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The differences between mobile app developers and contract developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a mobile app developer and a contract developer. Additionally, a mobile app developer has an average salary of $99,840, which is higher than the $91,433 average annual salary of a contract developer.
The top three skills for a mobile app developer include java, javascript and react native. The most important skills for a contract developer are C++, javascript, and java.
| Mobile APP Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,840 | $91,433 |
| Hourly rate | $48.00 | $43.96 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 241,509 | 249,808 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A mobile app developer is primarily in charge of designing and developing applications for mobile devices. Typically working with a team, the responsibilities of a mobile app developer include planning new systems, generating codes, creating test structures for applications, troubleshooting, fixing bugs, and executing upgrades and modifications. They must also monitor client feedbacks on existing applications, performing corrective measures or adjustments as needed. Furthermore, as a mobile app developer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with team members, coordinating every step of the way.
Contract Developers develop secure web applications for data collections, quality measurement efforts, and reporting purposes for large-scale performance, wireframes and UI specifications for interactive and static reporting and analysis features, and developing UI to interact with reporting engines. They are involved with system design and technical documentation and responsible for dot net development. In this position, contract developers must excellent in problem-solving, analytical skills and attention to detail, display and manipulate performance metrics, and highly confident dealing with internal and external clients.
Mobile app developers and contract developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mobile APP Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Average salary | $99,840 | $91,433 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $131,000 | Between $67,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Avanade |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a mobile app developer and a contract developer in terms of educational background:
| Mobile APP Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mobile app developers' and contract developers' demographics:
| Mobile APP Developer | Contract Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.0% Female, 18.0% | Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 27.8% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |