When you're still at school, working out what you want to do with the rest of your life, people might say to you, "Go into information technology. The digital world is where all the jobs are." In fact, people have been saying this for a couple of decades now, and it's still true.
Technology changes quicker than you can blink — or so it seems. People who work in the technology industry certainly have to keep up with all the advances, or they'll soon be left in the dark with the rest of us.
If you're up for the challenge, if you have a mind that favours the code of technology and if you enjoy finding solutions to technology-based problems — learning a programming language like Python could be perfect for you.
What is Python?
Python is a deceptively simple yet powerful programming language that was developed by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, in 1989. The flexibility of this language and its wide range of applications are what has kept Python ahead of other programming languages, like Java, JavaScript, C# and Swift. It is also what continues to make Python the world's most popular programming language, over thirty years after its initial development.
There are three main applications Python tends to be used for:
- web and software development (based on a web framework, such as Django or Flask)
- data science (machine learning, data analysis, data visualisation)
- scripting (writing short programs to automate processes).
You may also recognise a company or two in this list of high-profile users of Python:
- Google (Python is Google's main server language)
- Instagram (uses the Django web framework and is written entirely in Python)
- Spotify (uses the language for data analysis and backend services)
- YouTube
- Netflix.
Finally, many people just love Python for the fun projects you can do with it, including the development of a range of games.
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Let's have a closer look at the careers you can forge once you've got a handle on Python, starting with the most obvious — Python developer.
What Does a Python Developer Do?
If you have spent several years studying Python, developing experience and your knowledge of all the functions and applications, you might want to consider a career as a Python Developer.
Before you rush in, though, what exactly does this job involve?
Being a developer is one of the most challenging Python jobs as it requires high-level knowledge of Python language and all applications of Python. In a nutshell, Python Developers are responsible for writing the code, and then designing, deploying and debugging each development project, most commonly at the backend. Python Developers are also often required to support their company or other organisations with their technological framework.
Some of the jobs Python Developers might be required to do on any typical day are:
- create applications
- design a framework for a code
- build the necessary tools to complete a project
- create websites and web solutions
- design integrable systems and software
- publish new services.
The responsibilities of the job will, of course, vary according to your company. However, there are a number of basic skills all Python Developers need to have (other than the obvious — Python skills).
Python libraries
Python libraries are a collection of related modules that contain bundles of code. This code can be used in different programs repeatedly. One of the benefits of Python over other programming languages like Java and JavaScript is the huge number of libraries that are available. These libraries include Pandas, NumPy and pygame and it is essential Developers are aware of these libraries and know how to access them and when.
Python frameworks
Frameworks, such as Django, Flask and Grok (among many others) are extremely helpful for certain jobs a developer must do. It's important that developers know which frameworks are beneficial for which development tasks.
ORM libraries
ORM stands for Object Relational Mapper. These libraries, which include SQLAlchemy and Django ORM, are used by developers to write Python code as they create and alter data.
Python tools
There are a number of tools available to Python Developers — data science tools, automation testing tools, web scraping tools — and part of the developer's job is to know which tools will best support different jobs and applications.
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Communication skills
Python Developers do not work in isolation simply typing lines of code. Every project involves a team of programmers who are required to work together to complete the project, create applications or support a startup. For this reason, communication between team members is key. Developers without good communication skills don't last long in their jobs, no matter how good their other skills are.
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Python Developer Salary and Other Benefits
In Australia, the average Python Developer salary sits in the vicinity of $140,000 per annum. This salary obviously varies according to the company developers work for and their skillset.
Some developers have highly sought after niche skills and can command a much higher salary. Developers who work in niche areas and have extensive experience can earn upwards of $180,000 per annum.
It also depends on where in Australia a developer lives and works as the Python Developer's salary can vary quite a lot:
- Canberra CBD — avg. $207,000 per annum
- Sydney CBD — avg. $150,000 per annum
- Melbourne CBD — avg. $126,000 per annum.
These salary variations are mostly to do with supply and demand; there is currently a very high demand for developers in Canberra.
One of the greatest benefits of working as a Python Developer is that the sky is the limit when it comes to expanding your skillset. People who work in this industry are constantly attending courses, both in-person and via remote methods online. It is, as previously mentioned, essential to keep up with current trends, however, the more services you can provide, the more valuable you become and the higher the salary you can command.
What Other Jobs Can I Get After Learning Python?
Being a dedicated Python Developer can be challenging as developers are required to understand the language at an extremely high level and have the ability to accomplish a wide range of tasks using Python. However, if you're keen to use your Python skills and experience but don't want to be a developer, you can do a number of other 'Python jobs'.
Software Engineer
As a software engineer, you will write, test and deploy code. A software engineer is responsible for ensuring programs are updated, with bugs fixed. They also integrate applications to create new software programs, working with anything from smart home devices to virtual assistants.
Web Developer
While being a Python Developer can entail web development responsibilities, you can also choose to focus your career solely on web development. Often, people working in the web development area specialise in either front-end (client-based) or backend (server-based) development. In some cases, web developers work in both areas and are highly sought after. A Web Developer works with other programmers to create the sites and is responsible for keeping these sites current with regular updates.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts must be knowledgeable about Python libraries as they use these extensively in their data analysis and visualisation. Their main role is to collect, organise and interpret data to create insights that are actionable for the company. Communication of these insights is key.
Data Scientist
A background in computer science, mathematics, statistics and modelling, combined with an understanding of their company and industry is essential for a Data Scientist. Data Scientists are responsible for analysing data and developing statistical models to unlock opportunities and design strategies for their company.
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine learning is a subset of data science and artificial intelligence. A Machine Learning Engineer is responsible for analysing statistical data and implementing machine learning algorithms for use in artificial intelligence. They also work with theoretical data science models, scaling them to production-level models and ensuring these are capable of handling terabytes of real-time data.
The jobs listed above are really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Python jobs. In fact, if you search on a job database like Indeed, you will find thousands of jobs in a wide range of industries where knowing Python is a listed prerequisite. The trick is to find the role that best suits you, your skills and your interests.
Python is definitely a programming language worth learning — it's easy to understand, has a broad range of functions and can open up amazing career opportunities.
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