The technology world continues to dominate economically and socially, pushing millions of people searching for their first careers or changing their professional focus toward computer science, programming, and other tech-related jobs.
Despite this, employers continue to seek highly-skilled programmers and compensate them in accordance to that demand.
But with anything, experience matters, so finding contract or freelance opportunities in the tech industry will move the needle significantly when it comes time to negotiate a full-time salary.
Plenty of resources are available in this area, offering specialized sorting criteria to find the best possible match for your current professional situation.
While I covered this same topic last years, the highest-compensated programming languages has shifted in 2024, with the following languages garnering the highest salaries.
If you’re considering a career in technology, consider learning these programming languages to secure the highest possible pay:
Top 15 Highest Paying Programming Languages in 2024 [Updated List]
- Elixir – Recognized for its use in web applications and by major companies like Discord and Pinterest, with developers earning an average salary of $170,000 in the US .
- Erlang – Known for powering messaging apps like WeChat and WhatsApp, with US median pay for developers at $170,000 .
- Clojure – Offers a high average salary of $146,944 per year, indicating a smaller, specialized pool of developers .
- Scala – Used by companies such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Netflix, with developers earning an average of $150,000 yearly .
- Perl – With a strong capability in text manipulation and web development, developers can earn an average salary of $130,000 .
- Ruby – Popular for web applications, with a strong community and an average salary of $130,000 .
- Rust – Known for its safety and performance, with developers earning an average salary of $130,000 .
- Objective-C – Despite a drop in popularity, still pays its programmers an average of $135,000 yearly .
- Go (Golang) – Offers simplicity and efficiency, with an average salary of $122,000 .
- Scala (another source) – Recognized for its functionality and compatibility with Java, offering an annual salary of around $122,000 .
- Perl (another source) – Noted for its use in large-scale development projects and text manipulation, with an average annual salary of $102,000 .
- Python – Highly versatile and used by many renowned companies, with average salaries ranging from around $76,229 to $99,000 .
- Swift – Focused on iOS app development with an average salary of $125,000 .
- JavaScript – A foundational web technology with a wide salary range, peaking at $149,500 for the highest-paid developers .
- C++ – Offers robustness and is widely used in system software and video games, with an average salary of $110,110
1. Elixir & Erlang
Both Elixir and Erlang command the highest salaries in the programming world, with US median salaries of $170,000 . Their use in scalable and concurrent systems makes them highly sought after.
2. Clojure
Clojure developers enjoy an average salary of $146,944, benefiting from the language’s emphasis on functional programming and concurrency .
3. Scala
Scala developers are well-compensated, with an average annual salary of $150,000, reflecting the language’s ability to address Java’s shortcomings while providing scalability .
4. Rust
Rust, known for its safety and performance, offers developers an average salary of $130,000, making it one of the top choices for system and application development .
5. Ruby & Perl
Ruby and Perl both offer average salaries of $130,000. Ruby’s productivity and Perl’s text-processing capabilities make them valuable for web development and beyond .
6. Objective-C
Objective-C developers, crucial for iOS and macOS applications, can earn up to $135,000 annually, despite the rising popularity of Swift .
7. Go
Go developers, praised for their ability to handle scalable and efficient code, earn around $122,000 on average, marking it as a top choice for modern development needs .
8. Swift
Swift, Apple’s innovative programming language for iOS and macOS development, commands an average salary of $125,000, reflecting its importance in the app development ecosystem .
9. JavaScript
JavaScript, a staple in web development, offers a wide salary range, with top developers earning up to $149,500 annually .
10. C
C++ programmers, essential for developing operating systems, video games, and virtual reality, earn an average salary of $110,110 .
11. Python
Python’s versatility and ease of use make it a popular choice across various domains, with salaries averaging around $99,000 . Another source suggests an average annual salary of about $76,229, highlighting Python’s broad applicability
As the lack of skilled tech talent continues and companies seek to address important needs in their software development projects, candidates with knowledge of the highest-paying programming languages will have a clear edge in salary talks. Improve your skills in these languages, and your bank account will benefit for years ahead.