Top 10 best programming languages in 2025

Programming languages serve as the foundation of software development, acting as the medium through which developers communicate with computers to solve problems. Whether for web development, artificial intelligence, blockchain, or cybersecurity, choosing the right programming language is crucial.

To better understand their role, we can compare software development to a university. The different fields within software—such as cloud computing, web development, and blockchain technology—represent the various faculties or departments. Programming languages, in turn, are the courses offered in these faculties. Just as students must take specific courses to specialize in a field, developers must learn particular languages to thrive in their chosen domains.

In 2025, the demand for programming languages is influenced by technological advancements, industry needs, and ease of learning. Below, we explore the top 10 best programming languages this year, along with their use cases and reasons for their popularity.

This article highlights:

1. the basic concept of software programming or programming languages
2. The top 10 best programming languages today
3. The uses and applications of the top 10 best programming languages
4. The salaries scale and job opportunities associated with these languages

What is a Programming Language?

A programming language is a computer program used to solve problems. They are commands, algorithms, or instructions given to a computer to carry out certain computer operations.

Going into the field of software programming is an outstanding stride. Software development is very vast, and there are different programming languages associated with each niche in software programming.

To better understand the concept of programming languages, we liken Software development to a university, where the various fields in Software development, such as cloud computing, web development, and blockchain technologies, are the faculties or departments of the university.

And in turn, the Programming languages are the courses in these various departments. To survive in a particular software development field, one could be required to learn two or more programming languages.

A good example is Android developers. While Java or Kotlin is the major programming language to learn to develop android applications, android developers are expected to learn the syntax of XML.

10 Best programming languages to learn

Not all software programming jobs are the same; unique requirements and skills are needed based on their niche.

While it is okay to learn and master just one programming language, it is terrific to learn multiple programming languages to widen your area of expertise and make you more useful and adaptable in your workplace.

This list of the top 10 best programming languages is compiled considering the demand level of each language, its real-world applications, salary rates, and how easy it is to learn.

1. Python

Python is one of the most commonly used programming languages. Python is an elegant and easy-to-learn higher-level programming language with a very expressive syntax.

Python has varying application levels in machine learning and artificial intelligence projects, server-side web scripting, data analysis, mobile and desktop applications, embedded programs, and many others.

Among the top tech companies using Python today include Google, Facebook, Reddit, Quora, Instagram, Spotify, etc. Python has a vast amount of ready-to-use libraries that make development in Python easy and fast.

In 2016, Instagram's engineering team wrote a piece on the efficiency of Python and how the company features the world's largest deployment of the Django framework. Django framework is a server-side scripting framework entirely written in Python and used to power server-side web applications.

Python developers are among the highest-paid professionals in the tech industry. As of 2025, the average salary for a Python Developer in the United States is approximately $110,900 per year. Entry-level positions start at $66,540 - $88,720, while experienced professionals can earn up to $133,080 - $199,620.

2. JavaScript

When it comes to interactive websites, Javascript tops the list. Virtually everyone uses Javascript to build web applications, making Javascript the programming language of the web.

Node.js, JavaScript on the server, is a server-side scripting language used to power web applications and is available in all major cloud hosting services today, including AWS, Google Cloud, Digital Ocean, and the likes.

JavaScript is also used to develop mobile and desktop applications. React Native, Cordova, and Ionic are good examples of JavaScript frameworks for developing mobile and desktop applications.

For the past 8 years, JavaScript has maintained its position as the most commonly used programming language on the web. In combination with HTML and CSS, Javascript is majorly used in front-end web developments.

According to Douglas Crockford, a top American computer programmer who developed JSLint, "JavaScript has a beautiful, elegant, highly expressive language buried under a steaming pile of good intentions and blunders."

In its recent launch of Dragon 2 Flight, Elon musk's SpaceX used a technology based on Javascript and Chromium, to the surprise of the dev community.

JavaScript developers are among the highest-paid professionals in the tech industry. As of March 2025, the average salary for a JavaScript Developer in the United States is approximately $106,732 per year, with reported salaries ranging from $90,947 to $120,435. These figures highlight the strong demand for JavaScript expertise in the current job market.

3. Go (Golang)

Go, often referred to as Golang, is a statically typed, procedural programming language developed by Google. It was created in 2007 and released as an open-source language in 2009. citeturn0search0 Go has gained significant traction in the software development community due to its simplicity, efficiency, and robust concurrency support.

Go is widely used in modern cloud infrastructure and microservices, making it the preferred language for scalable applications. Its performance and efficiency have led to increased usage in containerization (with Docker) and serverless computing.

The demand for Go developers has seen a notable increase, reflecting the language's growing adoption across various industries.

As of March 2025, the average annual salary for a Golang Developer in the United States is approximately $111,558, with experienced professionals earning up to $137,645. This upward trend in compensation underscores the value and expertise associated with Go development in the current job market.

4. Kotlin

Kotlin is a general-purpose, high-level programming language compatible with Java. Kotlin is the 5th best programming language to learn.

Kotlin is cross-platform, and it is supported and developed by JetBrains. The first version of Kotlin was released in 2016. The idea behind Kotlin was to create a programming language better than Java. Kotlin fully inter-operates with Java.

According to the android website, over 60% of professional android developers use Kotlin because of its productivity, developer satisfaction, and code safety.

Evernote, Corda, and Coursera Migrated from Java to the Kotin programming language following Google's announcement at its I/O 2017 Developer Conference.

Furthermore, Kotlin boasts of powering many production mobile applications, including Slack, Reddit, Dropbox, Adobe, etc. the demand for Kotlin developers has been increasing since its launch in 2016, and it is expected to continue.

As of March 2025, the average annual salary for a Kotlin Developer in the United States is approximately $91,387, with most professionals earning between $77,475 and $102,691.

However, other sources report higher averages; for instance, Jobicy notes an average salary of $110,900, with senior-level positions earning up to $199,620. These figures reflect the growing demand for Kotlin expertise in the tech industry.

5. C++

There are many programming languages to learn, but C++ ranks among the top 10 best programming languages to learn. C++ is popularly known as an extension of the C programming language and is among the oldest scripting languages.

C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983. It is often said that C/C++ is the bread and margarine of programming because most low-level systems are written in C/C++.

The stability and fastness associated with C++ have made it a favorite programming language for memory and performance-intensive projects.

C++ is also used in mathematical simulations, graphic compilers, and advanced computations. Major tech companies and Government bodies like LinkedIn, Microsoft, Opera, and NASA have adopted the C++programming language as part of their ecosystem.

The C++ programming language is among the top programming languages on TIOBE's Index for June 2021; it received a rating of 7.36%.

As of March 2025, the average salary for a C++ developer in the United States is approximately $129,642 per year, with reported salaries ranging from $75,000 to $149,000.

6. Swift

Swift is an open-source programming language that targets Apple's systems. Apple developed Swift in July 2010 as a replacement and an upgrade to Objective C.

Software developers who wish to specialize in developing iOS applications are encouraged to use Swift as it is the programming language for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS devices. The growing popularity of Apple's products has led to a sustained demand for skilled Swift developers.

Apple poses a competitive platform to the android community; thus, there is a high demand for talented software programmers that develop in the Swift programming language.

As of February 1, 2025, the average annual salary for a Swift Developer in the United States is $98,231, with most professionals earning between $87,211 and $110,921.

7. Rust

Rust is a modern systems programming language designed for performance, safety, and concurrency. Developed by Graydon Hoare at Mozilla Research, with contributions from the Rust community, it was first released in 2010. Rust aims to achieve the performance of languages like C and C++ while ensuring memory safety without a garbage collector, making it ideal for building reliable and efficient software.

Rust's unique features, such as ownership and borrowing, prevent common programming errors like null pointer dereferencing and data races. citeturn0search6 This focus on safety and speed has led to its adoption in various domains, including operating systems, web development, and command-line tools.

The demand for Rust developers has been on the rise, reflecting the language's growing adoption across various industries. In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a Rust Developer is approximately £44,107 per year. In Europe, Rust Developers earn an average yearly salary of $110,000, with a minimum base salary of $84,000 and a maximum of $137,000 in 2025.

8.TyperScript

TypeScript is an open-source programming language developed and maintained by Microsoft. Introduced in 2012, it serves as a statically typed superset of JavaScript, enhancing code quality and maintainability by enabling developers to catch errors at compile time.

TypeScript's integration of static typing and modern JavaScript features has led to its widespread adoption in large-scale applications where maintainability and scalability are crucial. Its compatibility with existing JavaScript codebases allows for incremental adoption, making it a preferred choice for many development teams.

The demand for TypeScript developers has been on the rise, reflecting the language's growing prominence in the software development industry. In the United States, the average salary for a TypeScript developer is approximately $122,000 per year, which is 20.3% higher than the average startup salary.

In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a JavaScript/TypeScript developer is around £55,310 per year, with entry-level positions starting at £45,000 and experienced professionals earning up to £80,000.

9. Java

Java is 9th on the list of the top 10 best programming languages to learn. Java is one of the most in-demand and commonly used programming languages.

Java was designed by James Gosling but is currently owned by the software company Oracle. Contrary to what many think, Java is not just for Android development; It is used as a server-side scripting language, powering many web applications today.

In a press release on March 16, 2021, Oracle announced that the 16th version of Java would feature several updates that will fine-tune services provided by the Java programming language.

In March 2021, Oracle announced the release of Java 16, introducing several updates to enhance the language's performance and security features. Notable companies such as Square, Deutsche Bank, and Anaplan have adopted Java for their enterprise solutions, leveraging its stability and scalability.

As of March 2025, the average salary for a Senior Java Developer in the United States is approximately $126,380 per year, according to Indeed. However, salaries can vary based on experience, location, and specific skill sets.

10. SQL

SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is a domain-specific language used to manage and manipulate relational databases. It was developed in the 1970s and has since become the standard language for interacting with relational database management systems (RDBMS). SQL enables users to perform a variety of tasks, such as querying data, creating and modifying database structures, and managing access permissions.

SQL's efficiency in handling complex queries and large datasets makes data retrieval and manipulation seamless. Its standardization by ANSI and ISO provides a universal method to interact with relational databases across platforms. Moreover, SQL supports databases ranging from small-scale applications to enterprise-level systems, ensuring smooth operations regardless of size.

The demand for SQL developers has remained steady, reflecting the language's enduring importance in data management. In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a SQL Developer is approximately £46,065 per year, with experienced professionals earning up to £62,500. In London, SQL Developers can expect higher compensation, with salaries ranging from £60,000 to £70,000.