What is a mobile applications developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Experts

Brian Glas,

Kevin Treu Ph.D.

A mobile applications developer designs and creates software applications for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. They work with programming languages such as Java, Swift, or HTML5 to develop the codes for applications. The developer also ensures a user-friendly program that meets client requirements and works with different devices or systems. They may work independently or as part of a team, collaborating with designers, project managers, and other developers.

What general advice would you give to a Mobile Applications Developer?

Brian Glas

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.

ScoreMobile Applications DeveloperUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,257

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 29.79%

Black or African American 4.61%

Hispanic or Latino 8.37%

Unknown 4.85%

White 52.22%

Gender

female 17.48%

male 82.52%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Mobile Applications Developer?

Pros

High demand for mobile app developers
Good salary prospects
Ability to work remotely or freelance
Potential to create your own apps and launch a successful business
Potential for career growth and advancement

Cons

Long hours and tight deadlines are common
Can be difficult to balance personal life with work responsibilities
May require working outside of typical business hours to accommodate clients or users in different time zones
Can be highly competitive, with many developers vying for the same jobs
Can be challenging to stand out among a crowded field of developers

Newest jobs for Mobile Applications Developer in Ashburn, VA

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Key steps to become a mobile applications developer

Explore mobile applications developer education requirements

Most common mobile applications developer degrees

Bachelor's

68.7 %

Master's

24.0 %

Associate

4.8 %

Start to develop specific mobile applications developer skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	7.59%
C++	6.54%
Mobile Development	5.42%
React Native	5.36%
Objective C	5.04%

Complete relevant mobile applications developer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mobile applications 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 a mobile applications developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mobile applications developer resumes.

Research mobile applications developer duties and responsibilities

Work within JIRA to manage product elements including QA, backlog, sprints.
Manage complete SDLC for development projects including gathering and determining business requirements.
Retrieve data from web services by hitting the server and then parse the response data using JSON library.
Involve in developing HTML and JavaScript for client side presentation and, data validation on the client side within the forms.

Prepare your mobile applications developer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mobile applications 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 a mobile applications 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 Mobile Applications Developer Resume templates

Build a professional Mobile Applications 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 Mobile Applications Developer resume.

Apply for mobile applications developer jobs

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

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

Average mobile applications developer salary

The average Mobile Applications Developer salary in the United States is $99,257 per year or $48 per hour. Mobile applications developer salaries range between $75,000 and $130,000 per year.

Average Mobile Applications Developer Salary

$99,257 Yearly

$47.72 hourly

How do mobile applications developers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Mobile Applications Developer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019

Cons

Stressing and you have to keep always updated

Pros

Improve every day, a good salary, a lot of job opportunities

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019