Mobile Application Developers

Mobile Application Developers create software for mobile devices.
 
The latest mobile devices and applications are changing the way we communicate, do business, and access news and entertainment. Businesses, consumers and programmers have embraced this innovative medium, making mobile application developer one of the most demanded and fastest growing IT career paths.
Mobile developers write programs inside of a mobile development environment using the Objective C, C++, C# or Java programming languages. A mobile app developer chooses the operating system (a.k.a. mobile platform) they will develop for, such as Google's Android or Apple's iOS, then learns the programming languages and software development environment for that platform.
Currently, there are 5 major mobile platforms, each with its own core language(s) and development environment:

			Mobile Platform    Core Language Dev. Environment Mobile Devices Android Java Eclipse Multiple Vendors iOS (Apple) Objective-C Xcode Apple Devices Only RIM (Blackberry) Java Eclipse Blackberry Only Symbian C++ Multiple choices Multiple Vendors Windows Mobile C# Visual Studio 2010 Multiple Vendors
			Mobile Application Developer Skills & Responsibilities Typical day-to-day duties and in-demand skill sets for mobile application developers include: Mobile developers are fluent in object-oriented programming languages such as Java, Objective-C and C++. Mobile application developers code, test, debug, monitor and document changes for mobile applications. Mobile devs are skilled at working inside the development environments of one or more the top mobile OSes. Mobile app developers can implement application programming interfaces (APIs) to support mobile functionality. Mobile application developers know the terminology, concepts, and best practices for coding mobile applications. Mobile application developers migrate and adapt existing web applications to the leading mobile platforms. In-house mobile developers work closely with other departments to brainstorm and optimize deployments. Mobile application developers recommend changes and enhancements to existing mobile applications. Mobile Application Developer Salary Mobile Application Developer average annual salary (USA): $94,000 Mobile Application Developer Salary $94,000   Average salaries for mobile application developers and related positions: Blackberry App Developer: $89,000 Software Engineer: $90,000 Mobile Software Engineer: $94,000 Mobile Application Developer: $94,000 iPhone Application Developer: $95,000 iPad Application Developer: $95,000 Java Application Developer: $96,000 Android Application Developer: $97,000 iOS Software Engineer: $102,000 Senior iPhone Developer: $105,000 Senior Android Developer: $107,000 Lead Java Developer: $110,000 Senior Mobile Developer: $111,000 Javascript Jquery Developer: $124,000 The hourly wage for mobile application developers varies widely - from $21 to $150 per hour - depending on the mobile developer's location, portfolio, proficiency and known platforms. Mobile Application Developer Education Requirements Most employers seek mobile application developers with at least a bachelor's degree in software engineering, mobile application development, mobile computing, computer science or a similar programming-centric field of study. Hiring managers for mobile development positions will also want to see a portfolio with samples of completed mobile applications and your best development projects. The following undergrad and graduate degree programs satisfy both of these requirements with hands-on courses wherein students create a range of applications for the leading mobile platforms, plus specialized lessons on presenting yourself as a top candidate for mobile developer positions, in which active mobile development practitioners help you assemble the apps created throughout the program into an industry-specific portfolio, resume and cover letter. Marketable skills to look for in a mobile development education program include iOS application development (iPhone & iPad), Android application development, object-oriented programming (OOP), Java programming (Java SE/ME/EE), JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Objective-C and C++ programming, user-interface (UI) design, game & simulation programming, mobile app portfolio assembly, database & OS fundamentals, and mobile media marketing & deployment. The subject matter in mobile application development training works extremely well in online learning formats.