What are the overall most valuable/profitable programming expertises?

Question

Hi,

I would like to know if it's possible to point it out, and if so If anyone would know to summarize, considering things well beyond the basics and expectable of course, what would be nowadays the overall or statistical most highly regarded pieces of technical knowledge I better have if I wanna improve my chances of getting the highest paycheck I can get being a programmer? I'm asking either about valuable advanced knowledge with extensive applicability, but also about knowledge that the Market wants, and specific technical expertises pertaining any specific niche which are likely to yield greater financial rewards.

Regards,

Answer 1

Autodidacticism

Answer 2

So to summarize: what skills get me the most money?

The answer invariably becomes: the ones you enjoy doing. Anything you enjoy doing is easier to do, easier to learn. You won't wake up every morning with a sense of dread and self-loathing for selling out. Don't bother chasing money, it'll find you if you're successful.

Or learn PHP.

Answer 3

Good communication skills are more important than any particular programming technology that you have in your toolbox. You're not going to see a lot of difference in starting salary for a Java developer over a PHP or .NET developer. The value in these skills is fleeting, as technologies turn over every few years, and different technologies are used in different areas and industries. If you have expertise in one of them, you've proven you can learn any of them.

Answer 4

Niche

Finance, by which I mean investment banking, hedge funds and the like, will always demand and pay a premium for staff having niche technical skills. But these skills tend to be very niche, and nothing irks a banker more than having to fork out lots of money for them. So if you carve yourself a nice, well-paid one, you might find it filled in by the forces of off-shoring within a few years. And then you may not have those in-vogue skills that are easily transferable to a new job. (And anyway, who wants to wear a suit everyday.)

Broad

Analytical skills fit well with the plumbing, nuts-and-bolts, etc. of programming and I've known a good number of clever people who've moved out of technology in to 'business'. Analytical skills can broaden your choice, and make you better at the job you're already doing.

Answer 5

• good elucidation (that is, good writing skills. It is important to be able to express ideas clearly and correctly.)
• problem solving
• self-determination and self-management (planning, discipline, time-management)
• logic and reasoning skills
• higher mathematics
• congeniality (do you get along well with others?)
• oh, and if you've got all that, you better be modest too

Answer 6

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/

Click on the skill and see stats about the demand/compensation. It is restricted to the UK though ;)

Answer 7

It's lucrative to have a proficiency in area of some vertical market as well as good coding skills and education. For example DNA sequencing software requires deep understating of Genetics and Biology and pays better that some average Java enterprise software shop.

Answer 8

I'd almost think you want something paradoxical as generally what would pay the most is likely going to be the rarest skills. For example, how many are experts in MUMPS? I would think there is some form of certification in SAP or Oracle that could make one charge a rather high salary but if that comes with a good deal of stress and having to rescue project after project, would you consider that worth it? Or to put that another way, does your sanity and soul have a price?