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Mobile app developer vs front end developer

The differences between mobile app developers and front end 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 front end developer. Additionally, a mobile app developer has an average salary of $99,840, which is higher than the $92,147 average annual salary of a front end developer.

The top three skills for a mobile app developer include java, javascript and react native. The most important skills for a front end developer are javascript, front-end, and html css.

Mobile app developer vs front end developer overview

Mobile APP DeveloperFront End Developer
Yearly salary$99,840$92,147
Hourly rate$48.00$44.30
Growth rate21%13%
Number of jobs241,509124,876
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age3937
Years of experience44

What does a mobile app developer do?

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.

What does a front end developer do?

Front-end developers architect and develop applications and websites through web technologies. They are responsible for the implementation of visual elements that every user sees and interacts with on web applications. They are often supported by the back-end web developers who are in charge of server application logic and integration. They must know CSS or HTML. They should be equipped with CSS processing skills, browser developer tools, version control, JavaScript framework, and responsive design skills.

Mobile app developer vs front end developer salary

Mobile app developers and front end developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mobile APP DeveloperFront End Developer
Average salary$99,840$92,147
Salary rangeBetween $75,000 And $131,000Between $68,000 And $124,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleLifetime
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between mobile app developer and front end developer education

There are a few differences between a mobile app developer and a front end developer in terms of educational background:

Mobile APP DeveloperFront End Developer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Mobile app developer vs front end developer demographics

Here are the differences between mobile app developers' and front end developers' demographics:

Mobile APP DeveloperFront End Developer
Average age3937
Gender ratioMale, 82.0% Female, 18.0%Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 15.8% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between mobile app developer and front end developer duties and responsibilities

Mobile app developer example responsibilities.

  • Manage all aspects of maintaining/improving multiple websites running on Magento.
  • Experience in programming languages such as ASP.net, HTML5and JavaScript and markup languages such as XML and JSON.
  • Work on web service calls, XML and JSON parsing include in the project.
  • Experience in working with data parsing forms such as XML and JSON, to dynamically display data on iPhone/iPad.
  • Used git as a version control for project.
  • Develop CSS for consistent look and feel of the web site.
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Front end developer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Linux web and database servers.
  • Used SVN as source control management giving a huge speed advantage on centralize systems that have to communicate with a server.
  • Manage social media including Facebook advertising.
  • Interact with java controllers (JQUERY, Ajax, and JSON to write/read data from back end systems).
  • Receive business logic specifications and design documents, and translate them into HTML, CSS, JSON files, JavaScript code.
  • Gather data from API / web services via AJAX- JSON calls and updating the DOM within the result sets.
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Mobile app developer vs front end developer skills

Common mobile app developer skills
  • Java, 7%
  • JavaScript, 5%
  • React Native, 5%
  • Application Development, 5%
  • Python, 5%
  • C++, 4%
Common front end developer skills
  • JavaScript, 10%
  • Front-End, 10%
  • Html Css, 6%
  • UI, 6%
  • HTML, 5%
  • Java, 5%

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