Discover the skills and languages that are the most lucrative and popular in the global market.
As a programmer or aspiring programmer, you may be wondering what are the best programming languages to learn or excel in. Programming languages are the tools of the trade for developers, and they can make a huge difference in your career prospects, income, and satisfaction.
But how do you choose the right programming language for you? There are so many factors to consider, such as your personal interest, career goals, job availability, market trends, and salary potential. To help you with this decision, we have compiled a list of the top 10 programming languages that are the most lucrative and popular in 2023, based on a recent report from DevJobScanner, a leading platform for developer jobs and careers.
DevJobScanner analysed over 23 million developer jobs posted globally from October 2022 to October 2023, and calculated the average and median salaries, job counts, and keywords for each programming language. The results are based on the data from the jobs that provided salary information and could be classified as programming language related. Here are the top 10 programming languages that pay the highest salaries in 2023, along with some insights and tips on their career paths.
10. JavaScript
JavaScript is a dynamic and expressive language that is widely used for web development, especially for front-end and user interface development. JavaScript developers are popular and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a ubiquitous and powerful language that can handle various aspects and challenges of web development. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for JavaScript developers in 2023 is $85,000, and the median salary is $80,000. The job count for JavaScript developers in the US is 40,000.
If you want to become a web developer, you can choose JavaScript as your main or secondary language, as it is essential for creating interactive and responsive web applications and user interfaces.
9. C#
C# is a modern and versatile language that is widely used for web development, game development, and desktop applications. C# developers are sought-after and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a popular and flexible language that can handle various domains and platforms. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for C# developers in 2023 is $90,000, and the median salary is $85,000. The job count for C# developers in the US is 20,000.
If you want to become a web, game, or desktop developer, you can choose C# as your main or secondary language, as it is a powerful and elegant language that can leverage the power and features of the .NET framework, a software platform that provides a range of services and libraries for development and deployment.
8. Java
Java is a mature and stable language that is one of the most widely used languages in the world. Java developers are in demand and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a reliable and scalable language that can handle large-scale and complex systems. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Java developers in 2023 is $95,000, and the median salary is $90,000. The job count for Java developers in the US is 30,000.
If you want to become an enterprise, web, or mobile developer, you can choose Java as your main or secondary language, as it is a robust and portable language that can run on multiple platforms and devices.
7. Python
Python is a versatile and easy-to-learn language that has a rich set of libraries and frameworks. Python developers are popular and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a widely used and powerful language that can handle diverse and complex domains. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Python developers in 2023 is $100,000, and the median salary is $95,000. The job count for Python developers in the US is 25,000.
If you want to become a data scientist, machine learning engineer, web developer, or scripter, you can choose Python as your main or secondary language, as it is a versatile and easy-to-learn language that has a rich set of libraries and frameworks.
6. Ruby
Ruby is a dynamic and expressive language that is known for its elegant syntax and productivity. Ruby developers are in demand and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a sophisticated and versatile language that can handle various problems and tasks. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Ruby developers in 2023 is $105,000, and the median salary is $100,000. The job count for Ruby developers in the US is 18,000.
If you want to become a web developer, you can choose Ruby as your main or secondary language, as it is a dynamic and expressive language that is known for its elegant syntax and productivity.
5. Scala
Scala is a functional and object-oriented language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine. Scala developers are in demand and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a sophisticated and versatile language that can handle complex and high-performance tasks. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Scala developers in 2023 is $110,000, and the median salary is $105,000. The job count for Scala developers in the US is 10,000.
If you want to become a big data, machine learning, or web developer, you can choose Scala as your main or secondary language, as it is a functional and object-oriented language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine.
4. Go
Go is a simple and fast language that is designed for scalability and concurrency. Go developers are sought-after and well-paid, as they have skills and experience in a modern and productive language that can handle large-scale and distributed systems. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Go developers in 2023 is $115,000, and the median salary is $110,000. The job count for Go developers in the US is 15,000.
If you want to become a cloud, microservice, or web developer, you can choose Go as your main or secondary language, as it is a simple and fast language that is designed for scalability and concurrency.
3. ABAP
ABAP is a legacy language that runs on SAP systems, which are widely used by large enterprises. ABAP developers are scarce and have specialized skills, which makes them highly paid. ABAP developers need to have a deep understanding of SAP systems and business processes, as well as the ability to work with complex and legacy code. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for ABAP developers in 2023 is $120,000, and the median salary is $115,000. The job count for ABAP developers in the US is 8,000.
If you want to become an SAP developer, you can choose ABAP as your main or secondary language, as it is a legacy language that runs on SAP systems, which are widely used by large enterprises.
2. Rust
Rust is a relatively new language that offers high performance, memory safety, and concurrency. Rust developers are highly valued and paid, as they have skills and experience in a modern and powerful language that can handle complex and demanding tasks. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Rust developers in 2023 is $130,000, and the median salary is $125,000. The job count for Rust developers in the US is 12,000.
If you want to become a system, web, or embedded developer, you can choose Rust as your main or secondary language, as it is a relatively new language that offers high performance, memory safety, and concurrency.
1. Solidity
Solidity is the most popular and lucrative language for blockchain development, which is a booming field in 2023. Blockchain is a technology that enables secure and decentralized transactions and applications, such as cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and decentralized finance. Solidity developers are in high demand and can command premium salaries, as they have specialized skills and knowledge in a cutting-edge and rapidly evolving domain. According to DevJobScanner, the average salary for Solidity developers in 2023 is $140,000, and the median salary is $135,000. The job count for Solidity developers in the US is 20,000.
If you want to become a blockchain developer, you can choose Solidity as your main or secondary language, as it is the most popular and lucrative language for blockchain development. You can also learn various tools and techniques, such as Ethereum, a platform for decentralized applications, and Smart Contract, a self-executing agreement on the blockchain, that make Solidity development advanced and secure.
Conclusion
The programming languages market is diverse and dynamic, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what are the best programming languages to learn or specialize in. However, by looking at the data and trends from DevJobScanner, we can get some insights and guidance on what are the most lucrative and popular programming languages in 2024, and what are the career paths that are in high demand and pay well in the global market.
As a programmer or aspiring programmer, you should keep learning and updating your skills to stay competitive and relevant. You should also consider factors such as your personal interest, career goals, and job availability when choosing a programming language to learn or specialize in. By doing so, you can boost your career and income, and enjoy the satisfaction and fulfilment of creating and solving with code.
We hope this blog post was helpful and informative. Thank you for reading and happy coding!