The software development industry is booming like never before. As per reports, the global application development software market is expected to grow from $10.31 billion in 2020 to $25.05 billion in 2028. This meteoric rise has led to an unprecedented demand for skilled developers and engineers around the world.
Additionally, software developer salaries have shot through the roof over the last few years. According to Glassdoor, the average software developer salary in the US is over $110,000 per year, while it stands at ₹666,194 (~$8,300) per year in India. With such lucrative paychecks and excellent career prospects, there has never been a better time to learn coding and break into the field of software development.
But with new programming languages and frameworks launching every year, deciding which ones to learn can prove to be an uphill battle. This article shortlists the top 10 programming languages to learn in 2024 based on salary, job demand, ease of learning and several other vital factors. Read on to find which languages you should bet on for a successful and rewarding career in the coming years.
1. Python
Over the last decade, Python has swiftly established itself as one of the most widely used and in-demand programming languages in the world. Its simple syntax, vast libraries and versatile nature allow Python to power applications across domains like web development, data analysis, machine learning, and even embedded devices.
Giant tech corporations like Google, Facebook, Uber, Netflix, Spotify and Reddit use Python extensively across their tech stacks. Its popularity has also led to a booming demand for Python developers across the globe.
Key Highlights
- One of the easiest languages to learn for beginners
- Vast libraries for data analysis, visualization and machine learning
- Average Salary – $100,000 per year (US), ₹800,000 per year (India)
With AI and data science being the future, Python is undoubtedly going to retain its spot as a top programming language even in 2024 and beyond.
2. JavaScript
Node.js
The rise of JavaScript has been nothing short of phenomenal. JavaScript now rules the web as its core scripting language and with the advent of Node.js it has even expanded its territory to the backend and server-side development.
Popular sites like Google, Netflix, PayPal and Amazon rely heavily on JavaScript to create immersive user experiences. Its versatile nature along with frameworks like React, Angular and Vue has made JavaScript extremely beginner-friendly.
Key Highlights
- Powers client-side web development
- Server-side development with Node.js
- Average Salary – $120,000 per year (US), ₹950,000 per year (India)
JavaScript is certainly not going away anytime soon. Learning it opens doors to a wide array of opportunities which makes JS one of the best programming languages to master.
3. Java
Ever since its release in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, Java has dominated enterprise development around the world. It forms the backbone of major Android apps and powers 3 billion devices globally.
From its robust framework to platform independence to unparalleled community support, Java checks all the right boxes to be an extremely beginner-friendly language. Top tech firms like Amazon, Uber, Netflix and even Google leverage Java extensively for crafting large-scale distributed apps.
Key Highlights
- Huge ecosystem of frameworks and libraries
- Powers major Android apps globally
- Average Salary – $100,000 per year (US), ₹830,000 per year (India)
Despite increasing competition, Java continues its reign at the top as one of the most sought-after programming languages. Its widespread adoption is certainly not slowing down anytime soon making it a safe bet for aspiring developers.
4. C++
Released back in 1985, C++ is one of the oldest programming languages around and easily among the fastest too. It is extensively used to develop desktop apps, games, device drivers and even operating systems.
C++ is also ubiquitously used in competitive programming owing to its speed and ability for hardware access. Top companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Amazon, Paypal and more rely on C++ for performance-critical components.
Key Highlights
- Blazing-fast execution speeds
- Powers major video games and desktop apps
- Average Salary – $110,000 per year (US), ₹830,000 per year (India)
Despite rising competition, C++ has managed to stand its ground as the go-to language for performance-critical development. With its strong foothold in several domains, C++ is certainly here to stay for years ahead.
5. C
Pronounced as C-Sharp, C# was created by Microsoft as part of its .NET framework thereby cementing its position as the de facto language for Windows app development. It has a Java-like syntax which makes it relatively easy for developers to learn.
C# works exceptionally well for developing online multiplayer games using the Unity game engine. Top game studios like Epic Games, EA Sports, Ubisoft and Microsoft heavily employ C# developers for crafting immersive gaming experiences.
Key Highlights
- Easy to learn for Java/C++ programmers
- Game development with Unity
- Average Salary – $100,000 per year (US), ₹775,000 per year (India)
With gaming poised to be a $300 billion industry by 2026, learning C# can open the doors to an extremely rewarding career in game development and beyond.
6. Swift
Ever since its release in 2014 by Apple, Swift has been making major strides in the field of application development. It offers an intuitive framework coupled with modern features like type safety and memory management.
As the designated language for iOS development, strong demand for Swift developers is certainly not going anywhere soon. Leading companies like Linkedin, American Express, Salesforce, Uber and more leverage Swift to craft immersive iOS experiences.
Key Highlights
- Official language for iOS app development
- Modern syntax with a gentle learning curve
- Average Salary – $130,000 per year (US), ₹975,000 per year (India)
Swift has strengthened its grip over iOS development considerably over the years. With Apple products becoming ubiquitous globally, Swift is undoubtedly one of the best programming languages to bet on going forward.
7. Go
Commonly referred to as Golang, Go is a relatively new language developed by Google that has been making quite a splash lately. It is built for the era of microservices and offers powerful concurrency capabilities out of the box.
Many Silicon Valley tech giants like Uber, Dropbox, Netflix and Cloudflare now leverage Golang for crafting large-scale distributed systems. Its concise and minimalist nature makes Go easy to configure and deploy without much overhead.
Key Highlights
- Perfect for building APIs and Microservices
- Concurrency support through Goroutines
- Average Salary – $140,000 per year (US), ₹1,250,000 per year (India)
Golang has already found a strong foothold among tech companies and with cloud-native development gaining steam, Go is certainly a safe bet for future-proofing your career.
8. Ruby
With its elegant syntax and emphasis on developer happiness, Ruby has become many programmers’ beloved language. The versatility of Ruby manifests clearly through its web framework Ruby on Rails which powersSites like Airbnb, Twitch, GitHub, Shopify, and more.
Ruby has an extremely thriving community and abundant libraries that allow rapid prototypes and agile development. All of these factors collectively make Ruby one of the best programming languages to get started with.
Key Highlights
- Beautiful and intuitive syntax
- Rapid web development with Ruby on Rails
- Average Salary – $120,000 per year (US), ₹830,000 per year (India)
Companies relying on Ruby are certainly on the rise implying bright prospects for Ruby devs in the future.
9. Kotlin
Developed by JetBrains as an alternative JVM language, Kotlin instantly struck a chord with developers owing to its concise and pragmatic syntax. It serves as an official Android development language and offers complete interoperability with Java.
Kotlin cherry-picks some of the best features of languages like C#, Groovy, Scala and Golang to create an intuitive programming language. Top companies like Pinterest, Coursera and Trello now rely on Kotlin for building flawless Android experiences.
Key Highlights
- Official language for Android Development
- Interoperable with Java
- Average Salary – $110,000 per year (US), ₹830,000 per year (India)
With the meteoric growth expected in mobile app development, Kotlin is certainly an advantageous language to have in your repertoire.
10. TypeScript
Developed by Microsoft as an open-source typed superset of JavaScript, TypeScript adds excellent tooling and auto-complete features for large-scale web application development.
TypeScript offers an extremely smooth onboarding curve for JS developers and has excellent community support. Companies like Asana, Coinbase, Coursera and Adobe leverage TypeScript for crafting complex web apps.
Key Highlights
- Gradual typing system
- Enhanced tooling and auto-complete
- Average Salary – $114,000 per year (US), ₹830,000 per year (India)
With its powerful abstraction capabilities, TypeScript is primed to dominate front-end development in the times ahead.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of top programming languages to learn in 2024 based on future demand, salary, and ease of adoption. We have covered languages catering to app development, web development as well as relatively newer domains like AI, Cloud Computing, IoT and more.
The languages featured here represent a perfect blend of stability and cutting-edge capabilities to future-proof your career as a developer. However, identifying your domain of interest is crucial before deciding which languages to pursue.
With the meteoric demand for skilled engineers, there has never been a better time to embark on your programming journey. The world awaits your innovative ideas. So go ahead, master these languages and craft the next big thing!