How to Become a Mobile App Developer

iOS developers can expect to earn, on average, over $113,000, with some jobs offering salaries of up to $171,500 per year. Android developers, on the other hand, expect to earn over $111,000, and more experienced developers can earn up to $162,000 per year

The salary you can expect to earn also depends on the company you work for and your location. For example, Android developers in San Franciscoearn an average of over $130,000 per year, while the same developer in Atlanta can expect to earn around the national average.

The amount you earn will also depend on your seniority. The average salary for senior iOS developers is over $133,000 per year; the average salary for senior Android developers is over $126,000 per year.

1. Attend a short-term coding bootcamp specializing in mobile app developer
2. Earn a degree in computer science at a college or university
3. Learn about mobile app development through self-study

1. Swift.

   Swift is the main programming language used for iOS development. This is a very modern programming language which is easy to get started with and receives frequent updates. A successful iOS developer should have a good understanding of Swift and its core concepts.

2. UIKit.

   UIKIt is a framework that helps iOS developers design their user interfaces. UIKit includes features to implement gestures, animations, default components, and haptic touch control into applications.

3. Xcode.

   Xcode is an application developed by Apple that makes it easy to write applications for any Apple device. As an iOS developer, you should be able to navigate your way through Xcode and understand how to use various features in the tool.

• Building User Interfaces.

  You should be able to convert a design into a functional Android application using Java and XML. To do this, you’ll need to know how to use all conventional view containers and know all the standard views and other components which may come up in an Android app.

• Data Storage and Notifications.

  You should know how to store, update, and delete information on an Android device. Even if you rely on outside APIs for an app, you’ll still need to store information locally, on the user’s device. Further, you should be able to implement push notifications to reach users.

• Material Design Guidelines.

  Many Android apps use the Material Design framework, created by Google in 2014. You should know about how Material Design works in the context of designing and developing new apps. You should also be familiar with how to implement basic Material Design guidelines into an application.

• Problem Solving.

  All coding jobs require some element of problem solving and analytical thinking. You should be able to think through a problem effectively and figure out a way to solve that problem using code. You should also be able to fix problems in existing code, or make changes to an application to meet new specifications.

• Attention to Detail.

  Details matter in coding — each detail will affect the output of a program. One typo could cause an application to crash or not function as intended. You should spend time considering every detail when you are coding.

• Teamwork.

  As a mobile app developer, you’ll most likely have to work on a team. You should be able to respond well in collaborative environments, and work well with others to accomplish a certain task. You may also have to provide support to the rest of your team, which you can only do if you can work well with others.

1. Choose an app development career path
2. Learn the skills you need through college, a bootcamp, or self-study
3. Develop and refine your technical skills
4. Build your app development portfolio
5. Write your technical resume
6. Start looking for a job
7. Prepare for an interview