Python Is the Language Every State Wants To Learn

Learning to code has never been more accessible. From aspiring software developers to students, career changers, and Roblox creators, more Americans are choosing to build programming skills online than ever before. While Python has earned its reputation as the go-to language for beginners and professionals alike, the languages people want to learn beyond Python reveal a fascinating picture of regional interests and career ambitions.

To better understand these trends, Coddy analyzed responses from 106,326 aspiring developers across all 50 states and Washington, DC, alongside search behavior, job market projections, and employer demand. Rather than asking which programming language wins nationally, this study explores where individual states stand out and how Americans' learning goals compare with the coding languages they actively search for and employers value most.

Key Takeaways

• 51% of U.S. aspiring developers name Python as the language they most want to learn, and it ranks first in all 50 states and DC without a single exception.
• No other language comes close to Python's popularity. SQL and C++ tie for a distant second, with just 8% of aspiring developers naming each as their top pick.
• Lua, the language behind Roblox, is the fourth most-wanted language in America, ahead of Java, HTML, and JavaScript.
• South Carolina wants HTML 73% more than the rest of the country.
• Python, Java, and JavaScript are the three most searched-for coding languages in America, and Python alone draws more than the other two combined.

Python Leads Everywhere, but States Still Have Their Own Coding Priorities

• Python is the most-wanted language in every one of these 15 states. The language shown is the one each state wants disproportionately compared with the rest of the country, not its most popular choice.
• 51% of U.S. aspiring developers name Python as the language they most want to learn, and it ranks first in all 50 states and DC without a single exception.
• No other language comes close to Python's popularity. SQL and C++ tie for a distant second, with just 8% of aspiring developers naming each as their top pick.
• Lua, the language behind Roblox, is the fourth most-wanted language in America, ahead of Java, HTML, and JavaScript. The programming languages 106,326 U.S. aspiring developers most want to learn:
  1. Python: 51% (54,398)
  2. SQL: 8% (8,674)
  3. C++: 8% (8,446)
  4. Lua: 6% (6,766)
  5. Java: 5% (5,779)
  6. HTML: 5% (5,602)
  7. JavaScript: 5% (5,442)
  8. C#: 4% (4,198)
  9. C: 3% (2,924)
  10. R: 1% (862)
  11. Rust: 1% (793)
  12. Go: 1% (787)
  13. Dart: under 1% (466)
  14. Ruby: under 1% (375)
  15. PHP: under 1% (287)
  16. Swift: under 1% (266)
  17. CSS: under 1% (155)
  18. Verilog: under 1% (98)
  19. Assembly: under 1% (8)
• South Carolina wants HTML 73% more than the rest of the country.

Python Search Interest Shows Where Curiosity Meets Opportunity

• Python, Java, and JavaScript are the three most searched-for coding languages in America, and Python alone draws more than the other two combined.
• Python draws 4.6 million searches on its own, more than the eight least-searched languages on the list put together.

The Fastest-Growing Tech Careers Reward Broad Coding Skills

• These 10 roles are projected to open 230,600 positions a year between 2024 and 2034, and software developers account for about half of them.

• Software developers is the largest role by a wide margin, with 115,200 openings a year and a median wage of $133,080.

• Computer programmers is one of only two roles projected to shrink, down 6.0%, alongside database administrators at −0.7%. The job titled "programmer" is declining while nearly every role that uses programming grows.

• Projected growth in roles between 2024 and 2034 that use coding skills:

  1. Data scientists: +33.5%
  2. Information security analysts: +28.5%
  3. Software developers: +15.8%
  4. Software quality assurance analysts and testers: +10.0%
  5. Computer systems analysts: +8.7%
  6. Database architects: +8.7%
  7. Web developers: +7.5%
  8. Web and digital interface designers: +7.0%
  9. Database administrators: −0.7%
  10. Computer programmers: −6.0%

• Languages employers ask for, by share of job postings:

  • Software developers: Python (29%), Java (25%), SQL (24%), JavaScript (20%), C# (12%), C++ (10%), CSS (9%), HTML (8%), TypeScript (8%), C (6%), Go (5%)
  • Computer systems analysts: SQL (16%), Python (6%)
  • Data scientists: Python (66%), SQL (51%), R (34%), C++ (6%)
  • Information security analysts: Python (12%)
  • Software quality assurance analysts and testers: Python (26%), SQL (19%), Java (18%), JavaScript (12%), C# (7%), C++ (6%)
  • Web and digital interface designers: CSS (20%), JavaScript (19%), HTML (17%), TypeScript (5%)
  • Computer programmers: SQL (25%), Python (13%), JavaScript (12%), C# (12%), Java (10%), R (9%), HTML (8%), CSS (6%), C++ (6%)
  • Web developers: JavaScript (47%), CSS (33%), HTML (26%), Java (23%), TypeScript (22%), Python (21%), SQL (21%), PHP (10%), C# (9%), Go (7%)
  • Database architects: SQL (29%), Python (21%), Java (5%)
  • Database administrators: SQL (62%), Python (42%), Java (12%), Scala (9%)

America's Coding Future Starts With Curiosity

Python may be the clear favorite across the country, but the data shows there's no single path to becoming a developer. While more than half of aspiring programmers chose Python as their first language, state-level differences reveal growing interest in everything from web development to game creation and data analysis. Search trends and employer demand tell a similar story, showing that today's learners are choosing skills with real-world applications and long-term career potential.

For anyone wondering how to learn coding, the takeaway is simple: start with a language that aligns with your goals, then keep building. Python offers an approachable entry point, but expanding into languages like SQL, JavaScript, HTML, or Java can unlock even more opportunities as your skills grow.

Whether you're exploring free coding classes, looking to learn Python, or taking your very first programming lesson, there's never been a better time to begin. Every expert developer started as a beginner, and the next generation of programmers is already shaping what the future of coding looks like.

Methodology

We analyzed responses from 106,326 U.S. aspiring developers who told which programming language they most wanted to learn when they signed up. Each person selected a single language. The data covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia and was collected between February and July, 2026.

To identify state-level preferences, we compared each state's share for a given language against the national share, producing an index. A state that over-indexes on a language is one where aspiring developers choose it more often than the country does overall, not one where that language is the most popular choice.

Search figures come from monthly U.S. search volume for 18 programming language keywords, broken out by state, covering July 2022 through June 2026. Volumes are provider estimates rounded to three significant figures each month. Rankings use January through June in both 2025 and 2026, 12 monthly data points in total. Five keywords were excluded because, as standalone search terms, they capture meanings unrelated to programming: Go, R, Swift, Rust, and the compound term HTML/CSS, which is already counted within the separate HTML and CSS figures.

Job figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. Openings are the average number of positions expected to open each year between 2024 and 2034, counting both new jobs and positions left by workers leaving the occupation. Median pay is the 2024 figure and is not projected forward. The 10 occupations shown are those where programming is central to the work; IT support and network roles were excluded. The Bureau does not publish employment data by programming language, so these roles represent the job market coding skills lead into, not demand for any specific language.

Language demand figures come from ONET OnLine's Employer-Based In Demand Software Skills, sourced from Lightcast job postings data for the U.S. between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Each percentage is the share of unique postings for that occupation mentioning the skill, so figures are not comparable between occupations. Non-language entries such as cloud platforms, version control and frameworks were excluded. Includes information from ONET, used under CC BY 4.0.

About Coddy Tech

Coddy is a free online platform that helps anyone learn to code through interactive, hands-on lessons. With courses covering more than 15 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, CSS, C++, Java, and more, Coddy makes it easy for beginners and experienced learners alike to build practical coding skills at their own pace.

The platform features an in-browser coding playground, an AI coding assistant, cheat sheets, coding exercises, and certifications, so learners can practice real code without installing software. Whether you're looking to learn Python, explore free coding classes, or discover how to learn coding online, Coddy provides an accessible path to building real-world programming skills.

Fair Use Statement

This content is based on proprietary research conducted by Coddy and is shared under fair use for educational and informational purposes. If you reference any part of this article, please provide proper attribution with a link back to the original study so readers can explore the complete findings and methodology.