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iOS & Android
Mobile App Developer
Two platforms, two ecosystems, and a review process you do not control.
Typical pay
$85k-$160k
How you get in
Portfolio of shipped apps; CS degree common
Outlook
Solid; cross-platform frameworks are consolidating the field
Mobile developers build applications for phones and tablets. The platform constraints are real — app store review, OS version fragmentation and device testing add friction that web developers never deal with.
A day in the life
- 9:00aTriage crash reports from overnight releases
- 10:00aBuild a new screen against the design spec
- 12:30pLunch
- 1:30pDebug a layout issue that only appears on one device size
- 3:30pCode review and merge
- 4:30pPrepare a release build and submit for review
How to get in
Self-taught with shipped apps
Duration
9-18 months
Cost
$100-$2,000
Credential
None — published apps are the credential
- Pick one platform and learn it deeply — Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android
- Ship a real app to the store, even a small one; finishing is the differentiator
- Learn the full release cycle, not just coding
- Add a cross-platform framework like React Native or Flutter for more job options
Computer science degree
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$200,000
Credential
BS in computer science
- Complete a CS degree with strong fundamentals
- Build and ship mobile projects outside coursework
- Intern at a company with a mobile team
- Enter as a junior mobile engineer
Web developer into mobile
Duration
6-12 months
Cost
$0-$1,000
Credential
None
- Work as a web developer first, which is easier to enter
- Learn React Native or Flutter, which reuse your existing skills
- Take mobile work at your current company
- Add native platform knowledge over time for depth
What people love
- · Strong pay and remote-friendly
- · Your work is literally in people's hands
- · Freelance and contract work is plentiful
- · Independent app publishing is genuinely possible
What wears people down
- · App store review can block a release without warning
- · Device and OS fragmentation multiplies testing
- · Platform rule changes can break your business model
- · Entry level is competitive