It’s one thing to earn money while you learn. It’s another to earn a good amount of money while you learn—especially if you’re working for one of the top tech companies in the U.S.1 With apprenticeships, you can start earning pay from the very first day, giving you immediate financial benefits as you build your skills. This guide will explain how to find high-paying apprenticeships while you learn in-demand tech skills and kickstart your career.
The best-paid apprenticeships will help you get additional training for your career. We will provide multiple examples of tech apprenticeship programs, explain how they work, and tell you why they are so beneficial to beginners looking to break into tech.
Key Takeaways
- Tech companies now offer high-paying apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional four-year college degrees.
- Apprenticeships provide real-world experience and the opportunity to learn on the job while getting paid.
- Coding apprenticeships come in various types, such as web development, data science, software engineering, cyber security, and UX design.
- Top tech employers like IBM, LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Google offer some of the highest-paying apprenticeship opportunities.
- Becoming an apprentice offers the benefits of earning while learning, jumpstarting a career, networking, and reducing job transition stress.
What Is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are formal training opportunities offered by employers to help narrow the employment gap in the tech industry. This career pathway benefits applicants, as they can gain real-world experience while learning and getting paid. Apprentices also get to build their portfolios with real-world examples to advance their careers.
If you are a job seeker with a non-traditional background, consider becoming an apprentice. Top companies like Google offer IT apprenticeships to help applicants advance their careers in tech. With high wages and personalized guidance from some of the top tech professionals in the country, apprenticeships are a great way to connect with people in your ideal industry and jumpstart a high-paying career in tech.
How Long Is Apprenticeship Training?
The training period will depend on the apprenticeship program, but it typically lasts between one and five years. The length can also depend on your level of education, previous experience, and location. Some IT apprentices have classroom instruction and apprentice compensation, which makes the program take longer.
For example, completing LinkedIn’s Reach Apprenticeship program takes up to five years, whereas completing Airbnb’s Connect Engineering Apprenticeship takes only six months. There is no set standard for apprenticeship length; however, as of November 2021, the Federal Register states that “registered apprenticeships generally require a minimum of 2,000 hours (or 1 year)” of on-the-job learning for time-based and hybrid programs—or no fewer than “144 hours of related instruction.”2
What Are the Minimum Qualifications for an Apprenticeship?
Every company has different minimum apprenticeship qualifications. These can include a high school diploma or trade school experience. Some programs, like IBM’s apprenticeship program, have no apprenticeship requirements. You can land the apprenticeship as long as you have the passion and commitment to learning.
Other companies, like Microsoft, recruit apprentices with unconventional educational backgrounds. There are no standard apprenticeship qualifications, but instead a variety of programs for varied applicants.
What Does a Coding Apprenticeship Typically Pay?
For example, Microsoft Leap apprentices earn around $10,000 per month, according to a Software Engineering apprenticeship job page from August 2024.4
Types of Coding Apprenticeships
There are many types of apprenticeships in tech, such as a software development apprenticeship or cyber security apprenticeship. These apprenticeship jobs offer months of training to help workers get a job. Below, we curated a list of the different types of coding apprenticeships.
Type of Apprenticeship | What You Would Do | What You Would Earn (As of August 2025) |
Data Science Apprenticeship | Acquire data, Process and clean data, Explore data analysis, Present results to stakeholders, Design data modeling processes | $47,4495 |
Software Developer Apprenticeship | Design and develop applications for computers, Participate in programming, Evaluate system performance, Implement new programs and features | $111,8456 |
Cyber Security Apprenticeship | Protect IT systems and applications, Prevent data breaches from black hat hackers, Monitor cyber attacks and mitigate them | $132,9627 |
UX Design Apprenticeship | Conduct user research, Prototype and test designs, Advocate for user needs | $106,2248 |
High-Paying Tech Apprenticeship Programs
Finding tech employers that offer the best-paid apprenticeship programs can be quite challenging, especially in the current tech landscape. High-paying apprenticeships are a great way to build experience and gain valuable hands-on skills. Below is a list of the high-paying apprenticeship opportunities offered by top tech companies.
IBM Apprenticeship Program
IBM’s New Collar program is an apprenticeship available for candidates without advanced degrees.9 The company will check on your teamwork, adaptability, drive, and creative ability to solve problems. Once you sign the apprenticeship agreement, you will go through real-world experiences to build a long-term, in-demand career.
LinkedIn REACH Apprenticeship Program
The LinkedIn Reach Apprenticeship program is a multi-year program that allows candidates to build skills and gain the necessary experience to become engineers. Your skill level, expertise, and general growth will determine the duration of the program.
Microsoft Leap Apprenticeship Program
Microsoft Leap is “focused on sourcing and developing non-traditional talent.”10 The tech giant offers 16-week apprenticeship programs in multiple areas, including cloud computing, data analytics, software engineering, and UX design. This paid apprenticeship program requires only limited previous knowledge and technical training.
Google Apprenticeships
Google Apprenticeship programs include multiple opportunities to help candidates break into tech. Whether you want to become a data analyst, software engineer, or UX designer, you will have an opportunity to learn while getting paid. There are 20-month apprenticeship programs offered in multiple cities with Google offices.
Why Become an Apprentice After Coding Bootcamp?
Becoming an apprentice after your coding bootcamp helps you gain work experience and start getting paid in your field of interest. Web development apprenticeships, as well as other programs, offer immense educational and career benefits that help novices and experts.
You Will Get Paid While You Learn
The best part of becoming an apprentice is that you get paid to learn essential skills in your field. Depending on the employer, you can earn anywhere between a five- and a six-figure salary.
You Will Jumpstart Your Career
An apprenticeship program provides recent bootcamp or college graduates an opportunity to launch their careers and perform work that they’re genuinely proud of. It can be relatively challenging to land an entry-level or advanced position in a company without the experience and knowledge that apprenticeships offer. A cyber security apprenticeship, for example, could help you get hands-on hacking experience.
You Will Have an Excellent Opportunity to Network
Becoming an apprentice offers an excellent opportunity for new workers to create connections in their industry. You’ll get a chance to brush shoulders with experts and beginners in your field, which can be very beneficial in the long run. Some schools even hire their apprentices after the program if they fit in well with their team and company culture.
You Could Land a Full-Time Position
Most companies absorb their apprentices after the successful completion of their programs. Depending on the company, it may take one year or three months for you to land a full-time job. As long as you complete your apprenticeship program, you can often gain employment with the company.
How to Find an Apprenticeship After Your Bootcamp
Now more than ever, tech companies are seeking talent from non-traditional education pathways. This unconventional approach helps companies discover new skilled workers and train them to be successful full-time workers. Learn how to find a coding apprenticeship after a bootcamp with the tips below.
- Narrow down your list of apprenticeship programs. Create a list of possible apprenticeship programs, then decide which ones are most suitable for you. You can determine this by checking the length, level of expertise required, and how much you’ll earn from the program. Keep in mind, some apprenticeships are designed for particular niches and fields of interest.
- Establish the apprenticeship program requirements. Some apprenticeship programs take on applicants with a non-traditional educational background. However, some of the programs require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree or work experience.
- Keep an eye on bridging organizations. If you don’t have the typical college bachelor’s or associate’s degree, you don’t need to miss out on opportunities. You can land an apprenticeship program once you graduate from a bootcamp or vocational school by attending a bridge organization program.
- Curate an appealing resume. You can design a resume that can easily land you an apprenticeship program, especially after attending a bridge organization program. You should also attach a portfolio to showcase your skills and experience in the particular industry.
- Find a company offering apprenticeship opportunities. Later in this guide, we touch on top tech companies that feature apprenticeship programs that help applicants break into tech. Find a company that matches your interests, skills, and career goals.
Bridge Organizations
Bridge organizations offer bootcamp graduates an opportunity to acquire real-world experience to help them apply for full-time jobs. The work experience helps develop their portfolios, which is crucial when applying for jobs. Learn more about which bridge organization can help you land an apprenticeship program below.
LaunchCode
LaunchCode is a non-profit organization that helps bridge the gap between apprenticeship programs and developers and data scientists. To apply, an apprentice must have completed one project and mastered one coding language. LaunchCode takes applicants through free tech training and prepares them for job interviews.11
How to Land an Apprenticeship in Tech
High-paying apprenticeships are challenging to find in this current tech landscape. To increase your chances of landing a position, make sure to respond promptly to apprenticeship job postings and employer communications.
It definitely helps that most programs do not require previous work experience and tech knowledge. Tech enthusiasts no longer need traditional degrees to gain the skills required for a career in this field. IT apprenticeship programs are an ideal way for beginners and experts to learn real-world skills and earn a decent salary.
FAQs
No, you do not have to pay for an apprenticeship. Employers typically offer their workers a salary through their apprenticeship programs. This salary varies according to the company and type of apprenticeship. Some of the highest apprenticeship salaries are in the six-figure range.
What are the best companies for apprenticeships?
Some of the best tech companies with apprenticeship programs are Microsoft, Airbnb, and LinkedIn. These employers pay high salaries, provide skills training, and give employees excellent job opportunities at the end of their apprenticeship.
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What jobs can you get after an apprenticeship?
Tech apprenticeship jobs are typically within the same field as the apprenticeship you take. However, if you learn coding skills during your apprenticeship, you will be able to apply for a variety of jobs.
Sources:
3 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/software-engineer-apprentice-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm
4 https://jobs.careers.microsoft.com/global/en/job/1754336/Software-Engineer:-Microsoft-Leap
5 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Data-Science-Apprentice-Salary#Yearly
6 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Software-Developer-Apprenticeship-Salary
7 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cyber-Security-Apprenticeship-Salary
8 https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Trainee-Ux-Designer-Salary
9 https://www.ibm.com/careers/blog/the-ibm-apprenticeship-program-no-degree-no-problem
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
