I've got a decent government job in Toronto making $80k/year with scheduled raises over the next 4 years to $94k. The career is related to urban planning. I'm currently 30. It took me about 7 years of experience to reach this role, but there isn't much opportunity above me. Director level roles max out around $120k/year and are rare, so I feel a little stuck despite having a livable income.

Like many people, I'm interested in a career switch to software development for a higher salary and more flexibility in where I live. I have some coding experience but ultimately it would be a fresh start. I also have some project management and tech consulting experience that would help me get started in the tech industry.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I'm not interested in quitting my job and taking a bootcamp just to end up as a junior dev making $50-60k/year with no benefits. My questions:

• Has anyone taken a bootcamp while in a similar salary or role?
• Did it pay off, or did it feel like a lateral move between industries?
• Any alternatives to a bootcamp that might help me shift into a more technical role?