Should a Python programmer be paid higher than a PHP / Perl / Java programmer ?

This question might sound stupid, but I have been wondering about this. Say I hire two developers with similar experience and expertise in my company. One is for a Python project and another one is for Java project. Should they get same compensation? A couple of years back, when I heard about Python from one of my senior friend (who is a CTO of a software firm, a very experienced guy), he told me that he likes Python because, development speed is lot faster in this language. He, from his experience believes that if a project takes six months to be completed using Java, four months should be good enough if it's done using Python. He was also planning for a project where he choose Python, and his logic was, he will use four Python developers for the project and if he choose Java instead of Python, it would take 10 developers to complete the project (same time frame). Then I said to him, "so, are you going to pay higher to the Python devs?" ... he just smiled :) ...

So folks, what do you think? Should the Python devs get more? Share your thoughts.

Comments

Matt Williamson said…
I think they should, but from my experience searching for jobs, I'm seeing that Python devs actually get paid less. I think because the language is less wide spread and also the companies using it tend to be cheaper. But that is just one point of view.
July 7, 2009 at 3:49 AM
Steve said…
If you know you need a Python developer then you should probably pay more, both because of their relative scarcity and because of their greater productivity.

If you don't know you need a Python developer you probably won't end up hiring one anyway.
July 7, 2009 at 4:31 AM
Paddy3118 said…
Bigger bonus, split fewer ways when they prove themselves, then promote them in salary and recognise their abilities!
July 8, 2009 at 11:20 AM
BasicWolf said…
I think it always depends on how programmers do their job. You must agree, that the quality of our work depends on our knowledge much more, that on a chosen language.
E.g. if Java developer will do the same project in a week instead of Python developer doing the same in three days, the comparison will also be in Quality.

And if the quality of the Python-written program is the same or better, then of course, the programmer should be payed more! It could be a prize, a bounty, a bonus.. you name it :)
July 11, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Attila Oláh said…
Well, you can certainly be more productive in Python than PHP, so why not pay more? I think actually it is pretty hard to find a Python programmer, so probably if one intends to keep it, one needs to pay more, right?
October 11, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Robert said…
unfortunately there's a heck lot more java jobs than python...it's simply incomparable...sigh
December 21, 2009 at 11:17 PM
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