I have been doing some semblance of programming since I was 8 years old (now 39). I think it’s one of those things you kind of have to have a passion for or you can easily get burned out.
But I also think it’s one of those things that are more in demand than ever. If I was laid off I’d have to question why I was working for the company in the first place and didn’t see it coming. There are quite literally 7-8 LinkedIn messages from recruiters almost daily. I’m not sure many attorneys or physicians can say that. And when you are in demand like that you’re constantly leveling up your salary every few years.
Finally, I know or very few professions where every 3-5 years you need to completely have learned something new to stay ahead of the game. When I was 8 I was doing q-basic. I’ve had to learn over 12 languages since then.