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It’s a great time to be a programmer in the UK

27 points by KiwiCoder 15y ago

buf 15y ago
It's a great time to be a programmer...anywhere.
- waffle_ss 15y ago
  Except Iran.
hanula 15y ago
It's great to be a programmer
samuellittley 15y ago
ICT != Programming
- KiwiCoder 15y ago
  Yeah, the ONS should have a category for the industry of programmers. As far as I know, ICT is a superset.
  - FuzzyDunlop 15y ago
    Thus it is also a great time to be a data inputter, typist, sysadmin, support technician, office worker, etc. Since we have statistics only for the broad category that is ICT, we can't infer anything in isolation about the professions that fall under its umbrella. Of course, that there's not enough supply of labour to meet demand is only a good thing for those of us already in the industry, and those looking for a way in.
- UK-Al05 15y ago
  However in these types of stats programming tends to go under ICT.
hugorodgerbrown 15y ago
If you are a programmer in the UK, you already know it's a good time...
- SideburnsOfDoom 15y ago
  Given that I have a well-paying job, (and have had other offers) when people that I know who work in other fields have been out of work for a while; yes. Yes, I know it. I am fortunate.
- lucian1900 15y ago
  Not the case for everyone. I'm quite poorly paid (almost NMW).
kaerast 15y ago
It's a great time to be a good programmer in a language that is popular. Otherwise things aren't so great.
- KiwiCoder 15y ago
  Which languages are you talking about?
- squidsoup 15y ago
  If the UK is anything like NZ, it is a great time to be a .Net developer. Unfortunately if you like working in a unix environment with languages more prevalent in OSS, finding work can be difficult.
- ido 15y ago
  If you are a good programmer you should be able to learn at least one such language (there are several that are popular enough to offer plenty of jobs).
sireat 15y ago
Just curious, what is considered a well paying programming job in UK? Last time I looked it seemed programmers who were being paid reasonably well were the ones working in City ( I am thinking 60k plus). Otherwise, other programming jobs were offering 25k-40k at most, which seemed rather low considering cost of living.
- KiwiCoder 15y ago
  Deceptively hard to answer. * Cost of living varies a lot. * London is kind of a country in its own right. * Commuting in the UK can be £5k or more. If you compare to the national average salary for full-time employees (which is around £32k) then most programmers are well paid. See also http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm "What is a big salary"
- ig1 15y ago
  For a startup in London an intermediate level developer can make around £30-£50k, more senior developers can earn more. In sectors like consultancy and finance salaries can go into the £70-£100k range. And there a bunch of sectors like gaming which fall in between the two ranges.

27 points by KiwiCoder 15y ago

buf 15y ago

It's a great time to be a programmer...anywhere.

waffle_ss 15y ago
Except Iran.

hanula 15y ago

It's great to be a programmer

samuellittley 15y ago

ICT != Programming

KiwiCoder 15y ago
Yeah, the ONS should have a category for the industry of programmers. As far as I know, ICT is a superset.
- FuzzyDunlop 15y ago
  Thus it is also a great time to be a data inputter, typist, sysadmin, support technician, office worker, etc. Since we have statistics only for the broad category that is ICT, we can't infer anything in isolation about the professions that fall under its umbrella. Of course, that there's not enough supply of labour to meet demand is only a good thing for those of us already in the industry, and those looking for a way in.
UK-Al05 15y ago
However in these types of stats programming tends to go under ICT.

hugorodgerbrown 15y ago

If you are a programmer in the UK, you already know it's a good time...

SideburnsOfDoom 15y ago
Given that I have a well-paying job, (and have had other offers) when people that I know who work in other fields have been out of work for a while; yes. Yes, I know it. I am fortunate.
lucian1900 15y ago
Not the case for everyone. I'm quite poorly paid (almost NMW).

kaerast 15y ago

It's a great time to be a good programmer in a language that is popular. Otherwise things aren't so great.

KiwiCoder 15y ago
Which languages are you talking about?
squidsoup 15y ago
If the UK is anything like NZ, it is a great time to be a .Net developer. Unfortunately if you like working in a unix environment with languages more prevalent in OSS, finding work can be difficult.
ido 15y ago
If you are a good programmer you should be able to learn at least one such language (there are several that are popular enough to offer plenty of jobs).

sireat 15y ago

Just curious, what is considered a well paying programming job in UK? Last time I looked it seemed programmers who were being paid reasonably well were the ones working in City ( I am thinking 60k plus). Otherwise, other programming jobs were offering 25k-40k at most, which seemed rather low considering cost of living.

KiwiCoder 15y ago
Deceptively hard to answer. * Cost of living varies a lot. * London is kind of a country in its own right. * Commuting in the UK can be £5k or more. If you compare to the national average salary for full-time employees (which is around £32k) then most programmers are well paid. See also http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm "What is a big salary"
ig1 15y ago
For a startup in London an intermediate level developer can make around £30-£50k, more senior developers can earn more. In sectors like consultancy and finance salaries can go into the £70-£100k range. And there a bunch of sectors like gaming which fall in between the two ranges.