In-demand tech skills come and go but one tech skill that will always remain in the forefront is computer programming. More specifically, computer programming languages. Programming languages allow us, the user, to give instructions to a computer in a language the computer understands. But just as there are many forms of human language (e.g. English, Spanish, French, German, etc.) there are also an array of computer programming languages. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most in-demand programming languages in use today.
Java
The Java programming language is one of the most highly demanded languages among employers. It is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language which contains several factors that make it ideal for web-based development. The language is over 20 years old and can be run virtually on any platform. It’s primarily used to develop enterprise-level applications for video games and mobile apps and is the core foundation for developing Android apps. Sr. Java Developers can expect, on average, a salary ranging anywhere from $74,000 to $130,000 a year.
Python
Python is a general-purpose programming language used for web development and as a support language for software developers. It’s one of the most powerful programming languages on the market today. It’s used for mathematical calculations, data analysis, web development, machine learning, and task automation. The language is extremely popular among some of the biggest players in the tech industry, most notably Google and NASA. The average salary for a Python Developer is $116,000 per year in the U.S.
JavaScript
JavaScript (commonly referred to as JS and with no relation to Java) is a high-level, interpreted programming language that runs inside a client browser and processes commands on a computer rather than a server. Along with HTML and CSS, it’s one of the three core technologies of the World Wide Web. JavaScript is primarily used in web development to manipulate various page elements and make them more dynamic, including scrolling abilities, printing the time and date, creating a calendar, and other tasks not possible through plain HTML. JS is used by over 80% of developers and by 95% of all websites. The average salary of a JavaScript Developer is $111,000 per year in the U.S.
C++
C++ is often the first programming language taught at the college level. Released in the early 80s, it was created to complete lean, efficient code, to be used for the creation of large systems, such as desktop applications and server platforms. The language can also be used to create computer programs and packaged software, such as games, office applications, graphics and video editors, and operating systems. Rate ranges for C++ Programmers/Developers range anywhere from $80,000 to $115,000 per year.
C#
C# (pronounced C Sharp) is known for its simplicity and widespread use. Technically speaking, it’s a multi-paradigm programming language that features strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented and component-oriented disciplines. It’s based off of C, C++, and Java languages, so if you’re familiar with those, you should be able to learn C# basics quite easily. For developers, the C# language helps them create XML web services and Microsoft .NET-connected applications for Windows operating systems and the internet. Much like C++ it’s used heavily in video game development. A developer specializing in C# can expect to make roughly $85,000 per year.
PHP
PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (or more simply PHP), is a server-side scripting language used for web development. As an open-source scripting language, it’s used to create dynamic web pages (web pages that display different content each time they’re viewed) that work with databases. Most developers use this scripting language for web development, either to add functions that HTML can’t handle or to interact with MySQL databases. The national average salary for a PHP Developer is around $75,000 in the U.S.
Perl
Perl is a popular scripting language that can be used in a wide variety of projects but is most commonly used for graphical programming, systems administration, and for the creation of financial applications. It is one of the most used languages for CGI scripting. As for a more technical definition, Wikipedia defines Perl as a family of two high-level, general purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming languages, Perl 5 and Perl 6. The national average salary for a Perl Developer is $81,280 in the U.S.
Other Popular Programming Languages
Outside of these 7 languages, the other programming languages that are most used by developers and programmers, and that employers commonly look for are: SQL, R, C, Objective-C, Go, Ruby (on Rails), Swift, Kotlin, Rust, Visual Basic, CSS, XML, and HTML.
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