What kind of future awaits fresh Java developers who just started learning Java in 2020 or not so long before?
This is something the majority of people beginning to learn Java or considering doing so are reasonably wondering, trying to understand if Java is still the right choice. After all, the tech market is evolving and changing at a fast pace, with trends and new technologies emerging constantly.
![Back to the Future. Is Java Still the Right Bet For New Coders in 2020? - 1]()
from the movie "Back to the Future" (1985)
So, is there still a bright future for Java developers in the tech industry and the best coding language to learn, or that ship has already sailed and Java, being a programming language that is now more than 25 years old (quite an old age for a tech industry), is just not that relevant anymore?
So Java developers are in no way limited in choosing industries, market sectors, and niches to work in. In fact, some of the currently trendiest tech niches are relying on Java to a massive extent.![Back to the Future. Is Java Still the Right Bet For New Coders in 2020? - 3]()

Spoiler alert!
Let’s get this out of the way right from the start though. Despite having somewhat controversial opinions on this matter in the developer community (with controversy mostly related to Google making Kotlin a preferred programming language for Android app developers instead of Java), we definitely think there is a bright future for Java developers, still. In fact, we tend to believe that today, in 2020, Java coders have more opportunities than ever before. And here is why.Tech industry loves Java
According to a recent State of The Developer Nation report by Slashdata, based on a survey of thousands of software developers around the globe, Java is the most stably growing programming language in the world. Currently, the total number of Java developers is slightly over 8 mln, with about 0.5 mln new coders becoming a part of the Java community each year. Java is currently the most popular programming language in mobile development (Android, primarily), as well as it is very common is backend-development, cloud-based solutions, and in a number of hot and trending tech niches like IoT and Big Data (we will talk about them in more detail later in the article). According to the TIOBE index, measuring the popularity of programming languages among developers based on a number of criteria, Java is currently the second most popular coding language in the world, just slightly behind C.Coders can’t live without Java
But for the majority of coders, it’s not ratings and popularity indexes that really matter. The real demand for Java developers, and their salaries, is what’s actually important, right? Well, according to PayScale, the average salary for a Java developer in the U.S. is $74,300 per year, with an average salary range of $50k to $105k per year. Glassdoor’s numbers are even higher at $74,100 per year as an average salary ranging from $57k to $117k per year. Not bad, right? And this is the data for regular Java developers. A Senior Java coder would reasonably expect to have an additional $25-30k to the annual wage. Java coders are making good money in Europe too. The average salary for a Java Developer in Germany is almost €49,000 a year, while Java Seniors are making more than €62,000. In the United Kingdom, according to this data, Java devs are making an average of €53-85k a year, in Spain, the average salary is €27-45k, while in the Netherlands it’s €30-64k. As for the demand for Java developers, it stays at a very high level year after year. According to a recent report by analytical company Burning Glass, Java Developer is one of the most common tech occupations in the U.S., with a total number of open job postings nearly reaching 4000 in February 2020 in the U.S. alone. With Java being one of the most requested tech skills (mentioned in more than 23,000 positions open in February). And another interesting fact. According to data from job site Indeed, Java developers are the least likely to leave their profession among all professionals in general, not just in the tech sector. Their career-switch rate is less than 8%, while for the software developer profession in general it’s 27%, and for database administrators, for example, it’s 35%. Even when offered a higher-level managerial position, the majority of Java coders just don’t want to give it up. This may be the best proof of Java programming being the right profession choice for the majority of coders.Big companies stick to Java
One of the reasons Java is so popular and the number of open jobs for Java coders staying consistently high is the fact that a number of big companies rely on this programming language for the development of the backend side of their products. For example, here is a list of major tech companies whose products are more or less entirely based on Java: Uber, Airbnb, Linkedin, eBay, Spotify, Square, Groupon, Pinterest. Google still has a high percentage of its development in Java. A number of big Indian software companies, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL Tech, Myntra, and others are big lovers of Java as well. Global tech giants, like Accenture, Intel, Symantec, Philips, Thomson, T-Mobile are heavy users of Java also.
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