The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès as in Dakar, recruiters and freelance clients look first at what you can build, well before your degree: a GitHub portfolio of deployed projects carries more weight than a bachelor's degree without practice. A junior developer earns, as an order of magnitude, 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA per month in Dakar, and a showcase website is billed 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA as a freelancer. The Kolonell Full-Stack JavaScript Developer course costs 200,000 FCFA and leads to 8 deployed projects, from HTML to Next.js, Node and PostgreSQL.
Options to learn web development from Thiès in 2026
Thiès has few specialised schools, which often forces a costly move to Dakar. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude of the options.
| Option | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Duration | Housing in Dakar needed | Portfolio at the end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private computer science degree | 600,000 to 1,200,000 per year (915 to 1,830 EUR) | 3 years | Often | Variable |
| Intensive in-person bootcamp in Dakar | 800,000 to 1,500,000 | 3 to 6 months | Yes, 60,000 to 100,000 per month | 3 to 5 projects |
| Local training centre (office skills, basic web) | 150,000 to 300,000 | 2 to 3 months | No | 1 or 2 static pages |
| Free courses (freeCodeCamp, YouTube) | 0 | 6 to 18 months self-taught | No | Depends on discipline |
| Kolonell Full-Stack JavaScript Developer (level 5 Pro Track) | 200,000 (305 EUR / about 350 USD) | 61 h of lessons + projects | No | 8 deployed projects |
| Full Web development track (5 levels) | 350,000 instead of 450,000 (534 EUR) | Progressive | No | Projects at every level |
The Full-Stack JavaScript Developer course, taught in French, starts from zero: web foundations and HTML, CSS, basic then advanced JavaScript, Git and the terminal, React, Next.js, backend with APIs and databases, and finally CV, portfolio and job applications. Coding exercises are graded automatically. If you prefer to progress step by step, the Web development track starts at level 1 Essential (25,000 FCFA, discovering web code) and the full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
How much a beginner web developer earns in Senegal
The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude for Dakar and remote work. They are not an income promise and depend heavily on the quality of the portfolio.
| Situation | 2026 income (FCFA) | Realistic delay after the course | What is expected from you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid internship in an agency | 75,000 to 150,000 per month | 1 to 3 months | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git basics |
| Salaried junior developer in Dakar | 250,000 to 450,000 per month | 3 to 6 months | React or Next.js, APIs, portfolio |
| Freelance showcase site (SME, shop) | 300,000 to 800,000 per project | 1 to 3 months | 5 pages, responsive, form, hosting |
| Small web app (booking, catalogue) | 800,000 to 2,000,000 per project | 4 to 8 months | Full-stack, database |
| Monthly maintenance of a client site | 25,000 to 75,000 per month | From the first client | Updates, backups |
| Remote work for a European company | 500 to 1,200 EUR, i.e. 330,000 to 790,000 per month | 6 to 12 months | Technical English, solid projects |
From Thiès, freelancing and remote work avoid the cost of housing in Dakar, which easily eats 60,000 to 100,000 FCFA per month.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Mamadou, 21, a science baccalaureate holder in Thiès, did not get a university grant. He takes the course at 200,000 FCFA over four months, 12 hours a week, from home. He builds a demo site for a bakery in his neighbourhood, then signs his first showcase website at 350,000 FCFA for a Thiès hardware store, with maintenance at 30,000 FCFA per month. That single contract pays for the course and leaves 150,000 FCFA. Compared with a Dakar bootcamp at 1,000,000 FCFA plus 4 months of housing at 80,000 FCFA, he saves about 1,120,000 FCFA.
FAQ
Can you really get hired without a degree? Yes, many Dakar agencies and startups hire on technical tests and portfolios. Eight deployed projects on GitHub and a successful interview count more than a degree for a junior role at 250,000 FCFA.
What computer do I need? A laptop with 8 GB of RAM is enough, which in 2026 means a budget of 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA refurbished. A smartphone does not allow you to code the 61 hours of projects comfortably.
How long until I am operational? Allow 3 to 6 months at 10 to 15 hours a week to finish the course and the portfolio. The first paid showcase sites often come before the end.
Do I need to speak English? Reading documentation in English helps a lot, but the course is taught in French. To target European remote work at 500 EUR and above, professional English becomes necessary.
How do I pay? By Wave or Orange Money: 200,000 FCFA for this level, or 350,000 FCFA for the full 5-level track instead of 450,000.
Take the next step. Enroll in Full-Stack JavaScript Developer: 61 h online (taught in French), 8 deployed projects, 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR / about 350 USD), Kolonell Academy certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
