There’s no question that software engineering is a hot career right now. The surveys have shown a 21 percent growth for programming jobs from 2018 to 2028. This is more than four times the average for all occupations. Also, the median annual pay for a software programmer is about $106,000. Hence, you need to know about the best programming languages to learn. Not all programming works are the same, however. Different roles, companies, and types of software require understanding different programming languages—and it’s often advantageous to know multiple languages. Trying to break into the field of software programming can be a daunting experience.
Whether you’re new to programming or brushing your skills, it is good to know which about languages in demand.
Here are 10 of the Best Programming languages to learn of 2024 based on the number of job postings listed on the job search site, the average annual salary for those jobs, and factors such as ease of use and potential for growth.
1. Python
Number of jobs: 19,000+
Average annual salary: $120,000+
Benefits: Python is a widely-used programming language. It is easy to learn, has simple syntax, a large library of standards and toolkits. Also, it has integration with other popular programming languages such as C and C++. It allows you to cover a lot of computer science concepts quickly and is relatively easy to build on. It is a popular programming language, especially among startups. Therefore, Python is one of the best programming languages to learn.
Common uses: Python is used in a wide variety of applications, like artificial intelligence, financial services, and data science. Social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest are also built on this amazing language.
2. JavaScript
Number of jobs: 24,000+
Average annual salary: $118,000+
Benefits: JavaScript is one of the best programming languages to learn for building interactive websites. When combined with Node.js, programmers can use JavaScript to create web content on the server. They can use this amazing language to build games and communication applications that run directly in the browser. Also, a wide variety of add-ons extend the functionality of JavaScript as well.
Common uses: JavaScript is used widely in website and mobile application development. Node.js allows for the development of browser-based applications, which do not need users to download an application.
3. Java
Number of jobs: 29,000+
Average annual salary: $104,000+
Benefits: Java is the programming language most commonly associated with the development of client-server applications. Large businesses uses these applications around the world. Java is a loosely linked programming language, meaning that an application written in Java can run on any platform that supports Java. As a result, Java is described as the “write once, run anywhere” programming language.
Common uses: Along with business applications, Java has been used widely in the Android mobile operating system.
4. C#
Number of jobs: 18,000+
Average annual salary: $97,000+
Benefits: Microsoft developed C# as a faster and more reliable variant of C. It is fully integrates with Microsoft’s .NET software framework, which promotes the development of applications for Windows, browser plug-ins, and mobile devices. C# also offers shared codebases, a large code library, and a variety of data types.
Common uses: C# is the go-to language for Microsoft ad Windows application development. Also, the use of this language go from mobile devices and video game consoles practicing an extension of the .NET Framework called Mono.
5. C
Number of jobs: 8,000+
Average annual salary: $97,000
Benefits: Along with Python and Java, C forms a “good foundation” for learning how to program. As one of the first programming languages ever developed, C has served as the basis for writing more modern languages such as Python, Ruby, and PHP. It is also an easy language to debug, test, and maintain.
Common uses: It can run on any type of device. The use of this language goes till the program hardware. Such as embedded devices in automobiles and medical devices used in healthcare.
6. C++
Number of jobs: 9,000+
Average annual salary: $97,000+
Benefits: C++ is an extension of C that works well for programming the systems that run applications. C++ also serves well for multi-device and multi-platform systems. Over time, programmers have written a large set of libraries and compilers for C++. Being able to use these utilities effectively is just as important to understanding a programming language as writing code.
Common uses: C++ has many uses and is the language behind everything from computer games to mathematical simulations.
7. Go
Number of jobs: 1,700+
Average annual salary: $93,000+
Benefits: Go language is also known as Golang. Google developed Go to be an efficient, readable, and secure language for system-level programming. It works well for distributed systems, in which systems are located on different networks and need to communicate by sending messages to each other. Go has a large standards library and extensive documentation.
Common uses: Go is used primarily for applications that need to process a lot of data. In addition to Google, companies using Go for certain applications include Netflix, Twitch, and Uber.
8. R
Number of jobs: 1,500+
Average annual salary: $93,000+
Benefits: R has great usage in statistical analytics and machine learning applications. The language is extensible and runs on many operating systems. Many large companies have adopted R to analyze their massive data sets, so programmers who know R are in great demand.
Common uses: R is primarily used in statistical software products.
9. Swift
Number of jobs: 1,800+
Average annual salary: $93,000+
Benefits: Swift is Apple’s language for developing applications for Mac computers and Apple’s mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Like many modern programming languages, Swift has a highly understandable syntax and runs code quickly. Also, Swing can be used for both client-side and server-side development.
Common uses: Swift has greater usage in developing iOS and macOS applications.
10. PHP
Number of jobs: 7,000+
Average annual salary: $81,000+
Benefits: PHP has usage in server-side web development when a website frequently requests information from a server. As an older language, PHP benefits from a large ecosystem of users who have produced frameworks, libraries, and automation tools to make the programming language easier to use. PHP code is also easy to debug.
Common uses: PHP is a code running content-orient websites such as Facebook, WordPress, and Wikipedia.
Some programmers can build a career out of being an expert in one language, but many programmers learn new languages frequently. These are the best programming languages to learn in 2021. Learn these and excel in your career.
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