In this article, we will look at the 12 highest-paying programming languages in India. We have also discussed India’s position in the global IT industry. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Highest Paying Programming Languages in India.
India's technology industry is often referred to as its own Silicon Valley as it is a major player in the global IT sector. According to the 2020 Global Innovation Index, India ranked as the world's top exporter of information technology (IT). The IT industry has become a crucial part of India's economy, contributing 7.7% to its total GDP in 2017, a major increase from 1.2% in 1998.
The industry's revenues in 2019 reached $180 billion, with a workforce of 4.36 million employees, two-thirds of whom are involved in IT services exports to the United States.
As India thrives in the tech industry, the demand for programmers spans various domains, like software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. The top Indian IT companies, such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro, rely heavily on a talented pool of programmers to deliver innovative solutions to clients worldwide.
Speaking of programming languages, Python is the highest-paying programming language in freelancing. Its versatility, readability, and widespread use contribute to its demand, making Python developers highly sought after in the gig economy. Python is also one of Easiest Programming Languages for Kids. The programming language is also one of the most widely learned in India.
Owing to the popularity of software development and related jobs in the country, it is worth noting that software architecture is one of the top coding jobs that have the highest salaries in India whereas machine-learning engineering is the highest paying job in India, overall.
Before we get into the list of the highest paying programming languages in India, let’s explore the tech industry and giants in India to better understand the tech market and most in-demand skills.
Four major tech hubs in India are Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram's Technopark. Bangalore hosts IT giants like Infosys and Wipro, along with research and development centers for global companies such as Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL). Hyderabad, often called Cyberabad, is a major global IT and biotechnology hub, attracting multinational companies like Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN). Chennai is India's largest exporter of IT and business process outsourcing services, hosting major tech parks and offices of companies like Samsung and Nokia Siemens. Thiruvananthapuram's Technopark in Kerala is the largest IT park in India, accommodating several tech activities, including smart card technology and animation.
The top Indian IT companies by revenue, such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro, play a pivotal role in India's IT landscape. TCS, with $23 billion in revenue in 2020, is the world's largest IT services provider. Infosys, founded in 1981, operates globally, providing software development, consulting, and information technology services. Wipro, initially a manufacturer of vegetable oils, shifted its focus to IT during the 1970s and 1980s, becoming the third-largest IT company in India.
The Indian startup ecosystem is also thriving, with companies like One97 Communications (operating Paytm), Ola Cabs, OYO, ReNew Power, and Snapdeal securing substantial venture capital funding. India was also recognized by the 2020 Global Innovation Index as the third-best startup economy globally, showcasing the country's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and potential for technological innovation. However, infrastructure funding disputes, rapid urbanization impacting cities like Bangalore, and efforts to provide internet access to underserved areas highlight the complexities within India's evolving technology landscape.
How Important is India to Leading Tech Companies?
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is set to manufacture smartphones in India, with the Pixel 8 slated for release next year. The tech giant plans to collaborate with international and domestic manufacturers for local smartphone production, emphasizing India as a priority market for Pixel smartphones. In addition to the smartphone initiative, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) revealed plans to enable users to book metro tickets through the Google Maps app and announced a partnership with Indian non-bank lender DMI Finance to provide small loans for merchants via Google Pay.
On the other hand, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has set its eyes on India to make it a key player for the company’s global merchandise exports by targeting $20 billion by 2025. Launched in 2015, Amazon Global Trade, the B2C export platform, has swiftly evolved into a cornerstone for Amazon's international commerce. The platform, now having over 100,000 small manufacturers, serves as a testament to India's importance as a hub for the e-commerce giant. The demand for "Made in India" products, ranging from organic health supplements to homeware and robotic games, is on the rise.
Despite a broader economic downturn, India's importance for Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) is evident in the platform's major growth, especially in categories like beauty, apparel, home, kitchen, furniture, and toys. The company's strategic initiative includes not just expanding its footprint in the country but also empowering local exporters. Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s decision to slash subscription fees for its global selling program, from $120 to a mere $1 for the initial three months, is a testament to its commitment to encourage and facilitate Indian exporters. With festivals and major global sales events driving sales, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) recognizes India's role as a crucial contributor to its global merchandise exports.
To list and rank the highest-paying programming languages in India, we relied on the base average salaries of developers of the respective languages in India. We acquired data for average salaries primarily from Glassdoor.com but also cross-checked from sources like Indeed.com for further accuracy and precision. The list is in ascending order.
Here is a list of the 12 Highest-Paying Programming Languages in India
12. Java
Average Annual Salary: $7,710
Java is a versatile, class-based, object-oriented programming language known for its platform independence. With a "write once, run anywhere" philosophy, compiled Java code can execute on diverse platforms with a Java Virtual Machine. Java shares several syntax similarities with C and C++. It is one of the highest-paid programming languages in India.
11. Javascript
Average Annual Salary: $9,920
JavaScript, often abbreviated as JS, is an important programming language in web development, constituting a core technology alongside HTML and CSS. Utilized by 98.7% of websites for client-side scripting, it operates on all major browsers through dedicated JavaScript engines. Following the ECMAScript standard, it features dynamic typing and prototype-based object-orientation, and supports various programming styles. Javascript is also one of the highest-paying programming languages in the US.
10. Objective C
Average Annual Salary: $10,110
Objective-C, a high-level, object-oriented programming language, integrates Smalltalk-style messaging with the C programming language. Originating in the early 1980s, it became the standard for Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s macOS and iOS application development until Swift's introduction in 2014. Associated with NeXTSTEP and subsequently adopted by Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) due to its macOS lineage, Objective-C uses .m and .h file extensions for source code files. Programs developed for non-Apple systems or independent of Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s APIs can be compiled for various platforms using GNU GCC or LLVM/Clang. Objective-C++ files are identified with a .mm extension, offering versatility in cross-platform development. It is one of the most popular programming languages in India.
9. Typescript
Average Annual Salary: $10,760
TypeScript, developed by Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), is a free and open-source programming language that enhances JavaScript with optional static typing. Suited for large applications, TypeScript transpiles to JavaScript, maintaining compatibility. It accommodates client-side and server-side JavaScript development, with transpilation options including the default TypeScript Compiler and Babel. TypeScript facilitates the use of definition files for existing JavaScript libraries, akin to C++ header files, enabling static typing integration. Notably, the TypeScript compiler itself is written in TypeScript and compiled to JavaScript. The language operates under the Apache License 2.0.
8. C++
Average Annual Salary: $10,990
C++, created as an extension of C, is a high-level, general-purpose programming language. Evolving over the years, it now includes object-oriented, generic, and functional features, along with low-level memory manipulation capabilities. Widely compiled, it is supported by several big names like Microsoft Corp, Intel, and LLVM. Initially designed for systems programming, embedded systems, and large applications, C++ finds applications in a numbers of fields, like desktop applications, video games, servers, and performance-critical systems. ISO standardizes C++, with the latest version, C++20, published in December 2020, and subsequent releases following a three-year schedule, with C++23 as the next planned standard. It is one of the highest-paying programming languages in India for freshers.
7. Perl
Average Annual Salary: $13,462
Perl is a dynamic and interpreted programming language created in 1987 to simplify report processing on Unix systems. Despite a later development version named Raku, Perl 5 remains actively used for system administration, network programming, finance, and bioinformatics, earning the moniker "the Swiss Army chainsaw of scripting languages." It is one of the top10 highest-paid programming languages in India.
6. Python
Average Annual Salary: $13,567
Python is taking the developer world by storm. In India, it is one of the highest paying coding languages, owing to its importance in data science and machine learning. However, python is also used for other purposes like website design through frameworks like Flask and Django, and its also the go-to language for web scraping and high-level calculations.
