Programming Careers: 11 High-Paying Coding Jobs (And Where to Start)

Key takeaways

• Programming careers can span many industries and specialties, including web development, cybersecurity, data science, IT technicians, and machine learning engineering.

• Game programming careers include roles such as software developer or software engineer, and typically involve languages like Python and C++.

• Computer programming careers typically require knowledge of languages such as Swift, C, Python, or Java.

In programming careers, you have a variety of specializations, industries, and coding languages to choose from. Compare 11 coding jobs and learn which programming languages align with the career paths you're interested in.

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11 programming careers + relevant languages to learn

The prevalence of technology means that familiarity with coding can help across many jobs and industries. The list below includes coding jobs, salaries, and programming languages to learn if you want to pursue that career. Average median salary information comes from the latest statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of July 2026.

1. Web developer

Web developers write code to create and maintain websites. Depending on the type of developer, you may specialize in front-end development (the parts of a site a user interacts with), back-end development (the behind-the-scenes part), or full-stack development (front and back end).

Median US salary: $95,380 [1]

Best coding language(s) to learn: HTML, PHP, or JavaScript for front-end; Python, Java, or Ruby for back-end

2. Software engineer/software developer

Software engineers build software applications such as computer games, web or mobile applications, and network control systems. Within this field, you might specialize in systems development, application development, or quality assurance testing.

Median US salary: $133,080 [2]

Best coding language(s) to learn: Python, Java, C++

3. IT technician

While knowing how to code is only sometimes required to get a job in IT, basic coding skills can certainly help. IT technicians write code to automate solutions to common IT problems and administrative tasks.

Median US salary: $61,550 [3]

Best coding language(s) to learn: Python

4. Data scientist

Data scientists are in demand across various industries for their skills in leveraging data to help drive business decisions. In this role, you'll use programming languages to identify patterns and trends in data, build algorithms and models, and visualize data to communicate your findings better.

Median US salary: $112,590 [4]

Best coding language(s) to learn: SQL, Python, R

5. Systems administrator

Systems administrators, sometimes called sysadmins, ensure a company's computer systems are functional and efficient. This typically involves configuring, upgrading, and troubleshooting servers and networks, and monitoring security.

Median US salary: $96,800 [5]

Best coding language(s) to learn: Python, Perl, Bash, PowerShell

6. Product manager

Product managers oversee the vision, business strategy, and development of specific products. As a product manager developing digital products, you may find that coding experience can help facilitate better team communication and help you troubleshoot technical issues as they arise.

Median US salary: $100,750 [6]

Best coding language(s) to learn: JavaScript, Python, SQL

7. Cybersecurity analyst

As a cybersecurity analyst, it's your job to protect your company's networks from unauthorized access and respond to security breaches when they do happen. A foundational understanding of programming empowers security analysts to automate some everyday security tasks.

Median US salary: $124,910 [7]

Best coding language(s) to learn: JavaScript, Python, C, C++

8. User experience (UX) designer

UX designers help ensure that digital products are usable, accessible, and enjoyable by designing with the end user in mind. While you don't have to know how to code to be a UX designer, having this skill may make you a better collaborative partner with the engineers you work with.

Median US salary: $95,380 [1]

Best coding language(s) to learn: HTML, CSS, JavaScript

9. Database engineer

Database engineers are responsible for developing, maintaining, and organizing data processing systems—called databases—ensuring accessibility and efficiency to other data professionals on their team. They also perform root cause analysis on external and internal processes and data to identify opportunities for improvement and answer questions.

Median US salary: $123,100 [8]

Best coding language(s) to learn: Python, Java, SQL

10. Cloud engineer

Cloud engineers specialize in creating and maintaining applications and databases that work in the cloud. This includes maintaining the new cloud infrastructure, ensuring data security, troubleshooting problems, and optimizing efficiencies. You can choose cloud platforms to specialize in, such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services, or you can work in multiple platforms.

Median US salary: $103,790 [9]

Best coding language(s) to learn: Ruby, Java, PHP, Python, and JavaScript

11. Machine learning engineer

As a machine learning engineer, you leverageartificial intelligence (AI) algorithmsto automate tasks and optimize efficiency, replicating human learning. Your duties and responsibilities revolve around artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, you'll use algorithms to program systems to replicate human learning so tasks can be more efficient and automated. You'll work with a team that includes data scientists, who will provide the data you'll use to design AI software, product teams, other machine learning engineers, and C-suite executives, whom you'll design for and report to.

Median US salary: $171,200 [10]

Best coding language(s) to learn: C++, Python, Java, R, Prolog, SQL, and Scala

Read more: Machine Learning Skills: Your Guide to Getting Started

5 coding languages for beginners

If you're new to coding, start with one of these programming languages:

1. Swift: This language is used to create many Apple products, including iOS, tvOS, and macOS applications. It was built to be easy and efficient, with a simple syntax that you'll be able to understand even without any coding experience.

2. JavaScript: This is another prevalent language used to create content on the internet, and front-end developers are particularly fond of it. It's easy to learn because it's so widespread with a helpful community, and it's made with non-programmers in mind, making it a good starter language.

3. C: This general-purpose coding language is a good foundation, and it's commonly used to build applications ranging from Unix to Windows to Photoshop. It has a simple 32-word syntax with easily understood data structures.

4. Python: Data scientists, AI/machine learning professionals, web developers, and embedded application developers often prefer using Python. It's got plenty of white space and numerous libraries that help make this high-level, general-purpose language easy to learn.

5. Java: This general-purpose, object-oriented language is popular with back-end developers and anyone creating security applications. It has a concise, intuitive syntax and structure that makes learning easy.

Tips for launching your programming career

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job openings in this field will grow by 15 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average for all jobs in the US [1]. As you start looking for your next coding job, keep these tips in mind:

You can gain experience through freelancing.

Many organizations need computer programmers and coders to solve their problems, and they're sometimes willing to hire someone with less experience. Freelancers often take jobs that don't require full-time employees but still need to be done. These temporary positions can be an effective way to build your portfolio and resume. Examples of businesses that might hire you as a freelance coder include entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals needing help with coding.

Build a programming portfolio.

Portfolios are everything for coders. The old adage for writers, "Show, don't tell," also applies to coders. Having a well-rounded portfolio can be a real asset when looking for coding jobs. To create one, you'll need some projects to showcase. If you went through boot camp or completed certifications, you should have some projects to use. Go through your projects and make sure your code is efficient and readable, and add comments to explain different parts of it.

Enhance your resume.

The portfolio is essential, but you still need a strong resume. We've got a few tips to help get you started with creating it:

• Include all programming languages you're proficient in and your level.

• List relevant workplace skills, including the ability to think analytically.

• Tailor your resume to the coding job you're applying for by matching your experience with the job description.

• Demonstrate the impact you made in past roles using metrics when possible.

Prepare for a technical interview.

You may be asked to complete a technical interview during the interview process for many coding jobs. These interviews often include questions about your technical skills and a live coding test. Ask the recruiter what you should expect from the interview process, and if that consists of a technical interview, spend some time going over common technical interview questions.

Explore free programming resources

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn to get timely updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications in software development. Build or refresh your coding skills with our other free resources:

• Watch on YouTube: How Long Does it Really Take to Learn Python?

• Find a course: Which Python Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Read a tutorial: How to Catch, Raise, and Print a Python Exception

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