Career In Mobile App Development: All You Need To Know

Career In Mobile App Development All You Need To Know

Are you thinking of taking a career in mobile app development but aren’t sure where to start?

You’re on the right page.

In this massive guide, we’re going to talk about everything you need to know if you want to build a career in the mobile app development field.

The big question is:

Is Mobile App Development A Good Career?

Statistics suggest that by the end of 2021 close to 7 billion people will be using smartphones.

According to dissertation-service.org, a company that works with experienced dissertation writers, by 2021, the yearly mobile app downloads are expected to increase to 258 billion.

Keep in mind that mobile apps are the backbone of all the latest smartphones.

But that’s not all.

Today, every business is embracing the use of mobile apps to enhance the convenience of its customers.

It’s no doubt that the demand for mobile developers is increasing tremendously and mobile developer jobs are also skyrocketing.

Unfortunately, the total number of mobile app developers is around 12 million worldwide.

That means that, if there is a better time to start the App development career, then it’s now.

But how to become a mobile app developer is no easy task.

That’s why the internet is awash with a ton of questions such as:

• What do I need to learn to become a mobile app developer?
• How do I start a career in app development?
• How do I become an app developer with no experience?

Keep reading to learn how to start a career as a mobile developer.

How To Become A Mobile App Developer: FAQs

Even though there is an increase in demand for mobile app developers, companies that offer mobile applications are looking for qualified guys.

Even if you’re going the self-employment way, no one will want to work with someone who doesn’t have the qualifications and experience.

This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions by people looking to take the career in mobile app development

What Is A Mobile Developer?

A mobile developer creates apps for use on iOS or Android devices and maintains them constantly. For instance, a mobile application developer can work independently or as a team to create an app that lets customers track their orders using their smartphones.

What Does A Mobile Application Developer Do?

In other words, what are the responsibilities of a mobile application developer?

Mobile application developers use their analytical and problem-solving skills to create, test, update and maintain mobile applications.

They can program an app and design its UI (user interface).

After developing the app, developers keep it updated with new features so it can keep serving current and future needs.

Today, mobile apps have become a vital part of business strategy.

Besides, there are billions of smartphones in the market today with multiple apps installed.

App developers are responsible for creating and maintaining the apps so they can help people achieve their goals.

In summary, a mobile app developer is responsible for:

• Developing, testing, and managing mobile apps.
• Writing codes for apps for particular platforms.
• Designing and developing the apps’ user interface.
• Provide technical and user support for apps.
• Coming up with device fixes and any issues that crop up.
• Ensure apps perform as required by users.

As a mobile app developer, you will work with analysts, software engineers, project managers, and other developers.

What Programming Languages Mobile App Developers Should Learn?

When it comes to mobile app development, you can choose between native development and cross-platform development.

With native development, developers build Android apps using Kotlin or Java; and Swift for developing iOS apps.

For cross-platform development, developers build apps using Reactive Native which uses JavaScript, Xamarin which uses C#, or Flutter which uses Dart.

In a nutshell, as a new mobile app developer, learning Kotlin, HTML5, Java, Rust, and Swift will help you build apps that are stable, secure, and attuned with the latest mobile architecture.

What Are The Different Types Of Mobile Applications?

There are three basic mobile apps namely Native mobile apps, hybrid mobile apps, and web applications.

Native mobile apps 

As the name suggests, native mobile applications are developed for use in a specific platform (whether iOS, Android, or Windows).

That means that you cannot use an app developed for the iOS platform on an Android device and vice versa.

Hybrid mobile apps

Hybrid mobile applications are similar to native but are more web apps.

Often, hybrid mobile apps are developed using HTML5.

These types of mobile apps are also not as reliable or fast as native apps.

Web apps 

Web apps operate like native apps but are accessed via a web browser on a mobile device.

These types of mobile apps don’t require users to download and install them on their devices.

Should You Develop Mobile Apps For Android Or iOS?

When it comes to how to become a mobile app developer, you can choose to build apps for Android or iOS because the two platforms are great.

Besides, there is a ton of job opportunities for app developers no matter the platform you choose.

Nevertheless, you should consider your preferences and identify your target market.

As a rule, we would recommend starting by developing apps for a platform you’re interested in it.

Avoid being a jack of all trades as you might end up getting stuck along the process.

How Much Do App Developers Make?

How much you can make as a mobile app developer depends on multiple factors such as location, experience, specific skills, etc.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Mobile Application developer in the US is $78,765 per year.

Here are the potential annual earnings of mobile app developers.

According to PayScale, an iOS developer earns a salary of between $86,622 and $120,000 a year.

Glassdoor estimates the annual salary of an Android developer to be around $86,607 to $125,000 per year.

In summary, you can expect to earn about $100,000 per year as a mobile app developer.

How To Learn Mobile App Development

You can learn mobile application development in many ways.

For instance, you can join a college or university and pursue a degree in computer science or become a mobile app developer by self-studying.

Some mobile developers also learn how to build apps through attending short-term coding boot camp.

A coding boot camp can last between three to nine months.

The path you take when it comes to learning how to develop mobile apps depends on your needs and goals.

What Are The Skills Required For A Mobile Application Developer?

Here are some of the essential skills you need for a mobile app developer.

Problem Solving

As stated earlier, a mobile app developer is responsible for building, testing, and managing applications.

Problem-solving skills are required when it comes to recognizing technical issues with applications and finding solutions to them.

Analytical skills

Mobile application developers are tasked with building apps that match users’ needs.

App developers need to understand user’s needs before creating applications.

Creativity

As a mobile app developer, you need to be creative enough to create user-friendly apps.

Cross-platform app development

As seen above, there are three major platforms for building apps currently namely Android, iOS, and Windows. A developer needs to be versatile enough to develop mobile apps on different platforms for use on mobile devices.

Communication

Communication is a vital skill when it comes to building mobile applications. As a mobile app developer, you need to be able to communicate both in writing and verbally.

This will help you to ask the right questions when developing apps so you can understand the clients’ needs and wants.

You also need to be able to explain complex and technical terms to both techies and non-techies.

Programming Languages

App developers also need to know the modern programming languages such as Java, C#, CSS, HTML5, etc.

You don’t need to master all programming languages but know them could help you stand out from the crowd.

How To Start A Career As A Mobile App Developer

If you’re looking to start a career as a mobile app developer, you need to strategize first before you start building your first application.

Here are some of the ways to become a mobile app developer.

Learn how to code

Coding is the core of mobile app development. If you cannot code then you’re not a mobile app developer.

So, first, you need to learn how to code.

The good news is that you don’t need to join college or university to learn to code.

There is a ton of online resources online where you can learn basic and advanced coding for mobile app development.

Besides, most of the resources are free.

This article shares a list of the best resources to learn to code for free.

Take advantage of app builders

App builders help developers to develop apps quickly and inexpensively. They help developers who build apps for other businesses.

Besides, you don’t need any coding skills when using an app builder.

They are designed with templates you can just tweak to suit your client’s needs.

Some app builders also let you design the template from scratch.

App builders help developers build apps for use in different areas such as entertainment, non-profit, restaurant, small businesses, e-commerce, real estate, etc.

Factors to Consider Before Building a Mobile App Developer Career

Even though the mobile app development career is becoming popular, there are certain things to consider before diving in.

Here are seven things to consider before you start a career in mobile application development.

The kind of degree required

To become an experienced app developer is a process that takes time and effort.

As the demand for mobile app developers continues to increase, more people are getting into the field.

On the other hand, companies and clients are looking to hire qualified professionals to build their apps.

No matter how good you are in programming, you also need to back up your skills with a degree to stand out from the crowd.

Besides, obtaining a degree shows that you have the required knowledge for developing mobile applications.

Currently, prominent companies are looking for professionals with a degree in mobile computing, software engineering, and computer science.

So, first, you need to analyze the academic requirements of becoming an app developer so you can choose the right degree.

Ensure you obtain your degree from a reputable institution as well.

Decide which platform to focus on

As stated earlier, there are three major platforms for mobile app development in the market today: iOS, Android, and Windows.

You can choose to master them all or focus on one but we’d recommend choosing one platform when getting started.

Remember that the three platforms aren’t the same.

They also require one to know different programming languages. For instance, to develop applications for Android, you need to learn Java.

Note that Java is a bit complicated and requires more learning than other languages.

As a rule, you should choose a platform that interests you.

Several factors can help to influence your decision here.

For instance, Android is widely used whereas iOS has a good ROI.

Decide your best platform and master it then move to the next one because knowing different platforms helps you stand out from the crowd.

Is mobile app development worth your time?

It’s not a secret that the demand for mobile app developers is skyrocketing now that almost everyone owns a smartphone and businesses are going digital.

But before starting a career in mobile app development, you need to ask yourself whether it’s worth investing your time, effort, and money in becoming a developer.

Know your duties and responsibilities

As a mobile app developer, you’re not only tasked with building mobile apps for clients.

Before you start a career in mobile app development, you need to know your core responsibilities.

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities of a mobile app developer.

Coding and designing

Every mobile app developer needs to learn how to create bug-free code.

Coding and designing is therefore the basic role of a mobile app developer.

UI and UX design

Every app developer needs to learn how to develop apps that meet clients’ needs and wants. Users should also be able to use the apps with ease.

Development and testing

Development and testing is one of the repetitive stages of the mobile app development process.

You will be responsible for building mobile applications based on the client’s requirements then testing to see whether the apps meet those requirements.

You also have to ensure the apps are flawless.

Fixing issues and providing solutions

Even after building an app based on your client’s requirements, issues are going to come up.

As an app developer, you need to be able to provide fixes and suggest possible solutions in case the problems occur in the future.

Troubleshooting and debugging

You’re going to be tasked with testing the app after developing it, identify bugs if there are any, and remove them to make your app functional.

Monitoring

Clients expect you to build apps that help them achieve their goals.

After building an app, you’re required to monitor how it works and keep it updated constantly for a given period.

In a nutshell, your roles and responsibilities don’t stop when you build and hand over the app to your client.

Clients expect you to provide them with maximum support at any time they need.

Besides, being there when your clients need yous help to build a strong relationship with clients which can open more opportunities for you in case the client wants apps developed for other platforms.

How to get mobile developer jobs

No matter how skillful you are when it comes to mobile app development, if you don’t know how and where to look for jobs then you aren’t going to find the career valuable for you.

The good thing is that large and small businesses and companies are looking for qualified app developers.

When starting a career in mobile app development, you should focus on honing your skills and gaining experience to build a great resume.

You can also work full-time or on a freelance basis as an app developer.

Remember that you’re going to struggle to the extent of giving up in the beginning but don’t give up.

How to get your feet wet

Billions of people are buying smartphones each day. Businesses are going digital today than ever. But don’t be deceived to think that you’ll get a job immediately after you finish learning how to become a mobile app developer.

The demand for mobile app developers is skyrocketing but the competition is also insane as everyone is looking to seize the opportunity.

According to Evans Data Corporation, there were close to 24 million professional app developers worldwide in 2019 and the number is expected to increase to 28.7 million in 2024.

As you can see, building a career in mobile app development is one thing and getting your first client is another.

But don’t lose hope.

Start small and improve your career by observing the trends.

Your focus should be to gain experience.

You can start by applying for internships to hone your skills and get maximum exposure in the mobile app development space.

Final Thoughts

How to build a career in the mobile app development field is a tough task.

It requires time, effort, and experience to design an application that’s secure and reliable.

We hope this article will give you a good starting point.

Good luck!

Author Bio:

Susanna Balashova is an experienced mobile app developer and freelance writer who offers help to students with their custom papers. She is also a content writer and she shares insightful information around the mobile application development landscape.

Follow Susan on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.