as a Programmer
This is a great way to earn money online. Freelance programmers are much more flexible than the previous coding jobs we mentioned. That’s because you can do various tasks like writing code, coding for software development, mobile apps, or any application. By working as a programmer you’ll also get to improve your coding skills very fast.
Programmers in general, maintain, debug and troubleshoot software to keep it running smoothly. As a freelancer, you’ll need a sound understanding of various coding multiple languages because the work is so varied.
Freelancers work with different clients, and each may require you to use different programming languages and platforms. So, you can choose from whatever programming languages you are best familiar with.
The Pros and Cons
- There are many freelance programming gigs available
- Flexibility in the jobs you choose
- You can have your own business
- Options to work remotely
- The hours can be really long
- Your first few jobs may not pay well
- You need to understand a broader range of coding and web development platforms and have more coding skills.
- You have to source potential clients
How to Get Started
- Get Qualified. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field can be handy. It is also recommended that you take coding courses to expand your skills.
- Choose a niche. There are so many types of programming jobs that you may not know which ones to apply for. It’s a good idea to explore the various available niches and narrow your interest to a few similar ones.
- Get experience by building a portfolio. Once you have the skills and have chosen a niche, it’s essential to put into practice what you’ve learned.
The best way to do this is to create a few pieces to add to a portfolio. This is what you can use to show your work to clients.
- Create your own website. As a freelancer, having your own website is a good way to showcase your skills and market your brand. In fact, some clients will request this.
- Market yourself. Being a freelancer is having your own business. The work won’t fall on your lap, you need to market yourself and your brand.
- Set up portfolios and profiles on freelancing platforms. This may be one of the best ways to get jobs as a freelancer who is just starting out. We’ll list some of the best sites to find freelancing gigs below.
Best Sites to Find Online Freelance Coding Gigs
Legiit.com
Legiit.com is a comprehensive freelance marketplace platform for businesses, agencies, and many other areas. It also offers payment protection for freelancers and helps to ensure legitimate clients.
Upwork
Upwork is one of the top platforms for freelancers to connect with clients. It gives you access to a job board to search for jobs in line with your skills. It also allows you to create a profile and portfolio.
UpStack
This freelancer job platform is particularly for developers and programmers. Upstack boasts longer-term projects and remote jobs in various programming fields, including WordPress developer jobs.
Fiverr
Fiverr as a platform offers clients various services from web development to content creation, so there are lots of job opportunities for programmers on this site. They also ensure secure and paying clients.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is another popular platform where freelancing programmers can find stable and consistent work. It helps to connect you with potential clients.
This platform is also unique in that it allows you to enter contests, increasing your chances of having clients find you.
LinkedIn is one of the top networking platforms for freelancers. It allows you to connect with top companies and has a job board feature to search for tons of freelance programming gigs.
The benefit is these jobs are highly reputable. It also allows you to add references and a portfolio.
Get Paid to Learn Coding And Gain Experience:
There are additional ways to both earn money and gain experience in coding. This is recommended as it opens up future career opportunities. Here are 3 platforms that frequently share competitions in coding.
GeeksforGeeks
This computer science portal hosts events that allow students to earn cash. These coding events, like the GSC Triple Threat Coding, have been known to pay out large sums of money to winners. Coding competitions offer a great way to earn extra money while studying or starting off.
You can check out their website here.
CodeChef
This platform also hosts coding contests you can enter, including practice coding contests to help you gain experience and prepare for upcoming contests. They also offer multiple contests every month that allows you to win prizes.
You can view upcoming and past contests on their website.
HackerEarth
HackerEarth offers hackathons, programming challenges, and coding competitions. The main focus of this site is competitive programming and hiring challenges. It’s a great place to get equipped to work in some of the most competitive coding industries.
You can check out their challenges and competitions here.
Google’s Coding Competitions
Google also offers various competitions as a way for you to earn money and gain experience. These include algorithm puzzles, programming, software engineering problems, and more. Not all of them have cash prizes, but they are a good way to deepen your expertise.
Find out more about their competitions and challenges here.
TopCoder
TopCoder is a platform for competitive programming and computer science education. It offers a variety of programming contests, including Single Round Matches (SRMs), marathons, and tournaments.
It also has a Challenge platform for companies to post problems for the TopCoder community to solve. You can view all of their upcoming challenges here.
Additional Tips for Getting Started
Regardless of the coding jobs you’re interested in, there are general steps that anyone can take to ensure success in a highly competitive job market.
Build a Portfolio
As we’ve mentioned a few times, building a portfolio to showcase your work is a crucial part of your success. There are different ways to do this. One of the most effective ways is to build your own website.
This is a great way to prove your skills in coding. You can also work on independent pieces and display them using portfolio tools on various platforms, like Upwork.
This is beneficial if you want to freelance. If you’re looking to go the technical content creator route, you can create your own content to share with prospective clients and employers.
When it comes to your portfolio, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Make sure any coding samples actually work
- Don’t add too many samples
- Make sure your samples are niche-specific
- Share any examples of work you’ve already done (with permission)
Build References
Future clients and employers want references. If you’re just starting out, you could get references from a mentor or lecturer at your university. Then work on adding to them as you gain more work experience.
This is also one of the reasons why networking is so important. It helps to connect you with experts in the field who could be great references. And it opens up more work opportunities for you.
Be Honest and Direct
When starting, people don’t expect you to know everything. There’s nothing worse than promising certain skills and then failing to deliver.
Be honest about your skillset and make it known that you’re willing to learn.