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What is an application software developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Brian Glas,
John Russo

In the digital era that we live in now, applications make the world go round. Thus, jobs for application software developers are extremely abundant now more than ever, making the industry very competitive like so many jobs in technology.

As the job title suggests, the main role of an application software developer is to create software systems and applications based on their clients' or company's specifications. Apart from that, they also perform tests, modify test codes, and come up with solutions for glitches or bugs that arise. They work closely with software engineers, app testers, and other application software developers as well.

You may not need to have a college degree to qualify for this role as long as you have significant experience and skills in software and app development. But in general, acquiring a degree in computer science or software engineering can give you the knowledge and skills that you need to get ahead.

For this role, the average salary is around $74,000 to $121,000 a year. Some application software developers may also receive royalty fees for the apps that they create, especially if they are independent developers.

What general advice would you give to an application software developer?

Brian GlasBrian Glas LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Union University

Build relationships: Different technologies will interest and challenge you, but throughout your career, you'll find that it's the relationships that are the most important. This is harder to grasp earlier in your career, but much easier to understand after 15-20 years.
Gain different perspectives: Spend time with people in other roles that your job interacts with, and gain a solid understanding of how they view things; this is most valuable for career progression and understanding of how your work fits into the big picture.
ScoreApplication Software DeveloperUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $104,724

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.0

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 29.99%

Black or African American 4.38%

Hispanic or Latino 8.11%

Unknown 4.78%

White 52.58%

Gender

female 24.13%

male 75.87%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Application software developer career paths

Key steps to become an application software developer

  1. Explore application software developer education requirements

    Most common application software developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.5 %

    Master's

    19.6 %

    Associate

    9.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific application software developer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Java20.47%
    C++6.27%
    JavaScript5.28%
    Python3.86%
    Object Oriented Programming3.81%
  3. Complete relevant application software developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New application software developers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an application software developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real application software developer resumes.
  4. Research application software developer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and complete multiple concurrent ERP software implementation projects.
    • Focus on rich interface applications (RIA) using JavaScript and Google API's.
    • Create batches, process EFT, ACH and lockbox payments to patient's accounts.
    • Used HTML, and CSS to create static web pages for the directory system solution.
  5. Prepare your application software developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your application software developer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an application software developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable application software developer resume templates

    Build a professional application software developer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your application software developer resume.
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
    Application Software Developer Resume
  6. Apply for application software developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an application software developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first application software developer job

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Average application software developer salary

The average application software developer salary in the United States is $104,724 per year or $50 per hour. Application software developer salaries range between $80,000 and $136,000 per year.

Average application software developer salary
$104,724 Yearly
$50.35 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do application software developers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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Application software developer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set

Cons

Still have to deal with people :)


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface

Cons

I didn't like how technical it could become


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Designing a new system or making changes to an old one.

Cons

Compensation. Pay and Benefits do not match the time spent on a project. Alabama is the Worst state to live in for SOFTWARE ENGINEER Salaries. 40 to 50 percent less than our peer States.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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