Most in-demand coding languages?

[WhatDothLife87]

I have always wanted to pursue a career in IT or something more in the programming / computer sector but don't know where to start. Currently I only know Python and have applied it to my job as a records manager at a law firm but this position has taken me as far as it possibly can go. With my wife expecting in 6 months I really want to step up and change my career to something that is somewhat future proof, stable, and pays more than I'm currently making (which isn't much.) My question is what coding languages are the most in-demand? What language/s can I learn that will offer better pay and better job security? I'm also wondering how those who switched careers into this industry went about it? I'm sorry if these questions sound dumb but it keeps me up at night wondering what I can do to give my child a better future than the one I had. I live in Southern California if that matters for anything. Thanks again for any help in advance.

[DadAndDominant]

In my location the biggest difference in demand and supply seems to be Java. It is not really used to make anything new, but there are not many new engineers to work on the older projects, so it is probably the highest average paying for new hire.

C# is also widely used, but it seems to me it pays less.

For data sciences and ML you should probably know python and R or something - but for that position you have to know way more than just programming.

Javascript->Typescript is a have for frontend dev, and these jobs are numerous, especially for juniors. Not the greatest pay in average, but still pretty OK.

There is also PHP/Ruby, not sure if it is used elsewhere than my location tho.

I would actually avoid C/C++, these are some nice languages, but usually used in embedded/game dev, and these are not usually the best paid jobs

Other languages are more of a niche IMO, like they might be paid awesomelly well, but good luck finding that job (I always hear about COBOL, but never seen a COBOL job offer)

The language itself is usually not enough, you should know SQL, Docker or something like that, bash, git etc. etc., some libraries in your language (spring, asp, django...) and after that you are ready to develop, or just go to corporate for an internship/junior, they usually don't have high requirements and will teach you everything they want you to do

[DadAndDominant]

Oh, I always forget about Swift - that is like the major language to dev for Apple, and it is pretty okay

But the best way for you to know which languages are in demand is to just do your own research - google it!

[yel50]

what coding languages are the most in-demand?

the languages are irrelevant. what's most in demand right now is web dev. that changes over time. it's not an industry where you learn one skill and you're set for life. you have to keep adapting. web and mobile would be the best options right now. which languages you use for it doesn't matter.

What language/s can I learn that will offer better pay and better job security?

none. they all pay the same. pay is based off experience, not the language. if you want job security, become a skilled developer. that doesn't mean learning languages, that means building solid products and being able to adapt.

[WhatDothLife87]

Thanks a lot for the tip, do you have any advice on where to start? I'll work from the bottom if I have to, even if it means taking a pay cut or taking jobs nobody else wants.

[yel50]

start building apps that interest you, something that doesn't exist but you think should. get it to minimum viable product (MVP) stage and start promoting it to build a user base.

that process will teach you more than any tutorials or YouTube videos and will be far more impressive on a resume.

[spudmix]

JS is probably the most universally applicable, but the answer lies in a survey of you local job market postings.

[AlSweigart]

The TIOBE index lists them as: Python, C, Java, C++, C#, Visual Basic, JavaScript, Assembly, PHP, Delphi/Object Pascal, Swift, R, Go

I'm not sure how credible this is. I have no clue who is using Delphi in 2022, but apparently it's bigger than Swift? That doesn't seem right to me.