Mobile app development is an excellent skill to add to your development portfolio and professional resume. There are more people and businesses needing mobile apps developed, and there is a real need to learn and develop your skills in mobile technology. There are many tech jobs available for software development. If you look at the demand and popularity of the iPhone, iPod, and iPad, a career as a software developer is an excellent choice.
Entry-level and experienced IT professionals are getting into the field of mobile app development because of the rewarding career opportunities that pay well and include excellent benefits. There is also the potential for massive career growth in the industry. A recent survey from VisionMobile mobile app developers noted iOS development as the top IT skill to learn based on the learning curve and salary. From the standpoint of application development, there are many different opportunities for career growth.
If you are looking for additional reasons to start your mobile app development career? Consider the reasons and the actual demand for iOS skills such as flash development and Swift.
Around the world, the mobile app market is growing exponentially. Companies are pursuing software developers to create mobile apps globally and in almost every industry imaginable. By creating dynamic and functional apps that run on iOS, developers get many opportunities to display their skills and expertise. There is a steady demand for iOS developers that have the right skills to create innovative mobile applications. To learn and develop your skills is essential in this industry.
Author of “iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide” Joe Conway predicts a growing iOS market and a huge demand for programmers. He suggests that the need for skilled professionals is essential for maintaining and refining mobile applications.
Developers will work to create and release new versions of their apps with each new release of new iOS mobile devices along with new versions of the iOS operating system. There are also app modifications that will compete with other related applications. He also states that there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the market with the ability to develop native iOS applications. The deficit will create a high demand for programmers.
Huo Ju, an iOS and OS X developer, stated that with the growing number of Apple devices released, the number of new start-ups focused on mobile apps creates a soaring demand for new iOS professionals.
Two industries experiencing much demand include health and home automation. Other markets with a high demand for iOS developers include law enforcement, telephone companies, the financial sector, utilities and energy, insurance, transportation, retail, and travel.
Higher Compensation for iOS Developers
Because of the explosive demand for developers, many companies are offering generous compensation programs. Based on a recent survey by Indeed, the average salary for iOS developers is 68% higher than the average wage based on other employment opportunities. iOS developers can expect to earn $124,308 per year.
Indeed also predicts that salaries will continue to rise for the long term.
Mondo estimates salaries that range from $90,000 to $200,000 per year. Also, LinkedIn examined its database of over several hundred million profiles to find that the top position was the iOS developer career path.
iOS Developer Job Responsibilities
Now that you have seen the potential for demand and salary, here are some of what an iPhone app developer does, along with the skills required to start a career.
iOS programmers build intuitive and seamless mobile applications for Apple’s iOS operating system. They contribute to the brand with well-designed apps that can create a positive impact on Apple. Developers also work in diverse teams that include iOS developers, managers, and designers.
Additional tech job responsibilities include:
Building multi-threaded apps that can help the device’s operating system distribute the processor time more evenly across different tasks.
- Fix bugs and correct bottlenecks so that your mobile applications are seamless and functional. User testing is essential to create a high-quality mobile app that users will enjoy and use often.
- Code unit tests for usability and app reliability. Unit testing is a level of software testing where components of a mobile app are tested.
- Create and build advanced native mobile iOS applications.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create, design, and release new features.
- When working together with other organizations to test mobile apps, the project gains the advantage of having more unique perspectives for improvements and benchmarking.
- Study and evaluate new technologies to make the most of development efficiency.
- Maintain and organize code quality.
It can be a challenge to start a career in iOS development if you have little to no programming experience. There are many online resources and courses that can help you learn iPhone app development, and explore careers in programming.
Once you have the proper training, you can start practicing your skills with application development. Try creating simple applications and release to the public for free or at a low cost so that you can begin to receive valuable feedback and reviews.
Important Skills to Know
It’s essential to know how to develop native software that is functional and structurally sound for the Mac OS X and iOS platforms.
- Keep up with the current user design and user experience trends and stay updated on the new features for Apple’s software development kit.
- Invest in a Mac computer and look for high speeds and memory for developing and testing your apps.
- Make use of project management software, deployment strategies, automated testing, and version control systems.
- Consider purchasing an iPhone, iPod, and an iPad for cross-functional testing that will allow you to test your applications based on actual user experience.
- Sign up to become an iOS developer program to gain access to all of Apple’s developer tools. It is a valuable membership for developers because you can reach customers globally, gain access to beta software, advanced application capabilities, app analytics, and a wealth of beta testing tools.
- Learn Objective C as many iOS applications are created in this programming language. It is a primary language with object-oriented capabilities and features a dynamic runtime.
- Learn Swift, which is Apple’s programming language for their apps. It has become easier to learn, and it is a powerful programming language. It features concise and expressive syntax, along with many modern interactive features. The software is known to create lightning-fast software programs.
- Work with XCode which is the development studio for program and app creation for Apple devices.
- iOS is a host of tools and frameworks where you can add images and text, handle user interactions, and build views.
Other useful programs include the interface builder, version control, and frameworks.
Interface builder is an excellent tool that allows you to create drag and drop user interfaces. Version control is a versioning system for code, and it’s another program essential to app development. Frameworks allow you to reuse code in your applications that are created by other developers.
The demand for iOS developers is growing, and many companies are looking for programmers with these essential skills to pursue careers in app development.
As a beginning programmer, you should consider the technology career path that will give you the most rewarding benefits. Learning to develop mobile applications for iOS is an excellent step in the right direction.