What should foreigners do to work as IT engineers in Japan and earn a high salary? Since the salary level differs depending on the programming language you learn, it is recommended that you choose a programming language with a high salary.

In this article, we will explain programming languages that will allow you to work in Japan and earn a high salary, as well as methods for increasing your salary in Japan. If you want to work at an IT company with a high salary, please use “G Talent”, which is a site where global companies in the IT industry gather.

Programming languages with getting high salaries in Japan

The following are the programming languages you should learn in order to earn a high salary as an IT engineer in Japan.

• Go
• TypeScript
• R language
• Python
• C
• Perl
• C#
• Scala
• JavaScript

Go

Go is a new language developed by Google and released in 2009, and it is popular because it is compatible with most operating systems, including Windows, MacOS X, Linux, Android, and iOS. It is a simple, high-performance programming language that is difficult to introduce bugs into. It is a popular language that is attracting a lot of attention, but there are still not many engineers who have mastered Go, so the annual income level is high.

Because the grammar is completely different from other languages, there is a disadvantage in that it costs money to learn. However, it is a language that is worth spending that much money on. In Japan, it is being adopted by major companies such as LINE, Mercari, and Gunosy, and it is attracting a lot of attention.

There is a shortage of Go engineers, so if you learn Go, your value in the job market will increase. Go engineers are known for their high annual income, so if you are aiming to increase your annual income as an IT engineer, you should definitely learn it.

Reference: Trending Programming Languages That Make You The Most Money In Japan／G Talent Blog

TypeScript

TypeScript is a programming language that is an extension of JavaScript and is upwardly compatible, and is a language that you should learn if you want to become a web engineer. It is safer to develop in TypeScript than in JavaScript, as it is less prone to bugs, so development efficiency will increase. By learning a programming language that is one step above the norm as a web engineer, you should be able to increase your salary.

TypeScript is an extension of JavaScript that is widely used, so it is expected that demand for it will continue to grow. There is also a movement to rewrite systems written in JavaScript in TypeScript, so you can expect to see an increase in work in the future. By learning TypeScript in addition to JavaScript, you can take your career as a web developer to the next level.

Reference: フロントエンドの開発で必要な言語一覧！JavaScriptだけでなくTypeScriptのスキルも必要？／転職GUIDE

R language

R is a programming language that is suitable for fields such as machine learning, statistical analysis, data analysis, data mining, and graphics. It is a language that has long specialized in statistical processing, but it has once again come into the spotlight in recent years due to the rapid development of the AI field.

As it can be used in the AI field, it is an indispensable language for data engineers and data analysts. If you learn R, you can work in the AI, machine learning and data analysis fields, which are currently attracting a lot of attention, so we recommend that you learn it if you want to increase your annual income.

Another language that specializes in the same AI field is Python. Python is used in the fields of deep learning and machine learning, but R was originally developed for the field of statistical analysis. R is less versatile than Python because it is used for statistical calculations and graph output. Python can also be used for web app development, but R is specialized for statistical calculations.

However, there is also the problem that the R language has a high learning cost. On the other hand, however, because it is difficult to learn, if you learn it, your value as a technician will increase. There is also a high possibility of earning a high income in a field that requires the R language, and if you learn it, your range of work will also expand.

Reference: R言語とは？できること・特徴はPythonとなにが違う？インストール方法から難易度まで解説／パーソルクロステクノロジー

Python

Python is a highly versatile language that is used in fields such as AI, big data, and IoT, and can also be used for web app development. If you learn it, you will be able to aim for a high income at companies that handle AI and machine learning.

It is predicted that AI, big data analysis, and machine learning will continue to develop in the future. Therefore, if you are aiming to increase your annual income in this field, we recommend that you learn it.

Reference: 【入門】機械学習に役立つPythonの学習方法 | できることやおすすめサイトも紹介／スキルアップAI

C

C is a very major language that has been used for a long time. It is used in a wide range of development, including core system development, software development, and embedded system development, and there are still many systems being developed in C. Therefore, there are many jobs such as changing the specifications of existing systems and maintenance, so it would be useful to learn it.

There is also C++, an object-oriented language that extends C. It is a highly versatile language that can be used for web apps, embedded systems, AI development, game development, and more.

Reference: C言語の需要と将来性は？ 特徴について徹底解説／SAMURAI ENGINEER Blog

Perl

Perl has been around for a long time, but it is still a popular language that is easy to use. It is a language that is used in the fields of web development and server management. There are still many systems that run on Perl, so if you learn it, you will be able to get work as an engineer. By learning Perl, you can expand the scope of your work and aim to increase your annual income.

C#

C# is a general-purpose language developed by Microsoft that can be used to develop web apps, smartphone apps, games, etc. It is not the latest language, but there are many existing systems that are currently running in C#, so there are many opportunities to put it to use, and if you learn it, you can also increase your annual income. Please note that it is completely different from C and C++, even though the names are similar.

Reference: C#（シーシャープ）とは？5つの特徴とできることを紹介／発注ラウンジ

Scala

Scala is a relatively new language, but it is a high-performance language that is compatible with Java. It is highly compatible with Java, and there are many systems developed in Java, so it is highly versatile.

Another big attraction is that you can use most of the Java libraries. It also has the characteristics of being fast and having good development efficiency. Because it has so many advantages like this, if you learn it, you can aim to increase your annual income.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language that can be used to create dynamic web page movements. If you want to become a web engineer, you can say that it is a language that you must learn.

As web content and web apps continue to increase, the demand for JavaScript will also increase. If you want to work as a web engineer, you should definitely learn it.

Reference: jQueryへの別れ：現代的な開発のための必須JavaScriptメソッド／Qiita

How can foreign programmers increase their salary in Japan?

In order to increase your salary as a foreign programmer in Japan, you should do the following

• Learn programming languages with high average annual incomes
• Improve your programming skills
• Don't get too fixated on one programming language
• Acquire IT skills and knowledge other than programming
• Study Japanese to a certain extent
• Research Japanese business culture
• Make the most of being a foreigner
• Change jobs to a company with good treatment

Learn programming languages with high average annual incomes

It is important to learn programming languages with high average annual incomes. In the world of programming, “popular languages do not necessarily mean high-paying languages”.

Languages that are used frequently, languages that are expected to develop in the future, languages that are rare because there are few engineers who know them - languages that meet several of these conditions are the ones that pay well. If there are already many engineers who know the language and the number of programmers who know it is at saturation point, it will be difficult to increase your salary even if you learn it. It is important to carefully check the value of the language in the job market and choose the language you should learn.

Reference: バックエンドエンジニアに必要なスキル17選！効率的な勉強方法も紹介／フリーランスのミカタ

Improve your programming skills

It is important to not only learn about languages, but also to improve your programming skills. Prepare a development environment at home and try developing and running programs.

We also recommend that you upload your smartphone app to the app store and have it used by the general public. Acquire practical skills such as being able to use frameworks, libraries and useful development tools.

Reference: プログラマーとはどんな職業？必要なプログラミングスキル・年収を解説／プロクラ

Don't get too fixated on one programming language

If you want to increase your salary as an engineer, it's not a good idea to stick too rigidly to one programming language. Each programming language has its own areas of strength. Also, languages that are popular at one time will eventually become outdated. For this reason, get into the habit of learning various languages as needed.

Reference: 2つ以上のプログラミング言語を習得することの重要性／綺麗に死ぬITエンジニア

Acquire IT skills and knowledge other than programming

IT skills and knowledge other than programming are also necessary. Absorb a wide range of knowledge as needed, such as infrastructure-related knowledge such as server and network environment construction, and knowledge related to IoT development and AI. The knowledge and skills required differ depending on the workplace, so please acquire the knowledge and skills that match the workplace in a flexible manner.

Study Japanese to a certain extent

If you can communicate smoothly with others in Japanese, it will make your work easier. If you have any problems at work, you can consult with your colleagues immediately. By improving your Japanese and actively communicating with others after you start work, you will be able to acquire practical Japanese language skills.

Reference: 「やさしい日本語」のポイントを整理。外国人と円滑なコミュニケーションをとろう／せとうち

Research Japanese business culture

We recommend that you do some research into Japanese business culture. For example, you should find out about Japanese manners such as greetings and thanking people, the hierarchical relationships between superiors and subordinates, and the Japanese work culture of doing a lot of overtime. It will be easier to deal with these things if you know about them in advance, rather than being caught out when you start work.

Reference: 日本文化の特徴とは？伝統や習慣を学びビジネススキルを高める／TOPPAN BiZ

Make the most of being a foreigner

When foreigners are looking for work in Japan, it is also important to make the most of the fact that you are a foreigner. Some Japanese companies are thinking about expanding into the global market.

Such companies are looking for people with a global perspective, so being a foreigner can be an advantage. Also, being proficient in a foreign language such as English is also a big advantage.

Reference: 英語の能力と年収は比例するってホント？／FUN☆TASTIC

Change jobs to a company with good treatment

When looking for a job, choose a company with good working conditions. It is important to check the conditions of the job offer carefully, including annual income, position, working style, and the ease of taking paid holidays.

If you are looking for a company that is recruiting foreigners, we recommend the foreigner-oriented job change agency "G Talent". They handle a large number of IT job offers for foreigners, and you can also receive job change support for foreigners.

For foreigners to find high-paying jobs in Japan, choosing the right programming language is important

In this article, we have explained which programming languages will allow you to find high-paying jobs in Japan once you have mastered them, as well as how to increase your salary in Japan. If you master the languages introduced in this article, you will have a higher chance of increasing your salary in Japan.

For those looking for jobs as foreign IT engineers, we recommend G Talent, a job-placement agency for foreign IT engineers. With recruitment support for over 200 companies and a track record of placing engineers from over 70 nationalities, you can receive the job-placement support you need as a foreign IT engineer. There are plenty of IT jobs at companies where you can work in a fair environment regardless of your nationality, so you're sure to find a job that suits you. Let's start with a free registration.