Juniors Can Be Worth It Again

Juniors cost money before they make money. Kent Beck calls this phase the “Valley of Regret”: you pay salary for someone who’s still learning and not yet productive.¹ The problem isn’t the learning phase itself—it’s that many juniors leave before they’ve made it through. With a typical ramp-up time of 24 months, Beck estimates about 36% leave before becoming profitable. That investment is then completely lost.

With AI coding tools, this critical phase shrinks to about 9 months. Less time means less turnover—only about 15% leave early. The bet on juniors now has better odds. With lower salaries and the right tooling, the investment could pay off again. So: give every junior at least one AI coding tool worth 200 dollars.