Developers who master the Python 3 programming language earn the highest salary on average. It is therefore not surprising that Python continues to have a strong presence in the programming landscape.

CodeSignal has released its annual research report on trends in the software development industry. The list of the most used programming languages ​​contains few surprises. Python, and Python 3 in particular, tops the list. 78 percent of the 2,696 respondents say they use the programming language frequently. Number two, Java, is seventeen percentage points behind. Only within frontend development does Python have to acknowledge its superiority in JavaScript.

However, CodeSignal’s survey provides an interesting explanation of why Python is so remote. Knowledge and experience with Python 3 looks great on your resume and earns developers a higher salary on average. The average annual salary of a programmer specializing in Python 3 ranges from $120,000 to $140,000, while it stays under $120,000 for Java and C++.

The salaries for developers who use “new” programming languages ​​such as TypeScript & React are also higher on average than for “classic” programming languages. Anyone who wants to earn their living with coding therefore knows which programming languages ​​they need to specialize in.

Experience pays off

CodeSignal’s study also has some nice numbers on what a developer earns on average. Just over half of the participants earn more than $100,000 a year, and only four percent have less than $40,000. Back-end developers are the top earners, with an average annual salary exceeding $120,000.

The cliché that experienced employees earn more is absolutely true in software development. Experience and skills are considered much more important parameters than education when recruiting new employees, which also leads to higher wages if you increase experience and knowledge.

For each year of additional experience, developers see their wages increase by an average of $5,250 per year. By acquiring additional skills, a developer can earn an average of $3,500 in additional salary per year.