Which Industries & Professions Use Java?

Java is a programming language used to write software that runs on multiple devices, including web, mobile, and desktop applications. Some Java developers create programs as products for sale, but other programmers use Java to power business services, high-tech devices, data management, and research in multiple industries.

An important aspect of receiving professional Java training to set yourself up for a career change is learning what kinds of fields and industries that training will help you find work in. Each industry will have different requirements and expectations for prospective employees, and you should consider these expectations when you start your training. This is true for students who have an idea of what kind of work they want to do and for students who aren’t yet sure what path they want to take after learning Java skills.

What is Java?

Java is a programming language and computing platform created at Sun Microsystems in 1995, now open-source and free to use. It is a high-level and general-purpose language, designed so that a programmer can write an application once and run it on any device with Java Runtime Environment (JRE) software. This wide utility makes Java one of the most popular programming languages, used to create web, mobile, and desktop applications (including video games), web and database servers, machine learning systems, and smart appliances. Java is an object-oriented language, which allows programmers to build projects faster by using shared code libraries and reusing previous code. Java’s syntax is highly similar to C++ and C#, which makes it easier to learn, and its long history and consistent popularity have generated many resources for learning and support. Other programming languages have also been adapted to run on the Java platform, making it a useful system for coders to understand even if they do not primarily write in Java.

What Can You Do with Java Skills?

Programmers can use Java to create software for most platforms, including web, mobile, and desktop applications. Software products created with Java include video games; social media and entertainment platforms; ride-sharing, hospitality, delivery, and other service scheduling apps; mathematical software; and research software for measurement, experimental control, and data analysis. Many businesses seek Java programmers to create and maintain enterprise applications to manage their operations, including tasks like inventory management, service scheduling, and retail sales. Java also supports cloud storage and processing, enabling more distributed services. Similarly, Java programmers can write code to operate web servers, database servers, and smart devices. Java-powered devices include home security systems, smart appliances, self-driving vehicles, and robots. Java-based applications were at the forefront of early Big Data and continue to be significant among data mining, machine learning, and generative programs. In particular, Java programmers now build many chatbots, search assistants, and other expert systems. 

Common Industries That Use Java

Java’s broad utility and popularity make it a standard programming language in many industries. Coders use Java to create tools for internal operations, customer interactions, data management, and communications, as well as for software products. Companies employ Java programmers to build and maintain their online services like ecommerce, social media, and entertainment platforms. Applications created in Java support service- and data-driven industries like finance, healthcare, education, government, and hospitality. Finally, tech and information industries like software development, machine learning, and data analytics seek skilled Java programmers.

Web Development

With Java, developers can build applications for webpages and support code for web servers. Most businesses now have some web-based operations, and some businesses operate entirely through their websites, including ecommerce sales, online service scheduling, streaming media, and web applications. Technical support services are the top employers of Web Developers, followed by advertising companies, information services, and consulting services.

Web development is a strong and growing field. Over 200,000 United States workers are identified as Web Developers, with an average annual income of $85,000 across all such positions. A Web Developer may handle a variety of duties, including webpage design, front end development (the parts of a website users see and interact with), web-based application development, and back end development (the internal operations of a website, including server code). Most Web Developers need to know multiple programming languages, especially HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Studying graphic and web design also helps Web Developers with front end development duties.

Java is particularly useful for Back End Developers. Their programs translate user interactions into internal actions, manage data, track user identity and activity, maintain security, and handle communications between servers. Back End Developers must understand the coding methods and tools for database and server management. These specialized workers are usually hired by employers with large-scale and data-intensive operations, and they earn an average of $185,000 per year across the United States. In comparison, a Full Stack Developer explicitly handles all aspects of web development, both front end and back end. The average annual salary for a Full Stack Developer is around $124,000 in the United States, reflecting these jobs’ wide mix of employers and duties.

Software Development

Java-based applications work on all platforms running a Java environment, including web browsers, desktop computers, mobile devices, and other smart devices. Java programmers can write applications as products for sale, as platforms to deliver media or services, as tools to support business operations, or as code to guide devices like sensors, appliances, and robots. Java programmers may work in any industry that needs these programs, including finance, security, manufacturing, education, healthcare, government, and scientific research, as well as computing companies like video game and mobile app developers.

Software development is a large and rapidly expanding field, with almost 1,800,000 jobs in the United States and an average annual salary of around $132,000 for Software Developers. Software Developers are primarily responsible for designing and coding software, individually or in teams, but may write for any platform and may work in one or multiple programming languages. Some Software Developers or adjacent workers like UX Designers instead test software for functionality and quality.

Software engineering may describe similar duties, but more often refers specifically to the planning and management of software products. Accordingly, Software Engineers typically have additional expertise like software and network architecture, collaborative programming, multiple programming languages, and support frameworks. Jobs with this title earn around $105,000 per year, on average, in the United States.

Java Developers specifically work with Java, most often acting as part of a web or software development team or creating Java applications for clients. Java Developers may write code for devices that use Java as their operating platform, such as some appliances and self-driving vehicles. Or, Java Developers may expand the language itself with new components, frameworks, or other assistive tools. On average, Java Developers earn about $91,000 per year in the United States.

Mobile Developers create applications for handheld devices like smartphones and tablets. Most apps for Android devices are written either in Java or Kotlin, a simplified revision of Java that is easy for Java programmers to learn. Mobile Developers may write these applications as products for sale, as business service apps like ride-sharing or music streaming, or as enterprise apps for remote workers. Otherwise, their work is similar to that of other software developers. Mobile Developers can earn an average of $126,000 per year across the United States.

Machine Learning

Over 200,000 workers in the United States are employed in some kind of data science or information research position, and this figure is expected to increase by over 20% in the next ten years. Java has been part of data science, data analysis, automatic learning, and generative systems — the technologies underlying artificial intelligence — since their earliest years. Java software is still useful for researchers and creators who need to gather and process large data sets and use the patterns found there. 

Machine learning refers to programs that seek patterns in information and use those discoveries to shape their internal representations and guide their or others’ actions. Machine learning algorithms have diverse applications including voice recognition, facial identification, stock market guidance, search engines, and entertainment recommendations. New uses for machine learning appear daily, and programmers who understand and write intelligent systems work in many industries, including data science, research, finance, insurance, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, and law enforcement.

A Machine Learning Engineer creates and operates learning systems for any of these uses. They may test different algorithms, implement programs for practical use, or evaluate and update learning systems to ensure their accuracy. While useful, Java is usually only one of multiple languages a Machine Learning Engineer needs to know. They also need specialized study to understand, choose among, and code multiple learning algorithms. Machine Learning Engineers earn an average of $160,000 per year in the United States.

Learn Java Skills with Noble Desktop

NextGen Bootcamp hosts a Java Programming Summer Program, both live online and in-person in New York City, teaching professional Java coding to high school and college students. The program, which takes about two weeks on a full-time schedule, begins with an introduction to programming that grounds each concept with its corresponding uses in Java. The course continues through lessons on more complex topics like file management, object-oriented programming, and recursion. In addition to class instruction, students receive a proprietary workbook, work on applied practical projects, and can review the recordings of each class session. After completing this program, students receive a verified digital certificate.

For adult learners, Noble Desktop offers online Java Private Tutoring in three-hour increments. This instruction is 1-on-1 and personalized to each student. Though designed primarily for beginners with little or no programming experience, the tutoring program progresses quickly to higher-level programming concepts and includes a complete, original project suitable for a starting portfolio. Students can also use this course to prepare for further computer science studies.

Students who are interested in Java primarily for its use in web development might prefer Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate program. This professional training program is presented in person in New York City or live online and is available for either full-time or part-time study. Students need no prior programming experience. The course begins with an introduction to web development and its most important languages, HTML and CSS. The instructor follows this introduction with more advanced lessons on HTML and CSS, front end web development tools, and JavaScript and its commonly used web design libraries. The program concludes with additional lessons on and career guidance for the web development industry. This program includes ten 1-on-1 mentoring sessions to further assist students, proprietary workbooks, multiple portfolio projects, and a certificate of completion. Graduates may retake the course once for free for up to one year.

Python is another high-level, general-purpose programming language used for many of the same projects as Java. Students seeking training in computing fields like web development, software engineering, or data analysis should consider studying Python in addition to Java. Noble Desktop’s Python Developer Certificate program is a complete professional training course offered in-person in New York City or live online anywhere. The course requests that students have prior experience coding in HTML and CSS, such as taught in an introductory web design or web development class. This knowledge will help in the program’s second unit, which teaches web development using Python, following the introductory unit that introduces Python’s fundamental terms, syntax, and techniques. Students may choose one of three bonus units to conclude their Python studies: Data Science, Data Visualization, or Machine Learning. The complete program takes several weeks of full-time study but includes several portfolio-quality projects and four 1-on-1 mentoring sessions to help with difficult topics or career preparation. Students also receive a certificate upon completion and may retake the course once for free within one year.