Being a Python Developer: What You Can Do, Earn, and More

Python is a programming language used for a variety of programming tasks, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, and data visualisation. Other uses include programming applications, web development, game development, quantitative and qualitative analysis, creating new programming languages, and developing graphic design applications. 

The increasing complexity of web applications and websites and the growing reliance on machine learning and AI contribute to the steady demand for Python developers. 

Python is very popular

The PYPL (PopularitY of Programming Language Index) shows that Python is the most-searched programming language among people searching for tutorials on Google [1].  Additionally, Stack Overflow's 2021 Developer Survey revealed that Python is the third most popular programming language, with respondents saying that they use Python 48.24 percent of the time in their development work [2]. Survey results also showed that Python is the most-wanted programming language, with 19.04 percent of developers who aren't using it already saying they are interested in learning Python [3].

What is a Python developer? 

Python developers design, code, and deploy development projects in Python. They also work on debugging those same projects to ensure they function as intended.

As a Python developer, you'll work closely with other teams, including data collection and analytics, to help answer questions and provide insight. Some projects you could work on span everything from application development to machine learning and AI.

Becoming proficient in Python and its uses opens the door to job possibilities in various industries. Ultimately, your role and responsibilities will likely vary depending upon the industry and organisation you work within.

Advantages of Python 

ComputerWeekly.com calls Python the most versatile language for coding and the second-best programming language for everything. There are other solutions to problems, but "Python will always get the job done [4]."

As a Python developer, you can use your skills to tackle multiple challenges. Additional advantages of Python include the following:   

Python is one of the easiest languages to learn.

Python is among the easiest programming languages to learn because it prioritises readability and relies on a syntax similar to the commands of the English language. Compared to other languages like Java and C or C++, you also need fewer lines of code to perform tasks.

It's an open-source language.

You don’t have to pay to use Python. It is an open-source programming language, so you can download the source code for free, make any changes, and distribute your version.

This is helpful if you need to modify a specific portion of the language and use it for development. Additionally, the Python development community is very supportive, with many developers, scientists, and designers connecting and assisting when needed.

Python has extensive support libraries.

The Standard Library offers solutions to many challenges you may face as a Python developer.

For example, if you need to perform numerical calculations, you can use NumPy, a resource collection. Or, if you’re working on data analytics, there’s the Pandas library. However, if you can't find what you need there, additional extensive Python libraries can help. 

Python is portable and interactive.

Some programming languages, such as C and C++, require you to change your code if running it on a different platform, but this isn’t the case with Python.

You don't have to change anything about your code to run this interactive language on multiple systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Being interactive is particularly helpful when you're engaged in debugging, as you can see line-by-line results and quickly pinpoint errors. 

Python can boost your productivity.

Python is an object-oriented programming language. This feature has made it a favourite among many users because it allows them to create applications using pre-existing objects, which improves productivity and speeds up prototyping.

Python's design gives you improved process control, stellar integration capabilities, and a unit-testing framework that makes it a highly efficient language.

Disadvantages of Python

There are many benefits to using Python, but even the most in-demand programming language isn’t without its drawbacks.

Despite its high efficiency, for example, one of Python's biggest disadvantages is that it can have considerably slower runtimes than compiled programming languages like C and C++, which can become an issue for a large project with many lines of code. 

Python is an interpreted programming language that is dynamically typed, meaning it is checked during execution. The interpreter slows things down as it executes the code written line-by-line. However, many coders find that the speed at which they can write code balances the slowdown during execution.

Three additional disadvantages include the following:

• High memory use: Python uses a lot of memory because of the flexibility of the data types and automatic garbage collection that occurs when objects go out of scope. 

• Unorthodox choice for developing mobile apps: Because of memory inefficiency and slower processing power, Python is rarely the first choice language for mobile computing and mobile app development. You can still do it, but you’ll have an easier time using a framework like Kivy.

• Database limitations: While Python is highly demanded for large-scale web development, it isn't as popular in enterprise development, mainly because database access is limited and underdeveloped compared to other technologies like ODBC. 

Experience Python in action

Python's versatility, ease of use, and availability make it an attractive programming solution for many of today's most used programs across the internet. You don't have to go far to see Python in action, as you can see from the websites below that are among Python users.

Google

Developers use Python for everything from system building to system administration, and Google has always considered it among its most vital languages. Python's creator, Guido Van Rossum, joined the Google team in 2005 and worked there until 2012. The company's motto, 'Python where we can, C++ where we must,' describes how much it relies on this versatile programming language. Core search algorithms, APIs, and Google App Engine are just a few ways Google uses Python. 

YouTube

There are more than two billion active YouTube users every month. Users watch one billion hours of video every day, on average, and generate revenue of more than USD $29.24 billion per year, according to OmniCore [5]. Coders and developers use Python for various reasons, including video viewing, controlling website templates, accessing canonical data, and more. Python's speed enables developers to create features quickly. Every time you watch a video on YouTube, you execute Python code. 

Facebook

According to the Lead, while Python isn’t Facebook’s main language, it makes up approximately 21 percent of the infrastructure’s codebase of its platform [6]. Given the size and scope of Facebook, that translates to thousands of libraries and millions of lines of code. Python handles the lifecycle of Facebook's hardware, including everything from scheduling and automating maintenance to server imaging and network switch setup.

Netflix

Although Netflix lets its developers pick the languages they code in, many engineers use Python to code and handle important applications. Python's clean, simple syntax and large developer community enable Netflix developers to innovate quickly. They've used Python for many projects, including Chronos, Chaos Gorilla, and its Regional failover system, which decreases outage response time from 45 minutes to seven minutes without increasing cost.

Python developer salary

According to Indeed, the national average for Python developers working in the United Kingdom is £67,272 per year or £39.8 per hour [7].

Where you live and who you work for significantly impact your earnings potential. Indeed also notes that Python developers who work in London make, on average, £82,311 per year [8]. In Manchester, the average salary is £60,529 per year [9], and in Cambridge, it is £60,910 per year [10]. 

Get started: Ways to begin learning Python

Python is among the easier programming languages to learn, and you have several options to get started.

On average, it takes between two and six months to learn Python's fundamentals. That could be faster if you have some previous coding experience. The time you can devote to learning and practising also impacts how much time you can expect it to take. If you want to learn a little faster, formal Python training may be beneficial. 

If you're new to Python, you might consider building a foundation with Python for Everybody from the University of Michigan. Interested in a career working with Python? Build job-ready skills and earn a credential for your CV with the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate.