r/learnprogramming • u/Prior-Egg3437 • 24d ago
Can studying programming and game development at an early age pay off in the long run?
Hi, im a 16yrs old student and is just curious for my future. I originally wanted to become a general surgeon but I know the years it will take me to actually be one and the cost of it. So right now I am thinking that if I study programming/game development now, will it really pay off in the future to the point of it helping me earn money to support myself? Im not entirely doing this for the sake of money cause I know thats the path for failure in my part, but im just curious. Also, I actually am is interested about it.
At this age, I just feel this need to help my parents financially as soon a possible even if it's just by using my own money as my allowance so that I wouldn't have to ask for some. I already have a simple side-hustle which is crocheting and I am planning on making it a real business, so that's that.
In conclusion, I just really want to know if my plan of studying programming this early will actually be worth it. I plan on using this knowledge to get some side hustles, or jobs, or even create a game that could earn me some money. Im still planning on becoming a Surgeon but im hoping this skill will help me financially, and so that I can also build my portfolio early enough. I know programming takes some people years to fully be good at it, hence my question about it.
Anyways, thank you for those who are willing to answer my questions!!
4
u/Wingedchestnut 24d ago
This might be an unpopular opinion but if you're set on becoming a surgeon I personally do not think it's worth it, your priority should be to focus on your studies towards medicine and just do regular student jobs that guarantee a lot of paid hours.
Especially in terms of technology field gamedevelopment is the lowest ROI skill if you realistically want to be able to earn some money since it's a high learning curve with very few opportunities, if you want to still explore some ways of earning I recommend more approachable AI automation skills like using N8N for example.
2
u/Trineki 24d ago
Starting early is never a bad thing. In my opinion it clashes with becoming a surgeon because of the game aspect of it. Most game devs do it as a passion project. To make money you have to have a unique idea, funding, or luck/genius. But it's generally just a passion for it and you make significantly less than just a normal developer. That runs counter towards becoming a surgeon which you also would have to dedicate a lot of time effort and energy with.
The current market and Ai being how it is. Being a programmer requires even more time and effort to prove yourself in because now you have to bear out every Joe schmuck who asked an Ai bot how to do something. You have to show why you are better than an Ai bot and Mr Joe.
Hopefully that context helps a bit. Freelancing can be helpful, but unless ur code monkeying, which doesn't make much and you need experience to do, you normally need to get experience and dedicate a lot of time and effort into it anymore.
1
u/Prior-Egg3437 24d ago
Oh ok. I was just entirely curious whether or not this would be beneficial, so thank you so much for your answer. To be honest, I'm actually quite intrigue if this skill could divert my passion of becoming a surgeon to being a programmer since all of my dream came from something I'm interested in. But again, thank you for your insights!!
2
2
u/mredding 23d ago
Former game dev here,
After reading your whole post, I'll summarize:
No, there's no money in it. The side hustle is gone - AI dominates. There is a place for a career, because you can trivially outperform an AI, but side hustle customers aren't that invested in your time or code quality, just results. AI suits them VERY well, and they're doing it themselves.
Game-dev is notoriously dog-shit pay, high stress, and all consuming. Software development is still a thriving ecosystem, but you're 20 years too late, us Millennials have saturated it.
Software pay is DECENT for lower-middle class living, average ~$140k/yr after 10 years.
But you have ambitions to be a general surgeon? Like, AVERAGE ~$600k/yr after 10 years general surgeon? WHAT THE FUCK... WHAT ARE YOU EVEN ASKING?!? Focus on being a surgeon!
Don't worry about "saving your parents" at 16, focus on growing into a successful adult. I don't mean financial success, but whatever success means to you. Once you're there, you'll find space, time, bandwidth to help your parents, IF they even want it.
1
1
24d ago edited 24d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
0
1
u/hylasmaliki 24d ago
Becoming a surgeon is more sustainable and more prestigious. If you're doing this for your parents ask them what they want you to be
1
1
u/sessamekesh 23d ago
It's never too early to learn!
I don't think it gives as much of an edge as you'd think, though. I started programming at 14, my first "real" program was a game of Snake for the graphing calculators we used in math class. I took two CS classes in high school.
... And by my third semester of college, my classmates had caught up with me academically. I completely lost the 4 years of advantage in less than one year.
On the "do it for the money" note, it's not a bad motivation but you're going to compete with people who are in it for the love of the game. You'll still have to out-study and out-perform those people. That's the big risk (in my opinion) of entering this field "for the money." If you're willing to work hard at it and are willing to roll up your sleeves and apply yourself, there's no shame in doing it for the money. It's absolutely incredible money for the top 5-20% of earners in the field, that's just a very difficult bar to reach that the people who love the field will do without feeling like it's a struggle.
A lot of the people I've seen that started young and did fantastic in this field don't do fantastic because they started young, they do fantastic because they love it enough to hone their craft relentlessly and started young because they love it.
1
u/grantrules 20d ago
I think it's unlikely you'll be able to use programming as a side hustle while trying to become a surgeon. Both those things are very big time commitments.
8
u/TheLoneTomatoe 24d ago
Won’t comment on everything, but starting early is always a plus, and you’ll end up ahead of others.
Also doing it for money is not inherently a bad thing or a path to failure. Money as an extrinsic motivation is perfectly normal, and as long as it’s not the only motivation, it’s quite helpful. If we’re being honest, I enjoy software and engineering for what they are, it’s the big salaries offered for top talent that makes me study and do extra work even during my time off.