Become a Software Engineer

This Software Engineer Career Path is your step-by-step roadmap to go from beginner (at any age!) to getting hired as a Software Engineer at one of the Big Tech firms like Apple, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI and others. You’ll be guided through our curated curriculum to ace their tough interviews, and get into a company that pays upward of $300,000/year to their engineers.

Earn on average $123,556 per year

US salary data collected from Indeed, LinkedIn, and Web3.career 2025.

8 Months

Average time students take to complete this career path.

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

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Your career path

What You'll Learn

  • Ace the coding interview at top tech companies (Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia + others)
  • Use the right Data Structures & Algorithms to answer coding interview questions using the optimal solution
  • Become a better Engineer by mastering Computer Science fundamentals
  • Insider tips & tricks from Instructors who have worked for big tech companies and have actually gone through and aced the interview process
  • How to ace all of your interviews, get more job offers and a higher salary
Action
Python or JavaScript?

Do you know Python or JavaScript? Can you use them well? Although at ZTM we have courses on languages like Rust, C#, Java, Go, PHP, Dart and others, in order to maximize your chances of workings as a Software Engineer, you need to master one of these popular programming languages used at most companies.


Pick one of the two optional courses below: Python or JavaScript (Web Developer), or you can skip these 2 courses if you're already proficient in Python or JavaScript. If you're really eager to learn, then you can do both courses.


Not sure which to pick? Click the button below to get a breakdown of which language is best for you.

Which language is best for me?
Course · optional for you
Beginner
Complete Python Developer in 2025: Zero to Mastery
32 Hours ·346 Lessons Complete Python Developer in 2025: Zero to Mastery
Learn Python from scratch, get hired, and have fun along the way with the most modern, up-to-date Python course on the web.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course · optional for you
Beginner
The Complete Web Developer in 2025: Zero to Mastery
40 Hours ·401 Lessons The Complete Web Developer in 2025: Zero to Mastery
Learn to code from scratch and get hired as a Web Developer in 2025. This full-stack coding bootcamp will teach you HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, Machine Learning & more.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Intermediate
Master the Coding Interview: Data Structures + Algorithms
21 Hours ·270 Lessons Master the Coding Interview: Data Structures + Algorithms
The ultimate coding interview bootcamp to ace your coding interviews and land your dream job. Learn data structures & algorithms and the exact steps to take to get more interviews, more job offers, and a higher salary.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Advanced
Master the Coding Interview: Big Tech (FAANG) Interviews
38 Hours ·300 Lessons Master the Coding Interview: Big Tech (FAANG) Interviews
Get hired at top tech companies (Google, Amazon, Apple + more)! The only FAANG interview prep course you need to ace the coding interview and get hired at the company of your dreams.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Advanced
Master the Coding Interview: System Design + Architecture
4 Hours ·28 Lessons Master the Coding Interview: System Design + Architecture
Become a Senior Engineer. Learn the systems and architecture of web applications. Understand the technologies and trade-offs needed to design the right system.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course · optional for you
Beginner
Future of A.I. & How To Use ChatGPT
0.5 Hours ·3 Lessons Future of A.I. & How To Use ChatGPT
Learn how to adapt and stand out from the crowd in the fast-developing world of A.I.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Intermediate
Career Guide to Your Dream Job: Resumes, Interviews & Promotions
5 Hours ·80 Lessons Career Guide to Your Dream Job: Resumes, Interviews & Promotions
Learn how to take the next step in your career. Whether you’re job hunting or aiming for a promotion, this course gives you the ultimate career advantage no matter your industry or experience level.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Intermediate
FAANG Interview Prep 101
2.5 Hours ·4 Lessons FAANG Interview Prep 101
Get a real, behind the scenes look at the FAANG / Big Tech hiring process and what you'll need to do to get hired at a top tech company.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Action

Apply To 5 Jobs You Really Want

This time around, you have more knowledge and more practice. It's now time to take your job hunt seriously. Find 5 companies/jobs that you REALLY want to work for and make a serious effort applying to these jobs based on the tips you learned in the previous lessons. Don't take no for an answer and see if you can land an interview at one of these companies you chose. Once you have an interview lined up, move to the next section.

Action
Read the Principles for Programmers

Take this book with you and revisit some of the principles every once in a while to keep you on the right track during your career. These principles stand the test of time and will help you be a successful Programmer.

Download Ebook
Course · optional for you
Beginner
Learning to Learn [Efficient Learning]
5.5 Hours ·110 Lessons Learning to Learn [Efficient Learning]
Become an efficient learner and best version of yourself. You'll learn scientifically proven strategies, techniques & skills used by the world's top performers!
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Beginner
Complete SQL + Databases Bootcamp
26 Hours ·293 Lessons Complete SQL + Databases Bootcamp
This SQL Bootcamp will teach you SQL, database management, and database design using real-world exercises working with all database types. No experience needed.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course
Advanced
The Complete Junior to Senior Web Developer Roadmap (2025)
37 Hours ·436 Lessons The Complete Junior to Senior Web Developer Roadmap (2025)
Go from Junior Developer to Senior Developer. Learn all the technical and non-technical skills you need to become a Senior Web Developer. Includes SSH, Node, Docker, React, TypeScript, Load Balancing, Redis, JWT + more!
Course DetailsTake the Course
Course · optional for you
Beginner
Future Proof Yourself: Goal Setting for Your Career
1 Hours ·3 Lessons Future Proof Yourself: Goal Setting for Your Career
Learn how to set strategic, actionable goals, adapt to changing trends, and create a career roadmap that keeps you on track for success.
Course DetailsTake the Course
Action
Take Your Next Step

Now that you have completed this path, it's time for you to specialize and upgrade your skills into a specific market. You are now at the point where you need to decide what you want to do in your career. Take the career path quiz again and update your answers based on your newfound knowledge from this path. We will generate a new personal career path for you to take based on your new interests and skills.

Take Career Path Quiz

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What ZTM students are saying

Our courses and community have helped 1,000s of Zero To Mastery students go from zero to getting hired to levelling up their skills and advancing their careers to new heights.

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

    Meet your instructors

    Your Career Path instructors aren’t just experts with years of real-world professional experience. They have been in your shoes. They make learning fun. They make complex topics feel simple. They will motivate you. They will push you. And they go above and beyond to help you succeed.

    Andrei Neagoie

    Lead Instructor

    Yihua Zhang

    React & System Design Instructor

    Mo Binni

    SQL and Mobile Instructor

    Still have questions?

    Who is this Software Engineer Career Path for?

    Anyone who wants a clear step-by-step guide to become a Software Engineer from scratch and actually get hired. Oh ya, and you don't want to waste your money on overpriced bootcamps and degrees.

    Also, let's be honest. Some of the topics can be a little dry. So, we're even going to have a bit of fun along the way. No way! Crazy right?!

    This Software Engineer Career Path is perfect for you if:

    • You're a complete beginner (of any age!) and want a full bootcamp + CS Degree curriculum and experience without having to pay $1,000s
    • You don't want to waste your valuable time. You want to learn everything needed to become a Software Engineer in one place
    • You want to build real-world, full-scale projects that will push you, challenge you and make your portfolio and resume stand out
    • You don't want to learn and take this journey alone. You will learn alongside 100s of other students at your same level and 1,000s more that are just a few steps ahead of you
    • You can handle our amazing sense of humour (it's not spelled wrong, we're Canadian... see what we mean... you've been warned)

    And it's definitely for you if you're sick of:

    • Outdated coding tutorials
    • Free courses and tutorials that don't go beyond the basics
    • Learning topics and concepts that are mostly irrelevant in the real-world and don't even get asked in interviews
    • Courses with no community or support system
    • Tutorial hell
    • Feeling like you're going in circles with no clear path or end in sight

    Let's be 100% clear. You aren't going to do 100 coding challenges or 50 projects or learn topics that aren't going to get you hired or even be used in the real-world. That's a waste of your time.

    The sooner you get hired, the sooner you'll be learning more than you can from any course. That's our goal.

    Why become a Software Engineer?

    Everyone has their own reason(s) as to why they want to become a Software Engineer. But here are a few of the best reasons:

    1. Lots of jobs available. As we're writing this, there are over 140,000 Software Engineer jobs available on Glassdoor (not to mention Linkedin, Indeed or elsewhere). And it isn't going to slow down. From 2019-2029, Software Developer job growth is projected to be 22% (vs. ~4% for all jobs). More demand for technology means more demand for Developers.
    2. High demand = High salary. The average annual salary for a Software Engineer in the United States is over $99,000 across all levels (entry-level to senior). This amount can also be much higher at major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook and others.
    3. No degree required. It's possible to get hired as a Software Engineer at the company of your dreams without having any college degree. Historically, you needed a Computer Science degree to get hired as a Software Engineer but times are changing. Many companies, including Google, no long require you to have a CS degree.
    4. Work remotely. Many Software Engineering jobs are remote. Work from the comfort of your own home, a coffee shop or even while travelling the world. Some roles even allow you to work on your own schedule.
    5. It's fun. And rewarding. You get to have a real-world impact. The work you're doing on a daily basis can have a huge impact on hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. You also get fast feedback loops on your work. Within minutes you can make a change to a website or app and your Mom could see it live in the real-world. How cool is that!

    How long does it take to become a Software Engineer (and complete this Career Path)?

    Everyone is different. So it's hard to give a specific amount of time. The two biggest variables are the number of hours per week you're dedicating to completing the steps in the Career Path and your current experience level.

    Don't hold us to it but here's a rough guideline based on feedback we've received from past ZTM students on how long it takes to become a Software Engineer:

    1. 20-40 hours a week = 4-6 months. Students who have started from scratch as complete beginners (no matter their age!) and spend a few hours per day.
    2. 40-80 hours a week = 2-3 months. Students who are able to learn basically full-time and/or already have some experience (ex: CS students / Coding Bootcamp grads).
    3. 0-10 hours a week = 7-12+ months. Students from all experience levels but are only able to dedicate a few hours a week.

    What’s the ZTM Discord community and how can it help me?

    The ZTM Discord is our exclusive online community for ZTM students, alumni, TAs and instructors.

    How it helps you, short version: Increase the chances that ZTM students achieve their current goals and help them continue to grow throughout their career.

    Longer version: Learning alone is hard. We've all been there. We've all tried to learn new skills and struggled. It can be frustrating, daunting, and just plain challenging, especially if you're trying to change careers.

    We feel strongly that the Zero To Mastery Discord community is an essential part of the learning experience and greatly increases the chances for students to achieve their goals.

    It's crazy to think that Colleges and Coding Bootcamps charge you tens of thousands of dollars to provide you with this type of experience. It doesn't have to be that way!

    In fact, ~20% of ZTM students are also enrolled at a College or in-person Coding Bootcamp but feel like they just aren't getting all of the skills and support they need. But with ZTM, they do.

    Within the Zero To Mastery Discord community, you can:

    • Connect with other Developers, Engineers, Data Scientists, Designers
    • Form study groups and complete ZTM Career Paths and Courses together
    • Ask questions and get advice from other people at your same level as well as more experienced professionals
    • Get feedback on projects
    • Meet other students around the world (and likely even someone from your hometown!)
    • Learn how to answer questions and help other students which will accelerate your own learning
    • Get help from others with questions and exercises
    • Work on coding challenges and real-world open-source projects with other students

    It’s pretty awesome to see many ZTM alumni also active every single day, continuing to engage with the community, give back, and level up their own skills and career.

    Are there any prerequisites for this Career Path?

    A computer (Windows/Mac/Linux) and access to the internet. That's it! No previous experience is needed.

    If you haven't already, take our tech career path quiz. We'll give you our recommendation for which path is the best fit for you.

    How is a Career Path different from a course?

    Career Paths are like a full College curriculum. Our Career Paths give you the exact courses, workshops, challenges, articles and actions to take to go from absolute beginner to getting hired.

    Career Paths start with ensuring you know the foundations from scratch. But they go far beyond by teaching you advanced topics and non-technical skills that are essential for your career but aren't taught in Computer Science Degrees or Coding Bootcamps.

    Courses are more focused. Different courses have different goals. Some courses are a great fit for experienced Developers, Engineers and Programmers who want to level-up their skills in a specific topic or framework. Other courses cover a wider range of topics teaching the foundations and fundamentals for beginners.

    Can I change my Career Path?

    Yes. You can change your Career Path anytime. As a member of Zero To Mastery, you have unlimited access to all ZTM courses, workshops, challenges, articles and other materials needed to complete any of the ZTM Career Paths.

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