Can A Python Developer Work From Home?

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed how people work, with remote work becoming more common. Python is a popular programming language used in various industries and you might wonder if you can work from home as a Python developer.

In this article, we will explore the answer to this question and I’ll provide tips for you based on my experience – how I went from working as a QA engineer in the office to becoming an entirely remotely working Python developer.

Can A Python Developer Work From Home?

The short answer is YES, a Python developer can work from home. Many companies allow remote work for their developers, and there are also freelance opportunities for those who prefer to work independently.

In fact, remote work can be particularly well-suited for Python developers, who often work on projects that can be completed independently.

However, it is important to note that some employers may require their developers to work on-site, particularly for certain projects that require close collaboration with other team members.

It is important to clarify your employer’s remote work policy before making any assumptions about working from home.

🚨 In the following sections of this post, I’ll expand my answer and give you more details on how I actually found my remote job, how my students are finding similar opportunities and how you can likely do the same!

Is It Hard To Get A Remote Coding Job? 

The short answer is NO!

However, getting a remote coding job requires a certain level of skill and experience! 💪🏻

Most companies that offer remote coding jobs are looking for candidates with a strong technical background and relevant experience in the field.

Additionally, companies are looking for candidates who are self-motivated and can work independently.

Do Companies Like Self-Taught Programmers?

In general, larger and more established companies may have more rigid hiring requirements, including a preference for candidates with traditional degrees.

Smaller startups or tech companies, on the other hand, might be more willing to consider self-taught programmers who have a strong portfolio of work to demonstrate their skills.

To increase your chances of getting a remote coding job, it’s essential to have a STRONG PORTFOLIO that showcases your skills and experience!

Your portfolio should include examples of your work, including projects you’ve worked on, and any contributions you’ve made to any other projects that relate to Python programming.

That’s how I got my first opportunities in the industry!

In the world of tech, the demand for skilled programmers is always on the rise and I believe if you’d have a STRONG PORTFOLIO that showcases your skills you’d be able to find a remote Python job in just a few weeks’ time!

What Is The Fastest Way To Get A Remote Job? 

As you may know, Python developers are highly sought after in the job market.

However, with the rise of remote work, more companies are offering remote Python jobs.

This means that you can work from anywhere in the world as long as you have a stable internet connection.

⚠️ But how do you find a remote Python job quickly?

Here are some tips and strategies that helped me and my students to land a remote Python job..

Build A Strong Online Presence

You can create a professional profile on LinkedIn, GitHub, and other relevant websites to showcase your skills and experience.

This will make it easier for potential employers to find you.

Your Linkedin should look like you’re already working as a Python developer (even though you’re just starting out) otherwise HR people won’t contact you and will ignore your messages if you’ll reach out directly to them!

This means, you need to have your own project and you need to list yourself as a self-employed person on your own project.

Find Python Developers Online

You can connect with other professionals in your field and attend virtual networking events.

This will help you learn about new job opportunities and also build relationships with people who may be able to help you find a job.

That’s actually how Yuliia (one of my students) found me.

She read one of my blog posts and sent me an email explaining her situation..

We made a few changes in her strategy and a few weeks later Yuliia got hired! 🔥

I won’t go into too much detail in this post on how she did it, but you can click on the image below to read the whole story! 👇🏻

If you’re NOT afraid of working hard for your career…

See if there’s a way you can contact me at the end of this post!

🔥 I’m willing to talk to you and see if I can help you the same way I helped Yuliia!

Apply To Python Related Jobs

Once you’ve prepared your Linkedin and have worked on a portfolio project for a while you should start applying to Python-related jobs.

Your resume and cover letter should highlight your relevant skills and experience, and be tailored to the specific job requirements. (read the job description and include requirements as your experience in your resume)

Before applying, you should research the company and the job position to ensure that it’s a good fit for your skills and interests!

Be proactive: You can reach out to companies that interest you and inquire about any remote job openings.

Even if there aren’t any positions currently available, you can establish a connection and keep in touch for future opportunities.

This is the process I followed to get my first job in the industry as a software developer and this is the process Yuliia followed!

How Much Does A Python Programmer Remote Job Pay? 

If you are a skilled Python programmer or just a beginner willing to work hard and have at least some sort of project to show off your skills at the moment of taking on a remote job one of your primary concerns is likely to be your potential earnings!

The good news is that remote work has become more prevalent in recent years.

And Python programming is a highly sought-after skill.

In the linked article, I’ve already discussed potential earnings for Python developers and talked about my salary as a Python developer of several years.

But when it comes to remote work, there are several factors that can impact the pay rate for a Python programmer that you must consider:

How Your Sector Affects Your Pay As A Python Programmer

The industry you work in can have a significant impact on your pay rate.

For instance, Python programmers who work in the finance or healthcare industries typically earn more than those who work in the education or non-profit sectors.

I personally work in a company where we’re building a payment gateway platform.

Obviously, the pay is way higher than in most other industries you could work as a Python developer.. (I’ve tried a few and this is by far the most profitable)

How Your Level of Experience Affects Your Pay as a Remote Python Developer

Your level of experience as a Python programmer will also play a role in determining your pay rate. Typically, more experienced programmers command higher rates.

If you’re a beginner, you have to accept that in the beginning, you might not be as lucky to earn the BIG BUCKS..

You might have to work for a few years as a Python developer for one company – get your experience in and then jump into more profitable opportunities!

How Your Location Can Impact Your Python Programming Salary

Your location can also impact your pay rate, even if you are working remotely.

If you are based in an area with a high cost of living, you may be able to command a higher rate than if you are based in a more affordable area.

But, FORGET about having a $160,000 US salary living in a cheap country..

No US company will sign up for that..

I’ve heard a couple of juniors looking for such opportunities, it’s just not the reality.

Someone might get lucky once in a blue moon, but this is generally what you should be looking for.

Does The Size Of The Company Matter?

The size of the company you work for can also impact your pay rate!

Larger companies tend to have MORE RESOURCES and can therefore offer HIGHER SALARIES than smaller companies.

But smaller companies can give you MORE FREEDOM and opportunities to grow faster within a small team of developers. 🔥

Personally, I prefer smaller companies just because of the freedom factor..

Typical Pay Rates for Remote Python Programmers

With these factors in mind, what can you expect to earn as a remote Python programmer?

As I mentioned, the answer will vary depending on the specifics of your situation, but here are some general milestones you can follow.

Position Level	Years of Experience	Salary Range
Entry-Level	0-2 years	$50,000-$70,000 per year
Mid-Level	2-5 years	$70,000-$100,000 per year
Senior-Level	5+ years	$100,000-$150,000 per year

Entry-Level Positions

If you are just starting out as a Python programmer, you can expect to earn an entry-level salary. This typically ranges from $50,000 to $70,000 per year.

Mid-Level Positions

If you have a few years of experience under your belt, you can expect to earn a mid-level salary. This typically ranges from $70,000 to $100,000 per year.

Senior-Level Positions

If you are a highly experienced Python programmer, you can expect to earn a senior-level salary. This typically ranges from $100,000 to $150,000 per year.

How Many Hours Do Remote Coders Work?

With the rise of remote work, the traditional 9-to-5 workday is NO LONGER the norm for many professionals, including Python developers!

Instead, people are working FLEXIBLE HOURS from wherever they choose, including from the comfort of their own homes!

Personally, I’d say this should be your requirement as a Python developer.

I would NOT be accepting a new job knowing that I’d have to commute to the office every day wasting my time in the traffic..

It’s just not something I will accept anymore knowing I can be more productive from my home office!

But how many hours do we typically work each week? ⌛️

And what factors can influence a Python developer’s work schedule? 📅

Factors that Affect Remote Coder Work Hours

The work hours of remote coders can vary significantly depending on several factors.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common factors that can influence remote coder work hours.

Timezone Differences

One of the biggest challenges for remote coders is timezone differences.

When working with team members who are located in different parts of the world, it can be difficult to find overlapping hours to collaborate and communicate effectively.

This can sometimes result in longer work hours for remote coders who need to adjust their schedules to accommodate their team members’ time zones.

Project Deadlines

Project deadlines can also have a significant impact on remote Python developer work hours.

When working on a project with a tight deadline, Python developers may need to work longer hours to ensure that the project is completed on time!

This is totally normal and you just have to accept it!

In some cases, you may also need to work on weekends or evenings to meet the deadline.

Generally, I’d say when you start to work as a Python developer, you have to switch your mindset from

“I work XYZ hours and then I’m done”

to

“I work until my job is done or my milestone is reached” 💪🏻

Your managers or owners of the company don’t care if you were debugging some issue for 4 hours and couldn’t get the job done in time, that’s your problem!

Professionals deliver results no matter what and plan for things not to go smoothly.

Over time you’ll get better at delivering on time and will no longer work that much over time, just remember, it’s not gonna be easy in the beginning!

Personal Productivity

Finally, personal productivity can also have a significant impact on your work hours as a remote Python developer.

When you’re working remotely, it’s important to stay focused and motivated to ensure that your coding work is completed efficiently and effectively.

However, distractions such as social media, family members, and household chores can sometimes get in the way and lead to longer work hours.

Personally, over the years I’ve come up with a few rules:

• Keep your phone on mute while you’re working or coding – otherwise, it’s a constant distraction!
• Your phone should be in a place where you can’t see it, for example, inside a drawer.
• Ideally, your phone should be in a different room for 2-3h while working. At the end of a work session, during a break, you can pick up your phone, answer calls, messages, etc.
• If anyone is at your place while you’re working – instruct them not to distract you. Tell them that it can lead to significant mistakes, you working overtime or even weekends. If you explain it properly, people will understand. My girlfriend is not allowed to come into my room while I’m working, only in emergencies which should not happen often.

One more productivity trick I can share with you is PomoDoneApp and the idea of DEEP WORK!

Time-tracking your coding tasks can be incredibly helpful to increase your productivity.

I do not overcomplicate things by using time-tracking techniques like Pomodoro technique.

When I’m coding, I simply track time spent on a task to know the final time spent on a task (required for my company), but through doing this, I’ve realized I can code straight for 3-4h without taking a break and then I need a break.

Once you KNOW YOUR LIMITS, you can plan your work better, and schedule other things you want to do during the day at the time of a break!

This works really well for me because I know any work I’m going to do after already working 3-4h straight is NOT GOING to be productive and I will likely make mistakes!

Here’s The Complete Guide to Deep Work post that will get you started and give you a bit more ideas on how you can improve your productivity and a video where author of the book “Deep Work” explains this idea:

Also, by tracking your time spent on each task, you can better understand how long it takes you to complete certain types of work and make adjustments to your workflow accordingly.

It might be hard to focus for 3 hours straight in the beginning, but just remember, you can TRAIN YOUR BRAIN 🧠 to be really focused and work hard for long periods of time.

It’s just that nowadays our brains are fried with all of the short-form content provided by social media apps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Remote Developers Get Paid Less?

Not necessarily. Remote Python developer salaries may be influenced by factors such as cost of living, supply and demand for their skills, and benefits and perks, but are not necessarily lower than in-house salaries.

Can Learning Python Alone Get You A Job?

Learning Python alone can potentially help you get a job, but it’s important to understand that it’s not a guarantee.

If you want to increase your chances of getting a job with Python, it’s important to build a strong portfolio of projects and only then go out looking for a potential company to work for.

Read how Yuliia did it here.

Can I Learn Coding From Home And Get A Job?

Yes, it is possible to learn coding from home and get a job, but it requires dedication, discipline, and a strong work ethic.

I’ve talked more on this topic here.

It’s important to understand that learning to code is not a guarantee of employment.

Many employers value practical experience and a strong portfolio of projects, in addition to technical skills.

How Do I Become A Python Developer?

You can start by reaching out to me personally (find my contact info below this post), we can discuss your situation and I can give you some general steps on WHERE TO START – specifically designed for your situation and based on your current skill level.

That’s how one of my students Yuliia did it, I’ll link her story once again here.