Choosing a programming language to learn can feel overwhelming. With countless options and considerations, you might be asking yourself:
- Which programming language is the optimal choice for career advancement in the coming year?
- If you’re a complete novice, where should you begin your coding journey?
- Which languages offer the highest earning potential?
- Which languages are in high demand, offering abundant job opportunities?
- Which languages are at the forefront of emerging industries and resilient to future technological shifts?
- Ultimately, which language aligns best with your specific career aspirations, whether in web development, cybersecurity, DevOps, or another field?
These are precisely the questions aspiring developers grapple with daily. To provide clarity and direction, this guide is designed to assist you in making an informed decision. Consider this your annually updated resource for navigating the programming language landscape.
This article goes beyond simply listing popular languages. It delves into a comprehensive analysis, offering well-reasoned recommendations supported by data and industry insights. Furthermore, you’ll find curated resources to kickstart your learning journey for each recommended language.
This guide distinguishes itself through:
- Objective, Data-Driven Approach: We prioritize factual data to substantiate our recommendations, offering a numerical perspective on language popularity and demand.
- Expert Subjectivity & Industry Experience: Drawing upon years of industry experience and having guided over 100,000 individuals into tech careers since 2018, we blend data with practical insights.
Let’s explore the top programming languages to consider in 2024 and beyond.
Top Programming Languages to Learn in 2024: The Shortlist
If forced to recommend a single language without knowing your specific needs, Python would be the top recommendation for 2024. However, several other languages also deserve consideration:
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it represents a carefully curated selection of languages offering significant opportunities in today’s tech landscape.
You might be wondering about the rationale behind this selection and ranking. To arrive at this list, we employed a five-point criteria system, evaluating programming languages based on:
- Job Demand
- Salary Potential
- Learning Curve
- Developer Satisfaction/Ease of Use
- Future-Proofing
Let’s examine each criterion in detail to understand why these languages stand out.
Criterion 1: Job Demand – Which Programming Language Opens Doors in 2024?
For many, learning a programming language is a means to a career. Therefore, job availability is a critical factor. We prioritized languages with substantial job openings to ensure your learning investment translates into real-world opportunities.
Each language on our list boasts at least 1,000 current job postings in the US on a major job platform (ZipRecruiter). This benchmark guarantees ample employment prospects and reduces the likelihood of job-seeking challenges after acquiring your skills.
Programming Languages with the Most Job Openings in 2024
Python leads in job openings, demonstrating its widespread adoption across industries:
- Python: Currently lists over 108,000 job openings, a notable increase from 84,500 last year.
- JavaScript/TypeScript: Follows with approximately 59,000 job postings.
- SQL: Completes the top three with over 76,000 available positions.
As visualized above, most languages on this list have experienced job growth since the previous year’s assessment. Python maintains its leading position in job availability, while C++ and C# are exceptions, showing a slight decrease in openings.
Criterion 2: Salary Potential – Which Languages Command the Highest Salaries?
Financial motivation is often a significant driver for individuals entering the programming field. The allure of a competitive salary and benefits is undeniable. Therefore, earning potential is a crucial factor in language selection.
To qualify for our list, each language had to offer an average advertised salary exceeding $100,000. This criterion ensures that learning any language on this list can lead to a financially rewarding career.
Top Paying Programming Languages in 2024
Currently, Ruby boasts the highest average salary among our list, reaching approximately $134,000 annually.
While some exceptionally high senior-level salaries can skew the average, a broader look at salary ranges reveals a more uniform distribution across these languages.
Your actual earnings will vary depending on experience level. Entry-level positions will likely not command the average salary immediately. However, with dedication and strategic career navigation, achieving the average salary within 1-3 years is a realistic goal.
Important Note: Salary alone shouldn’t be the sole determinant in your language choice. All languages on this list offer strong earning potential. Considering other factors is crucial for a well-rounded decision.
Criterion 3: Learning Difficulty – Which Languages are Beginner-Friendly?
The perceived difficulty of a programming language is subjective. Personal preferences and prior experience influence how challenging a language feels. To offer a balanced perspective, we consulted with experienced instructors to categorize languages by their learning curve.
Easiest Programming Languages to Learn in 2024
SQL is generally considered the easiest language to learn, often categorized separately.
- Easiest: SQL
- Easy: Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP
- Moderate: TypeScript, Rust, Go
- Hard: Java, C#
- Hardest: C++
Don’t be intimidated by the “hard” or “hardest” labels. No language on this list is exceptionally difficult to master, especially with effective learning resources. The classifications are relative, designed to differentiate languages based on their initial learning curve. Even “harder” languages become manageable with the right approach and learning materials.
For those with prior programming experience, Rust and Go are relatively easy to pick up. Similarly, despite being labeled “harder,” Java and C# possess extensive ecosystems and abundant learning resources, ensuring support throughout your learning journey.
JavaScript vs. TypeScript: Why Different Difficulty Levels?
While often grouped, JavaScript and TypeScript are categorized differently in terms of difficulty.
JavaScript stands alone as a functional language. TypeScript, however, is a “superset” of JavaScript, adding features like static typing and interfaces. It’s essentially JavaScript with enhanced capabilities.
The difficulty difference arises from:
- JavaScript (Easy): Beginner-friendly with straightforward syntax, vast learning resources, and strong community support.
- TypeScript (Moderate): Introduces stricter coding rules and concepts like static typing, requiring more structured and deliberate coding practices. While enhancing code reliability in larger projects, it adds complexity for beginners.
The advantage is that JavaScript knowledge provides a solid foundation for learning TypeScript. It’s more of an upgrade than starting from scratch.
Best Programming Language for Beginners in 2024
While SQL is the simplest language technically, JavaScript or Python are more strategic starting points for beginners, depending on career interests. For web development, JavaScript is essential. For data-centric fields like Machine Learning or AI, Python is ideal.
“High-level” languages like Python and JavaScript are relatively intuitive and quick to grasp. They also unlock broader career paths compared to SQL, which is more specialized in data management. Furthermore, these languages form the foundation for numerous frameworks and advanced tools you’ll encounter later.
Criterion 4: Developer Satisfaction – Which Languages Do Programmers Enjoy Using?
Not all programming languages are equally enjoyable to work with. Some are known for being cumbersome, while others prioritize developer experience and usability. Since you’ll be spending significant time coding, developer satisfaction is a relevant consideration. Choosing a language you find enjoyable can significantly impact your long-term career satisfaction.
We leveraged data from the Stack Overflow 2024 Developer Survey to gauge developer sentiment. The survey asked developers about their “most admired and desired” languages.
- “Most Admired” (Red Line): Indicates the percentage of current users who enjoy using the language and intend to continue.
- “Most Desired” (Blue Line): Represents the percentage of developers not currently using the language but want to learn it in the future.
We focused on the “most admired” metric, as it reflects current user satisfaction, a strong indicator of potential enjoyment for new learners.
Most Loved Programming Languages in 2024
Rust consistently ranks as the most loved language, with over 82% of its users expressing satisfaction. Its design emphasizes developer experience, contributing to its high satisfaction ratings.
Following Rust, JavaScript (+ TypeScript) scores around 70%, and Go around 68%.
Python, despite its age, still enjoys a 67% satisfaction rate, demonstrating its enduring appeal and usability.
Criterion 5: Future-Proofing – Will the Language Remain Relevant?
Investing time and effort in learning a programming language necessitates considering its long-term relevance. You want to ensure your skills remain valuable for years to come.
Future-proofing involves assessing:
- Language Applications: Where and how is the language currently used?
- Industry Adoption: Are major companies utilizing it?
- System Integration: How deeply embedded is it in existing systems?
- Long-Term Outlook: What is the projected relevance in 5-10 years?
- Project Versatility: What types of projects is it suited for?
To evaluate future-proofing, we combined several data points:
#1) Industry Insight: Leveraging our team’s industry knowledge and continuous monitoring of tech trends (informed by our regular newsletters since 2018).
#2) TIOBE Index: Analyzing the TIOBE index, a metric tracking language popularity based on usage, search volume, and other factors over time.
#3) GitHut 2.0 Pull Requests: Examining pull request activity on GitHut 2.0 for Q1 2024 to gauge language activity and trends.
Combining these data points allowed us to assess the future-proof potential of each language, categorizing them from “Highest Confidence” to “Lowest Confidence.”
Most Future-Proof Programming Languages in 2024
Python emerges as the leader in future-proofing, largely due to its dominance in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, both rapidly expanding fields.
Following Python, JavaScript (+ TypeScript) and Java are ranked with “High Future Confidence.”
- JavaScript’s central role in web development and TypeScript’s enhancement of JavaScript solidify their future.
- Java’s prevalence in enterprise software, Android development, and backend systems ensures its continued relevance.
However, remember that all languages on this list offer value. Even older languages embedded in large systems are unlikely to become obsolete quickly.
Example: PHP remains on the list due to its extensive use in WordPress, powering over 40% of websites. This translates to over 18,000 PHP jobs in the US with a good average salary. While not cutting-edge, PHP remains a stable and employable skill.
TL;DR: Python – The Top Choice for 2024
Considering all five criteria, Python consistently ranks highly, making it an excellent general-purpose choice. It excels in job demand, salary, future prospects, and developer satisfaction.
The overall language ranking, based on these criteria, is as follows:
Best Programming Languages for Specific Career Paths
While Python is a strong all-around recommendation, the “best” language is often career-dependent. If you have a specific career path in mind, a different language might be more strategic, even if it’s ranked lower overall.
For example, if web development is your goal, you might not heavily use Python directly but will definitely need JavaScript, which is ranked lower in the overall list.
Let’s explore language recommendations for specific career paths:
Web Development, Web Design, and Web Applications
For building websites and web applications and pursuing a web development career, JavaScript remains the top recommendation, despite being 6th on the overall list. Expanding into TypeScript or JavaScript frameworks further enhances your web development skillset.
Game Development
The two dominant game development platforms, Unity and Unreal Engine, utilize different core languages:
- Unity: Powered by C#
- Unreal Engine: Uses C++
Researching game development companies and their platform preferences will guide your decision on whether to learn C# or C++.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Python is the undisputed leader for Machine Learning and AI. Its rich ecosystem of libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn makes it accessible for beginners and powerful for advanced applications like predictive analytics and deep learning.
Data Science
Python and R are dominant in data science for data manipulation, visualization, and statistical modeling.
- Python excels in automation and machine learning within data science.
- R is favored for statistical analysis and data visualization.
Both languages, combined with SQL for database querying, create a versatile toolkit for data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers.
Robotics
C++ and Python are equally important in robotics.
- C++ is essential for real-time performance and low-level hardware control.
- Python facilitates rapid prototyping and AI integration in robotics.
Familiarity with ROS (Robot Operating System), which supports both languages, is highly beneficial.
Blockchain
Solidity is crucial for smart contract development on platforms like Ethereum. For blockchain infrastructure, Rust and Go are excellent choices for building secure and high-performance systems. Java is also used in enterprise blockchain solutions requiring scalability.
Finance
Python leads in the fintech sector due to its ability to handle complex calculations, data analysis, and API integrations. Libraries like NumPy and Pandas are ideal for financial modeling, while frameworks like Django simplify financial application development. C++ is also relevant for high-frequency trading systems.
Cybersecurity
Python and C are fundamental in cybersecurity.
- Python is used for scripting, automation, and data analysis in penetration testing.
- C helps in understanding system vulnerabilities and securing software at the operating system level.
Assembly language is a valuable asset for advanced cybersecurity professionals involved in reverse engineering.
IoT Development
C and Python are essential for IoT developers.
- C is used for firmware and low-level programming on IoT devices.
- Python is used for data handling and building integrations within IoT systems.
JavaScript with Node.js is gaining traction for cloud-connected IoT applications as the field expands.
Cloud Computing
Go and Python are prominent in cloud computing.
- Go’s speed and concurrency capabilities are well-suited for scalable cloud applications.
- Python is widely used in DevOps and automation within cloud environments.
Tools like Terraform and Kubernetes are essential complements to cloud computing language skills.
DevOps
Key languages for DevOps include:
- Python: For CI/CD scripting, API automation, and testing.
- Bash: For shell scripting on Unix/Linux servers.
- Go: For lightweight internal tools and Kubernetes interaction.
These languages enable workflow automation, CI/CD pipeline management, and system configuration control, essential for DevOps roles.
Business Analytics
Python, SQL, and Excel VBA are core tools for business analytics.
- Python handles large datasets and machine learning in business contexts.
- SQL is vital for querying databases and analyzing structured data.
- VBA automates repetitive tasks within Excel.
Combining these skills provides a comprehensive business analytics toolkit.
Programming in the Age of AI Code Generation
AI’s ability to assist with code generation raises questions about the necessity of learning to code. However, AI is a tool, not a replacement. Developers who can effectively leverage AI alongside strong coding fundamentals will be highly sought after.
AI tools are not yet capable of fully autonomous coding. Relying solely on AI-generated code without core programming knowledge can lead to errors and inefficiencies. Learning to code first, and then using AI as an assistant, enhances productivity and code quality. This is why a renewed focus on fundamental programming skills like data structures, algorithms, and system design is emerging.
TL;DR: AI enhances programming, but foundational coding skills remain essential. Learn a language first to effectively utilize AI tools.
Start Your Programming Journey Today!
Hopefully, this guide has clarified your path to choosing the best programming language to learn in 2024. The optimal choice depends on your individual goals, but Python stands out as a versatile and highly recommended starting point.
Explore career paths for further guidance on learning sequences and resources to accelerate your career progression. If you’re still unsure about the best career fit, consider taking a career path quiz.
Ultimately, any language on this list will serve you well. The most important step is to choose one and begin learning.
P.S. Comprehensive Learning Resources
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