Once upon a time, the hunt for a dream job may have required first passing a difficult bar exam, or putting in intense residency hours. In recent years, however, careers in law or medicine have been pushed aside in favor of technologically advanced careers; namely, software development. Technology is on the rise, and software developers are rising with it.

Software developers are taking the lead in job rankings, featuring unsurpassed entry level salaries with exponential growth in future pay, as well as exciting career opportunities. Rated the #1 job in America by CNN, software developers are set to experience a 17% employment growth rate from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In that period, an estimated 135,300 jobs will open up.

As companies turn towards increased automation and a stronger online presence, they seek talented individuals who can help them code their way into the future. Even software engineers who are just starting out with no prior experience face a good financial climate, with starting salaries at a median of $64,970 in 2015, and 60% salary growth throughout their career.

Software developers have one of the most coveted job positions, as Jon Bischke, the CEO of tech recruiting firm Entelo says, "there aren't enough qualified software engineers to fill all of the jobs being created by such a boom. Just ask any recruiter." Employers are always looking to hire software developers, even interns, and many will do whatever it takes to lure a developer from his or her old company. One developer had to cancel his LinkedIn account because he was getting bombarded with requests from recruiters.

Software developers get more than just incredible opportunity, pay and job growth; employers are desperate to hire and therefore think outside the box, offering perks such as unlimited vacation days, the ability to work remote, and great in-office perks (think scooters and nap pods).

Not only are developers highly desired in today's job market, they tend to have an overall higher job satisfaction rate than most other careers. Many software developers love the challenge that comes with coding: Problem solving, team-work and surprisingly, a great opportunity to use creativity and ingenuity to create some of today's most forward technologies.

US News features software development as being not only one of the top jobs in the country, but also one with a relatively low barrier to entry. While a software engineering degree can be helpful, it does not always guarantee a job. However, according to Sam Schillace, the Senior VP of Engineering at Box, and former Google employee, "someone who is a rock star coder with no degree but a huge list of achievements would be an easy hire," which paves the way for those who are determined to be successful, and who may have switched careers later in life, such as graduates of a coding bootcamp.

As the need for software developers grow, many people who are unhappy at their current jobs, or are looking to boost their salaries in a fast-growing career, seek options such as coding bootcamps to jumpstart their career in coding.

Curious how a coding bootcamp can help you become a software developer? Sign up by clicking on the button below for our free email course: What Is a Coding Bootcamp Anyway?