{"id":373389,"date":"2025-06-08T01:17:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T01:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=373389"},"modified":"2025-06-08T01:17:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T01:17:18","slug":"is-17-too-old-to-start-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/","title":{"rendered":"Is 17 too old to start programming?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Is_17_Too_Old_to_Start_Programming\" title=\"Is 17 Too Old to Start Programming?\">Is 17 Too Old to Start Programming?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Introduction_to_Programming_at_17\" title=\"Introduction to Programming at 17\">Introduction to Programming at 17<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#FAQs_About_Starting_Programming_at_17\" title=\"FAQs About Starting Programming at 17\">FAQs About Starting Programming at 17<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#General_Questions\" title=\"General Questions\">General Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Career_and_Education\" title=\"Career and Education\">Career and Education<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Learning_and_Development\" title=\"Learning and Development\">Learning and Development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Age_and_Programming\" title=\"Age and Programming\">Age and Programming<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/#Career_Prospects\" title=\"Career Prospects\">Career Prospects<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_17_Too_Old_to_Start_Programming\"><\/span>Is 17 Too Old to Start Programming?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Is 17 too old to start programming? <strong>Absolutely not<\/strong>, as it&#8217;s never too late to start learning a <strong>programming language<\/strong>, and many successful programmers have started their journey at a later age, with <strong>dedication<\/strong> and <strong>consistent effort<\/strong> being the key to success, regardless of age. <\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_to_Programming_at_17\"><\/span>Introduction to Programming at 17<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At 17, you&#8217;re at an ideal age to start building a strong foundation in <strong>programming<\/strong>, with numerous <strong>online resources<\/strong>, <strong>coding boot camps<\/strong>, and <strong>self-guided books<\/strong> available to help you learn and grow as a programmer, and with the <strong>tech industry<\/strong> constantly evolving, there&#8217;s no better time to start than now.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_About_Starting_Programming_at_17\"><\/span>FAQs About Starting Programming at 17<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General_Questions\"><\/span>General Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>What age do most programmers start?<\/strong> The majority of <strong>software developers<\/strong> globally stated that they wrote their first line of code between the ages of 11 and 17 years, with around 14 percent of respondents writing their first coding line between five to ten years old.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can you get a programming job at 17?<\/strong> The qualifications to get a <strong>teen programming job<\/strong> include some experience with <strong>programming<\/strong>, the ability to meet company <strong>deadlines<\/strong>, and a <strong>work permit<\/strong> if under 18 years old, with most businesses expecting you to remain in school or be working toward a relevant <strong>degree<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is 16 a good age to start coding?<\/strong> <strong>Teenage years<\/strong> are a great time to start building <strong>programming skills<\/strong>, with many <strong>online resources<\/strong> teaching <strong>coding<\/strong> for <strong>sixteen-year-olds<\/strong>, and helping <strong>11th graders<\/strong> get started with <strong>coding<\/strong> and enjoy learning.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Career_and_Education\"><\/span>Career and Education<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Should I learn programming or coding?<\/strong> <strong>Coding knowledge<\/strong> helps to work with simple <strong>projects<\/strong>, while <strong>programming knowledge<\/strong> helps to work with big <strong>projects<\/strong> and manage the <strong>projects<\/strong>, with <strong>coding<\/strong> requiring simple <strong>tools<\/strong> and simple <strong>syntax<\/strong>, and <strong>programming<\/strong> requiring a large number of <strong>tools<\/strong> and <strong>syntax<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can a self-taught programmer get a job?<\/strong> <strong>Self-taught programmers<\/strong> can find <strong>employment<\/strong> in the <strong>tech industry<\/strong> with <strong>dedication<\/strong>, a strong <strong>portfolio<\/strong>, and the ability to showcase their <strong>skills<\/strong>, embracing any <strong>setbacks<\/strong> as opportunities for <strong>growth<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is going to school for coding worth it?<\/strong> <strong>Coding bootcamp<\/strong> alumni earn ~51% higher <strong>salaries<\/strong> compared to their previous jobs, with graduates earning $80,943 at their 2nd job after <strong>bootcamp<\/strong>, and $99,229 at their 3rd job.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_and_Development\"><\/span>Learning and Development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong>How do I start coding at zero level?<\/strong> To start <strong>coding<\/strong>, figure out why you want to learn to <strong>code<\/strong>, choose which <strong>coding language<\/strong> you want to learn first, take <strong>online courses<\/strong>, watch <strong>video tutorials<\/strong>, read <strong>books<\/strong> and <strong>ebooks<\/strong>, use <strong>tools<\/strong> that make learning to <strong>code<\/strong> easier, check out how other people <strong>code<\/strong>, and complete <strong>coding projects<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How hard is it to learn coding?<\/strong> <strong>Coding<\/strong> isn&#8217;t hard to learn, but it isn&#8217;t a walk in the park either, with the key to <strong>success<\/strong> being not giving up on the early stages, and as you progress, learning to <strong>code<\/strong> becomes easier.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How long does it take to learn coding?<\/strong> The time it takes to learn <strong>coding<\/strong> depends on many factors, like how frequently you can study, but it can take as little as three to six months to start <strong>coding<\/strong>, with <strong>HTML<\/strong> being a good starting point.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Age_and_Programming\"><\/span>Age and Programming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li><strong>What is the youngest age to start programming?<\/strong> Early elementary school is the optimum time for children to begin <strong>coding<\/strong>, with strengthening <strong>cognitive skills<\/strong> through <strong>coding<\/strong> helping to plant seeds for eventual complex <strong>knowledge<\/strong>, and the optimal age for children to begin learning to <strong>code<\/strong> being around the age of 6-7.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can I learn Python at 45 and get a job?<\/strong> It&#8217;s possible to learn <strong>Python<\/strong> at 45, with many <strong>resources<\/strong> and educational materials available, and <strong>job opportunities<\/strong> for people who know <strong>Python<\/strong> increasing day by day, and used in various <strong>industries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Should I start coding at 15?<\/strong> <strong>Coding<\/strong> is an increasingly important <strong>skill<\/strong> in the modern world, used in nearly every <strong>industry<\/strong>, and as <strong>technology<\/strong> continues to develop, <strong>programmers<\/strong> will continue to be in high <strong>demand<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Career_Prospects\"><\/span>Career Prospects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li><strong>Is coding a high-income skill?<\/strong> <strong>High-income skills<\/strong> include technical abilities such as <strong>coding<\/strong> and <strong>web design<\/strong>, creative abilities such as <strong>graphic design<\/strong> and <strong>video editing<\/strong>, managerial abilities such as <strong>project management<\/strong> and <strong>financial analysis<\/strong>, and communication abilities such as <strong>public speaking<\/strong> and <strong>copywriting<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What pays more coding or programming?<\/strong> The average <strong>salary<\/strong> for a <strong>coding specialist<\/strong> is $2,891 per month, while the average <strong>salary<\/strong> for a <strong>programmer<\/strong> is $3,702 per month, with <strong>salary<\/strong> varying depending on <strong>skill set<\/strong>, <strong>education level<\/strong>, and <strong>work experience<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can I be a self-taught programmer?<\/strong> Yes, becoming a <strong>software engineer<\/strong> without a <strong>degree<\/strong> is possible, with individuals achieving <strong>success<\/strong> through <strong>self-learning<\/strong>, <strong>coding boot camps<\/strong>, and personal <strong>projects<\/strong>, and a strong <strong>portfolio<\/strong> demonstrating <strong>skills<\/strong> and <strong>knowledge<\/strong> being helpful for <strong>career opportunities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is 17 Too Old to Start Programming? Is 17 too old to start programming? Absolutely not, as it&#8217;s never too late to start learning a programming language, and many successful programmers have started their journey at a later age, with dedication and consistent effort being the key to success, regardless of age. Introduction to Programming &#8230; <a title=\"Is 17 too old to start programming?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/is-17-too-old-to-start-programming\/\" aria-label=\"More on Is 17 too old to start programming?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-373389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373389\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}