The Day-to-Day as a Mobile Developer
Mobile Developers are Software Developers who specialize in building applications for mobile device operating systems such as Android and iOS. Depending on their employment, they may be involved in every stage of the development of an application or exclusively within the design, development, test, release, and maintenance stages of the application lifecycle. They will most likely be working on a team with other Developers, Designers, Product or Project Managers, and UX or UI professionals.
The day-to-day for a Mobile App Developer depends on their employment. A Mobile Developer might work for a startup, a large corporation, or freelance. Their primary tasks will involve creating, maintaining, and implementing source code for mobile applications that meet the requirements of a client, stakeholder, or end-user; creating prototypes; iterating on prototypes; creating wireframes; coding based on a design comprehensive or wireframe; finding and fixing bugs; and collaborating with their teammates at meetings. They usually work a 40-hour week but occasionally work overtime for code sprints.
What Skills Should Mobile Developers Have?
Mobile Developers will most likely specialize in either Android or iOS development. From there they might niche down to game, productivity, social media, or another application development sector. An Android Developer needs to know Java, XML, and Kotlin. They’ll also need to be familiar with C++, Android Studio, Eclipse, and Unity. iOS Developers should get to know Objective-C, Swift, and XCode. Both Android and iOS Developers will also find React Native, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Bootstrap useful.
Mobile Developers should understand the platforms, tools, and languages available as well as how to use them to design for any mobile device. Mobile Developers must also comprehensively understand the entire lifecycle of an application and how to develop a minimum viable product (MVP). They will need to be ready to work on a team, often under tight deadlines.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Mobile Developer
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Coding
Coding is another way to say computer programming. It is how humans "instruct" computers through the process of designing and building a functioning computer program. Computer and web programs are built using coding languages like C, Python, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and more. Coding can be used to create desktop, mobile, or web applications.
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iOS Development
iOS development is the practice of building mobile applications for devices powered by Apple's iOS operating system. iOS applications can be developed using Objective-C or Swift, two languages created by Apple.
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Java
Java is a class-based, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language that was designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. Java is used by Software Engineers to create computer applications. Java can also be used to build modules and applets for use within a web page.
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React
React is an open-source JavaScript library that is maintained by Facebook for building user interfaces. React is often used as a base in the development of single-page or mobile applications, social media style applications, and other web platforms.
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XML
XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. It is used to encode documents that is both human-readable and machine-readable. You'll find XML across the web.
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Dev Bootcamp
Mobile Developer Salaries
A Mobile Developer in the United States makes, on average, $125,385 annually, according to Indeed.com.
Salaries for Mobile Developers vary by region within the the United States. Listed below are some Mobile Developer salaries for specific areas with the United States compared with the average national salary:
- U.S. Average $125K source n/a
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Hartford, CT
$169K
source
+35.13%
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Seattle, WA
$168K
source
+34.73%
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Detroit, MI
$166K
source
+32.82%
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San Francisco, CA
$164K
source
+31.14%
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San Jose, CA
$161K
source
+28.88%
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Orange County, CA
$149K
source
+19.51%
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New Orleans, LA
$144K
source
+15.58%
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Portland, OR
$142K
source
+13.3%
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Austin, TX
$141K
source
+12.98%
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Connecticut
$141K
source
+12.7%
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Stamford, CT
$141K
source
+12.7%
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Memphis, TN
$140K
source
+11.75%
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Miami, FL
$132K
source
+5.51%
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Nashville, TN
$131K
source
+5.12%
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New York City
$130K
source
+4.39%
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Philadelphia, PA
$129K
source
+3.45%
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Tampa, FL
$129K
source
+3.38%
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Omaha, NE
$129K
source
+3.36%
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Boston, MA
$127K
source
+1.41%
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Chicago, IL
$126K
source
+1.16%
- U.S. Average $125K source n/a
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Denver, CO
$123K
source
-1.18%
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Atlanta, GA
$123K
source
-1.37%
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Virginia, VA
$122K
source
-2.36%
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Orlando, FL
$120K
source
-4.16%
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Salt Lake City, UT
$118K
source
-5.86%
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San Antonio, TX
$117K
source
-5.93%
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Phoenix, AZ
$117K
source
-6.27%
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Los Angeles, CA
$114K
source
-8.38%
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Dallas, TX
$113K
source
-9.41%
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Washington, D.C.
$113K
source
-9.66%
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Indianapolis, IN
$112K
source
-10.26%
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Oakland, CA
$111K
source
-11.46%
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Houston, TX
$110K
source
-11.51%
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San Diego, CA
$109K
source
-12.28%
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Columbus, OH
$107K
source
-14.57%
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Minneapolis, MN
$105K
source
-15.53%
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Las Vegas, NV
$105K
source
-15.86%
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Long Island, NY
$105K
source
-15.9%
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Sacramento, CA
$104K
source
-16.72%
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Cleveland, OH
$103K
source
-17.11%
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Fairfax, VA
$103K
source
-17.67%
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New Jersey
$101K
source
-19.4%
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St. Louis, MO
$100K
source
-19.6%
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New Haven, CT
$100K
source
-19.86%
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Albany, NY
$100K
source
-20.16%
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Milwaukee, WI
$99K
source
-20.76%
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Cincinnati, OH
$98K
source
-21.32%
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Worcester, MA
$97K
source
-22.09%
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Raleigh, NC
$97K
source
-22.19%
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Kansas City, MO
$97K
source
-22.34%
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Honolulu, HI
$96K
source
-23.2%
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Bakersfield, CA
$95K
source
-23.55%
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Inland Empire, CA
$95K
source
-23.63%
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Fresno, CA
$95K
source
-23.64%
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Riverside, CA
$95K
source
-23.86%
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Birmingham, AL
$94K
source
-24.54%
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Albuquerque, NM
$93K
source
-25.46%
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Rochester, NY
$93K
source
-25.51%
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Baton Rouge, LA
$93K
source
-25.58%
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Dayton, OH
$93K
source
-25.81%
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Columbia, SC
$92K
source
-25.84%
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Louisville, KY
$92K
source
-25.87%
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Jacksonville, FL
$92K
source
-26.5%
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Tucson, AZ
$91K
source
-26.76%
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Greenville, SC
$91K
source
-26.95%
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Virginia Beach, VA
$91K
source
-27.23%
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Tulsa, OK
$90K
source
-27.58%
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Grand Rapids, MI
$89K
source
-28.43%
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Charlotte, NC
$89K
source
-28.55%
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Buffalo, NY
$89K
source
-28.86%
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Knoxville, TN
$88K
source
-29.3%
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El Paso, TX
$86K
source
-30.88%
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Alexandria, VA
$84K
source
-32.22%
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Baltimore, MD
$84K
source
-32.93%
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San Juan
$82K
source
-34.47%
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Pittsburgh, PA
$81K
source
-34.69%
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Oklahoma City, OK
$79K
source
-36.9%
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Richmond, VA
$74K
source
-40.23%
Typical Qualifications to Become a Mobile Developer
You do not need a higher education degree to become a Mobile Developer. Some Mobile Developers have a computer science degree, but most do not. It is more important for a Mobile Developer to demonstrate proficiency and their ability to learn new things.
There are no industry standard certifications for this position but Mobile Developers can earn a certification from a bootcamp or online course. These certifications will usually only boost a Mobile Developer's employment outlooks if they're a freelancer.
Searching for Mobile Developer Jobs
Mobile Developers work in a variety of environments including corporate companies, startups, freelance, contract, or for a government entity. They can find jobs in nearly any industry both onsite and remotely.
You can find Mobile Developer jobs on sites like:
- Indeed
- Google Jobs
- Glassdoor
- AngelList
- Dice
- Authentic Jobs
- Mashable
- Stack Overflow
- Startupers
- StartupHire
- Hired
- ZipRecruiter
You can find freelance, contract, or remote Mobile Developer jobs on sites like:
Tips for Mobile Developers
A Mobile Developer should have a well-rounded portfolio that showcases their work with mobile applications. A good portfolio might include case studies that show the process of building an application from start to finish, articulate the process of building a single part of an application, or an interactive and complete MVP. Posting these portfolio examples on GitHub and Medium or a cleanly designed blog is common practice so that potential employers can view your work.
Mobile Developer's LinkedIn profile should be up-to-date, including all past work experience, and include keywords relating to Mobile Developers' skills and responsibilities. It should also show and tell how your past experiences offer transferable value to your position as a Mobile Developer.
To get a leg up, try to connect with a point person with a letter of introduction at each company you send an application to, whether you applied via LinkedIn or not. This will provide you name recognition and sometimes first-hand advice. You should also make these connections with people who might be your manager at any company you would like to work for regardless of whether they have posted job openings. These connections will also help freelance Developers grow their client base.
What Job Titles Would a Mobile Developer Hold?
The positions that Mobile Developers can apply for may be narrowed down based on industry, location, company size, and interest in specializing. Mobile Developers will likely find positions at startups the most quickly but will notice that rising the ranks from a junior position to a senior position at a larger company or going freelance is possible within a couple of years and may result in a better annual salary and overall work-life balance..
Mobile Developers can look for these positions:
- Mobile Application Developer
- Mobile Developer
- iOS Developer
- Mobile Application Programmer
- Android Developer
- Mobile Engineer
- Mobile Software Engineer
- Hybrid Mobile Application Developer
- Software Developer, Mobile
Related Careers
Mobile Developers can pivot to related careers such as User Experience Designer or User Interface Designer. Most of these positions pay similar salaries to a Mobile Developer but involve working more closely with design and research techniques. Some ways to pivot into these positions would be to learn user experience design, user interface design, research strategies, and design thinking.
Salary Comparison to Mobile Developer
- Mobile Developer $125K n/a
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Software Engineer
$109K
-12.46%
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Web Developer
$77K
-37.95%
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Web Developer
Learn about becoming a Web DeveloperWeb developers build webpages using coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They program functionality and identify/troubleshoot errors in code. Web developers can work on front-end development (the part of the website you see in a web browser), or on back-end development (the logic and database functionality that runs on the web server). Others work as full-stack developers, providing end-to-end (front to back) expertise.
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Software Engineer
Learn about becoming a Software EngineerSoftware engineers use their extensive knowledge of user experience design, operating systems, and programming languages to develop software. They can create different types of software, from games to operating systems. After analyzing a client's needs, they design, develop, and test software to meet that need. Software engineers can be divided into two distinct career categories: application engineers and systems engineers.