App developers come with experience. Some developers work for companies directly, whilst some freelance or run their own businesses.

Depending on how many hours a developer has invested over the years and the experience they have gained will determine the final valuation of their pricing structure.

Some developers who work for companies are given a set wage whilst developers who work for themselves can be more competitive and set their own prices.

Developers can come with different titles, some can be software developers, whilst others, programmers, coders, or app developers, specialising in mobile applications like Apple or Android.

The difference between an “application” and a “program”?

The definition for the term “app” does very commonly refer to mobile applications that you can find on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or elsewhere, an application can be written for any operating system – or even for a web server.

An app or (application) is designed to help users perform a single task, be it playing online banking, ordering food, playing a game, writing a document, or editing an image. “Programs” and “software” are wider terms that can refer to any data that runs on certain hardware, and it’s not always made for the end-user. All apps are software, but not all software is an app.

For this reason, app developers (as opposed to general programmers) are focused on developing a program that helps an end-user do something.

While this is most frequently a job title for mobile developers (Android, iOS), it’s also very commonly used by desktop computer devs (Windows, macOS, Linux) and even web app developers.

App developers may also specialize in creating a certain kind of app, such as games, social media, video recording software, etc.

As an example, online banking must be ready for all devices, cross-platform, which makes developers a rare commodity since they can port an application to multiple systems.

Create software applications for a certain operating system or with a certain programming language.

• Create a clean and accessible UI for the end-users.
• Debug and fix code.
• Update and patch old software.
• Work with artists, researchers, and other developers.
• Communicate with clients and submit prototypes.
• Write documentation that’s accessible to users.

Generally, app developers tend to do more frontend graphical work and UI setup alongside coding, especially if you’re on a very small team.

Types of App Developers

App developers describes a broad title, therefore we need to delve into each job more precisely.

Software developer: These in essence are very similar to app developers; they can be considered a slightly less specialized job title. These developers tend to work more on the backend coding aspect, though there is often still some focus on the end-user.

Mobile app developer: This is often synonymous with “app developer” but can provide clarification. These developers work with Android, iOS, or other mobile operating systems. You can specialize even further by OS in your job title, such as “Android developer”.

Desktop application developer: Like mobile developers, but they work with desktop computer OSes like Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. Also, like mobile developers you can specialize, such as “Windows developer”.

Web app developer: These people work on web applications delivered from a web server to a browser, such as emails, forms, and browser-based tools like word processors.

Hybrid app developer: This job focuses on developing cross-platform web applications that are designed to act and feel like apps. Hybrid apps are written in web languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Demand for App Developers

App development is high in demand more so than any other job listing in any industry.

Software development has a job outlook of 22%, which means it’s on track to grow a lot faster than other jobs in any industry. Despite more and more people piling into the tech industry, there’s plenty of demand.

Software developers can earn $110,000/yr. according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour.

As for specifically mobile developers, your prospects are very good. Demand for mobile developers is expected to increase to 24% by 2026, and thanks to the continued expansion of mobile devices’ popularity, knowing how to work with these devices will help you land a job.

Mobile app developer jobs were found to be the #1 job search in America in 2017.

Job Requirements and Experience for App Developers

If you are applying for a job with a company, you will need to show the essential skills and requirements of an app developer. You will need to prove you have an education. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field may be required by some jobs, while a good portfolio and experience may be enough for others Having certification as a software developer or in your primary programming language can also look good on the curriculum vitae/resume.

Having your own online portfolio which you can showcase to the world with all the apps you have created, and their stats can prove beneficial in finding work.

You will need to show technical experience and familiarity with your target OS and platforms are necessary.

• Ability to write quality code and debug.
• Communication skills with clients and co-workers.
• Innovation and analytical/problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in the front and some UI/design skills.

How to Start as an App Developer

The first step to becoming an app developer is learning how to code, there are many courses available online on sites like udemy.com or edx.org

You will then have to practice and have a portfolio of apps you have designed and developed.

You can then showcase them on your online business site.

You obviously need to establish which technologies you want to specialize in, mobile app development and web app development are very different, though there can be some crossover between desktop and mobile development.

Do you want to work with phones, computers, web servers, or some combination?

The more you can design and develop the broader your services become, which gives you a better chance of being hired.

Do you want to specialize in a certain OS? Get familiar with the development tools and platforms available for the technology you pick.

You also must decide which programming language to learn. Depending on the services you wish to provide you may need to be proficient in a few programming languages.

• Android: Kotlin, Java, C++
• iOS: Swift
• Windows: C#, C++, Python, Java, Perl
• Mac: Swift
• Linux: Python, C++, C, Perl, Java

Web applications: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby.

You need to realise that some frameworks like Django, Laravel, or Ruby on Rails are often used, especially for languages like Ruby and Python that weren’t originally made for the web.

Here are some tools and official resources to help you get started. Also, consider searching for beginner guides to the language you pick.

• Apple (macOS and iOS):
• Learn to Code with Apple
• SwiftUI Tutorials
• Apple SDK
• iOS Programming Resources

Windows:

Build desktop apps for Windows

• Windows SDK and developer tools
• Linux:
• Make a Linux App
• Awesome Linux Dev Tools
• Developing Applications for Linux Course
• Android:
• Android Studio SDK
• Android Training Courses
• Awesome Android Learning Resources

Average App Developer Salary

How much do app developers make in a year?

According to the top salary tracking websites.

• Indeed: $80k/year, based on 3k salaries.
• Glassdoor: $93k/year, with a low of $72k and a high of $120k.
• ZipRecruiter: $94k/year, with a low of $49k and a high of $159k.
• PayScale: $71k/year, with a low of $51k and a high of $101k.

Based on an average of all four of these records and you get a total span of $85k/year.

• App developers make $93,000/yr. on average according to Glassdoor.
• What about specifically mobile app developers that work with tools like Android and iOS?
• com: $98k/year, with a low of $69k and a high of $123k.
• Glassdoor: $89k/year, with a low of $65k and a high of $122k.
• ZipRecruiter: $102k/year, with a low of $42k and a high of $152k.
• PayScale: $74k/year, with a low of $49k and a high of $119k.
• On average this is $91k/year, which is a little higher than a generalized app developer.

Web app development, for web servers and their technologies.

• com: $106k/year.
• Glassdoor: $89k/year, with a low of $64k and a high of $123k.
• ZipRecruiter: $82k/year, with a low of $51k and a high of $111k.
• PayScale: $66k/year, with a low of $46k and a high of $96k.
• Glassdoor Web app developers make $89,000/yr.

App Developer Salary by Experience Level

Experience level has one of the biggest effects on salary. One cannot measure experience without measuring time. Just because an app can be developed in a relevantly short time, it is the amount of experience and the amount of time it has taken to learn to build the app that will determine the end price of the job.

If you cannot find a suitable job, then create a business and work for yourself. Obviously, you will have to have an all singing and dancing website for you to stand out from the crowd.

Entry-level app developer, working for a company, fresh out of college or with very little experience.

• com: $32/hour, which comes out to approximately $67k/year.
• Glassdoor: $95k/year, with a low of $48k and a high of $190k.
• Indeed: $65k/year, based on 20+ salaries.
• ZipRecruiter: $79k/year, with a low of $19k and a high of $151k.
• Entry-level mobile app developers make $78,765/yr. on average according to ZipRecruiter.
• Entry-level mobile app developers make $78,765/yr. on average according to ZipRecruiter.
• Junior app developers make $69,000/yr on average according to ZipRecruiter

App Developer Salary by Location

Depending on where you live around the world will determine your salary if you are working for a company. However, if you work for yourself, you can have a price range that can be competitive with other companies. Here are an example of countries and how well they pay app developers, in both local currency and USD.

• Switzerland: $85k/year (79k Fr/year)
• Scotland: $53k/year (£39k/year)
• Australia: $51k/year (AU$73k/year)
• Germany: $51k/year (€46k/year)
• Canada: $50k/year (C$64k/year)
• The Netherlands: $48k/year (€43k/year)
• Austria: $48k/year (€43k/year)
• Singapore: $42k/year (S$56k/year)
• United Kingdom: $42k/year (£32k/year)
• Finland $41k/year (€37k/year)
• New Zealand: $41k/year (NZ$63k/year)
• France: $40k/year (€36k/year)
• China: $38k/year (¥240k/year)
• Hong Kong: $38k/year (HK$300k/year)
• Israel: $37k/year (₪120k/year)
• Italy: $32k/year (€29k/year)
• Saudi Arabia: $26k/year (SAR 97k/year)
• Mexico: $23k/year ($485k/year MXN)
• Russia: $17k/year (1.3m₽/year)
• India $7k/year (₹512k/year)
• Brazil $5k/year (R$26k/year)
• Nigeria: $3k/year (₦1.2m/year)
• Indonesia $275/year (Rp 4m/year)

Freelance App Developer Salary

Working for yourself is not for the faint hearted. You need to know how to run a business before you start out. https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business

You need to secure funding, you have to have a business plan and work out how you plan to live on the income that comes in.

How does freelancing app development compare to salaried positions?

Whilst freelancing gives you more flexibility and control of the hours you work and jobs you take, a salaried job on the other hand gives you a guaranteed wage.

ZipRecruiter and Glassdoor report salaries of $110k/year and $101k/year for freelance iOS developers. Freelance Android developers can expect a salary of $119k/year. Android salaries may skew a little higher, but there’s no huge disparity.

Codementor.io reports that freelance mobile app developers make $61-80/hour. If the average full-time freelancer works 36 hours per week, that makes a yearly salary of $114k-$168k/year.

Mobile app developers have an hourly rate that ranges from $61-80, according to Codementor.io

Remote App Developer Salary

If you plan on working as a remote developer, the salary may be a bit different. Here are some estimates for what you might be making.

• Remote Android developers could make from $111k/year to $140k/year, while iOS developers are projected to make $112k/year.
• A remote Android developer makes $140,000/yr. on average, according to Talent.com.
• A remote Android developer makes $140,000/yr. on average, according to Talent.com.
• Remote mobile app developers, in general, make on average $73k/year. Junior developers can expect $60k/year starting out, while you can make $87k/year as a senior mobile app developer.

App Developer Salary vs Web Developer Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour’s 2020 statistics, web developers make a $77k/year. You can also see that according to various salary websites, web developers make on average 60k-75k/year.

Web developers make $77,000/yr. on average according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour.

In comparison to app developers’ salary of $85k/year, $8k-$25k more than the salary of web developers, web developers, especially frontend developers, are known to have generally lower salaries compared to software developers.

App Developer Salary vs Other Developers Salary

Web developers can be divided into three main categories: frontend developers who use HTML and CSS to design the visible parts of a webpage, backend developers who focus on using a variety of technologies for server-side work, and full-stack developers who can do both.

Frontend developers make on average $90k/year, backend developers $91k/year, and full-stack developers $97k/year.

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