If you aspire to become a software engineer but are not sure where to start, this blog is for you. 

Software engineering is one of the most vibrant and in-demand professions today. They play a key role in the digital transformation of businesses, industries, and organizations. Our lives our incomplete without digital devices and software applications. 

When it comes to becoming a software developer, one must have basic knowledge of programming language. Coders can acquire basic programming skills through online courses. While there are hundreds of programming languages, some are highly paid depending on their applications and demand. Learning these highly paid coding languages can help you achieve financial stability while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

So, let’s explore the top five highest-paying programming languages for 2024 as per Glassdoor. The article also covers career prospects for these languages to help you make the best decision. 

Choosing Programming as a Career: An Early Advice from Experts 

When there are multiple career options available for a fresh college graduate, why choose programming as a career? It is a common question often asked by career advisors. 

Let’s break down this question into two parts. First, we will look at programming careers from the growth perspective and compare it with other professions. The second part would focus on economic potential i.e. the ability to make money out of coding. 

Software engineers are intelligent IT professionals proficient in developing high-performing digital solutions for different platforms by using mobile app development technologies. They write code, test software, identify bugs, and make changes to deliver a seamless experience. Besides, they also update the software application and introduce new features to meet customers’ growing needs. 

Insight Global, a leading staffing services company, revealed tech jobs shall continue to lead the global job market in coming years. Coding and programming, writing and content creation, and sustainability-specific skills would be in demand in 2024, the site predicted.  

Another website Resume Coach narrowed down 10 in-demand jobs in the US in 2024. four out of these ten jobs required programming skills, like software developers, AI specialists, data analysts, and cybersecurity experts.  

A similar prediction was made by another website Edvoy, which placed data science, AI/ML engineering, software development, and cybersecurity analysis among the best career options in 2024. 

As far as salaries are concerned, a mid-level software developer earns an average of $127,260 income per year in the US. The figure is likely to grow by 26%. 

Highest Paying Programming Languages in 2024 

So, you’ve decided to become a programmer. Below are the five highest-paying coding languages for 2024 according to Glassdoor. 

Programming Language Avg. Salary in the US 
C/C++ $146,203 per year 
Swift $132,321 per year 
Kotlin $104,166 per year 
JavaScript $101,940 per year 
Python $96,126 per year 

 

1. C/C++

C and C++ and two highly versatile and powerful programming languages. They are considered the backbone of system-level programming. The updated version of C++ is object-oriented and more advanced. Software engineers use C/C++ across diverse networks, operating systems, and system architectures. 

Average Salary 

The average salaries of C/C++ developers in the US are given below: 

Glassdoor: $146,203 per year 

Indeed: $85,000 – $130,000 per year 

Zippia: $106,028 per year 

Career Outlook 

C/C++ developers develop desktop apps, operating systems, games, and even browsers (Mozilla Firefox is built in C++). They have high demand in the US and worldwide. In addition to these areas, they can also find job opportunities in IoT, VR, and high-performance computing systems.

2. Swift

Swift is a mobile app development language specifically designed for Apple devices like iOS, tvOS, MacOS, watchOS, etc. The rapid growth of iPhones and Apple Watches has increased the demand for skilled Swift developers. The language offers diverse options for performance optimization, memory safety, and seamless user experience. 

Average Salary 

Glassdoor: $132,321 per year 

Indeed: $148,550 per year 

Zippia: $100,265 per year

Career Outlook 

iPhone continues to be the favourite smartphone brand of users worldwide. The rising popularity of Apple devices is also clearly evident. So, one can clearly visualize the positive growth of Swift developers. Most importantly, Apple’s ARKit and RealityKit frameworks would bring more job opportunities for software engineers interested in AR/VR.

3. Kotlin

Like Swift is tailored for iOS, Kotlin is used for Android app development. We all know how familiar Android apps are. So, Kotlin developers get paid handsome salaries and a positive growth outlook. This cross-platform programming language offers seamless interoperability with Java. That’s why it attracts Android developers worldwide. 

Average Salary 

Glassdoor: $104,166 per year 

Indeed: $128527 per year 

Zippia: $98495 per year

Career Outlook 

From a growth perspective, Kotlin is likely to remain in demand for several decades. Kotlin developers have a positive outlook because this language is compatible with Java. Besides, Google has also declared Kotlin the preferred language for Android app development. Therefore, thousands of new jobs for qualified Kotlin developers will be created in the coming years.

4. JavaScript

JavaScript is the backbone of web app development technologies. From creating interactive websites, stunning portfolios, and visually appealing blogs to web-based applications, JavaScript is everywhere.

This server and client-side programming language is widely used in both backend and frontend development. With the rise of JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular, JavaScript developers can expect bright careers ahead. 

Average Salary 

Glassdoor: $101,940 per year 

Indeed: $110888 per year 

Zippia: $100,076

Career Outlook 

JavaScript has diverse applications in mobile app development, web development, IoT development, and server-side development. The demand for user-friendly web and mobile apps is likely to increase in the future. Hence, it is safe to say JavaScript developers will continue to rule the IT job market.

5. Python

Python is another highly versatile programming language with a smooth learning curve. Known for simplicity and ease of use, the language is the preferred choice of developers across data science, web development, cloud computing, and AI/ML.

Besides, it offers huge sets of libraries and advanced features that make it easy for software engineers to manage small and large-scale projects with ease. 

Average Salary 

Glassdoor: $96,126 per year 

Indeed: $130244 per year 

Zippia: $88,828 per 

Career Outlook 

Python developers are in demand and are expected to stay relevant for years. With the emergence of new fields like data science, NLP, machine learning, and AI, the demand for talented Python developers is expected to skyrocket. 

Final Thoughts 

Tech jobs offer three unique benefits. First, they offer a healthy work-life balance. You can work from anywhere, at your preferred schedule, without any hassle.

Secondly, jobs in the tech sector are highly paid as compared to other professions. The third benefit is that the demand for qualified tech professionals will keep rising in the age of digital transformation. 

For software developers looking to earn more money, we have shortlisted the top five highest paying programming languages as predicted by Glassdoor, Indeed, and Zippia. These languages are C/C++, Swift, Kotlin, JavaScript, and Python. 

However, make sure you have a strong grip and hands-on experience with these five programming languages to achieve your desired career objectives. 

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