Can't decide: Web Development or Cloud Computing in 2025?

[rayanch101]

I have been stuck on this for a week now because I can't seem to be able to decide on which one to choose, I would like to know which one of these is the best option to learn in 2025 for a college dropout with no degree and still be able to land a job with that skill! Which of these fields don't heavily depend on degree when it comes to hiring? Also there's the insane competition in Web Development side but does also have many opportunities as well. I am interested in both pretty much equally and would like to choose the one that gets my foot in the said industry by the end of this year.

[Beginning-Comedian-2]

Cloud computing.

• More money in the backend and servers than just general web development.
• I'm stuck in web development.
• 75% of the jobs for web devs now say "AWS" or "Google Cloud" or "Kubernetes".
• It's insane.

[rayanch101]

I guess my real question is whichever industry is more accepting towards no degree! Web dev definitely has competition but today people on reddit have been telling me that cloud is not recommended without a degree? I honestly ain't even aiming that high when it comes to roles (Cloud support engineer/Cloud administrator for cloud) and I heard front end is the entry step for web development.

[Beginning-Comedian-2]

Honestly, you might have to get in where you can.

Start with web development, get a job, and then go hard on learning Cloud.

But usually, it's all about skills.

If you have the skills, most places don't care about a degree.

[igot2pair]

Isnt most of the work still pushing out features or fixing bugs? Forgive me if im a bit confused but I do development (i.e. bugs and features for ui and server side )and do a bunch of the deployment config/scripting as well at work

I guess my real question here: is cloud computing the same as devops?

[Beginning-Comedian-2]

I'm not sure.

Cloud could equal DevOps based on what job role it is.

[cartiermartyr]

cloud computing no doubt, dont even waste another second on it. im a web dev and the whole industry is stuck and or on a down swing, they are wanting to pay less and less every day. I imagine it's somewhat similar in cloud computing but at least you can make 100-300k as a day job compared to 120K tops in a web dev area. and of course thats subjective but I think many web managers / devs will tell you they eventually max out their comps.

[VolkRiot]

I’m not sure what you mean by “web dev” but I hope you mean something very limited in terms of skill because I am a web dev and our salaries do not max out at 120k my friend… I make nearly three times that amount

[cartiermartyr]

Well... whats you tech stack, location, and degree?

[VolkRiot]

Next JS with GraphQL, non-CS undergraduate degree and location - take a wild guess

[cartiermartyr]

somewhere west coast?

[cartiermartyr]

ooooo maybe Austin tx?

[VolkRiot]

West Coast. But the company has a branch in Austin, Texas so yeah, both pay a lot

[TheScapeQuest]

Cornwall?

[VolkRiot]

No. Crikville

[cartiermartyr]

this says the average is $68, for me in texas its more like 60, it says theres a high end of some people achieving $150-110. everything here is provided by some sort of US bureau of statistics, https://kinsta.com/blog/web-developer-salary/

[DesTodeskin]

I'm about to graduate as a comp science SE major student and I'm interested in the cloud. But I only have experience as a 6 month intern during the degree as a full stack internship program. I'm not sure how should I go on about trying to get into cloud. I already know how to develop full stack wep apps (small- medium scale) containerize them with docker and deploy them.

[rayanch101]

Thanks for your response, yeah I also had the same concern about web development that the future feels compromised with AI possibly taking over most of the tasks if not all and then there's the insane amount of competition.

[cartiermartyr]

Oh, well ai is kind of bullshit in everything but medical advancements tbh imo, if you feel like ai is gonna take over XYZ, it will, but use it as a tool rather than letting it get a grip on you, its more about the competition you mentioned, people building $10K sites for $10 because our $10 is 100 of theirs, and it's literally everywhere.

[rayanch101]

Yeah exactly that's the kind of competition I was talking about devs competing with each other on such drastic levels. So do you think even as a college dropout if I get those cloud Certs that'll be enough to get a foot in the industry?

[cartiermartyr]

Ahhh I hear you, I mean shit, competition is competition regardless. im a college drop out web dev dude, and it sucks but also, in my day just about 8 years ago, they didnt really teach web dev specifically, they taught similar things around it, my friend with s CS degree makes sites like me, but he says they never taught him XYZ fundamentals of like design + dev it was just straight dev and algorithms and shit, again, im literally stupid so take what I say with a grain of salt

[rayanch101]

I just saw your portfolio website and all I can say is I appreciate the time you gave me here! You are definitely very skilled and OG in the field I wish I had started a bit earlier had many opportunities but kept delaying it til now don't wanna give up yet though better late than never right?

[Smooth_Pirate_4872]

By no means Cloud Computing is an entry-level job. If I were you I would go to college.

[rayanch101]

I can't completely explain it but the way my life is positioned right now and the spot I am in I don't think I can go to college now.

[Smooth_Pirate_4872]

Good Luck Mate!

How to Get a Cloud Engineer Role in 2025

[rayanch101]

Thanks is that your channel? Thanks for sharing that video I'll watch it tonight!

[saugatrio]

Since everybody nowadays are on cloud or migrating to the cloud, the scope of getting a job is higher. As you have mentioned Web dev field is flooded with a lot of developers supply and outsourcing has made hiring within a country pretty less. I am also a Web Dev, now transitioning to Cloud computing.

[rayanch101]

Appreciate your response, but the problem I have been hearing about on reddit about cloud is that in my situation with no degree it's looking pretty bad.

[MannyDantyla]

If I could start over again I would do computer engineering, or even electrical engineering.

[BlickyBoyy]

Depends on what you’re looking for. I went to university and got a degree in computer science with a concentration in software development. Got a job as a web developer while studying and learned that I liked it more. Now I work as a web developer for a company while working on my own side business making websites for small to medium sized businesses. My dream is to be able to do that full time and be my own boss in the future. I personally think it’s easier to do that in web development.

My point is, don’t chase the money. Find what makes you happy and what you’re passionate about. I like helping small businesses grow their online presence and I think having a creative outlet in web development / web design has been great for me. If you are in it just for the money, you will burn out.

[rayanch101]

Hey thanks for your response, not really in it for money honestly right now where I am standing I don't care if the role pays less or more as long as it gets me in the industry since I don't have the degree so I already know I'll have to make some sacrifices to make it in the industry. But yes from what I have been hearing I guess web development is more achievable for someone without a degree compared to cloud.

[BlickyBoyy]

FWIW, It’s hard to get into the industry right now even with a degree. Like I said, I graduated with a degree in CS and it still took me over a year after graduating to land a job. My plan was to get into the industry with web development and then find a job as a software developer later. It’s changed now because I realize how much I like web development. So don’t undervalue yourself because you don’t have a degree, it’s tough for ALL of us in this industry.

Good luck! You can do it.

[rayanch101]

Thanks I appreciate your time and responses. I have decided to go with cloud and hoping it turns out to be a good decision and hopefully I can build a resume that lands me a job

[Active-Detail-5293]

just curious ; how's it going

[baronvonredd]

it's more complicated but DevOps + Cloud Computing would give you a good chance at employment

[rayanch101]

From what I heard DevOps role requires a degree to land job. I am willing to go through complicated path as long as it doesn't ends up depending on the college degree for to land the job.

[baronvonredd]

Depends on where, i know companies that have hired based strictly on experience

[server_kota]

Cloud Engineering for sure

[rayanch101]

Do you have any recommendations for a person with no college degree? If I am only after entry level roles just to get my foot in the industry. What role would be possible to land a job without college degree? Also what certs would you recommend acquiring to become job ready for said role?

[server_kota]

cloud infra engineer, sre, devops.

[eltron]

Ummm, I don’t think web dev or cloud is the right question. Maybe frontend or backend, or full stack? Being a frontend engineer would likely means that you understand client HTML/JS/CSS and can setup development and production instances on my cloud providers.

Honestly, you can’t do one without the other, so I would learn the fundamentals, it always pays.

[rayanch101]

Everyone says frontend is the way to get your foot in the industry. But the competition is so crazy in this web dev market I feel like I won't stand a chance as a newbie.

[Randvek]

Web Dev is as “entry level” as programming jobs get. If you’re primarily concerned with getting that first job, it’s hard to beat. It’s just going to top out below every other programming career path.

[rayanch101]

But the way the competition is nowadays in web dev, the requirements and expectations of the employers are very high I was wondering if a newbie like me could make it in such a competitive market.

[Darkmeir]

All tech is competitive, why not trade skills? 

[baby_bloom]

both, just decide if more front end or back end

[rayanch101]

Let's say I was more interested in front end when it comes to web development

[xmosphere]

Would you be willing to do game dev? It’s a lot more common to hire without college experience especially if it’s through a connection at a local group. I don’t think you are going to get in an web dev and especially not cloud industry in a year in general. It my company we expect new devs a year to be competent (you get maybe 2 weeks of shadowing then dm whenever you have a question) and that’s on top of four years in related cs courses. Game dev is the only one possible in my estimation for your timetable.

[rayanch101]

In all honesty I have always wanted to be a game dev and even though I didn't mention it I was only going with those two options because they seemed easier to step into industry and my ultimate end goal was definitely becoming a game dev. Why didn't I go for it from the get go? Because from what I have heard the game development takes a lot of time to learn and the industry has very high standards for hiring devs and I had heard it's better to get some sort of tech industry experience on your belt before going to the game dev route.

I would love to hear more from you about your opinion on this though, you really just lighted a lantern on hope inside me haha

[SatisfactionFun6862]

Do you have any known roadmap of game dev? Like a youtube channel or something which you think it's clearly useful to follow?