Mobile App Development

Considering a career as a Mobile App Developer? We’ve got all the information you need to decide if this career is right for you, including job description, requirements, bootcamp information, and salary/job outlook.
Header image for Mobile App Development

Last updated August 22, 2024

What is Mobile App Development?

Mobile development is building software to run on mobile devices like tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches. Everything from Instagram to enterprise apps fit in this category. Mobile apps are built for the general public, private companies, and the government. Mobile apps might be native (written in a specific platform’s language) or non-native, written to work on multiple platforms. Android apps are typically written in Java while Apple/iOS apps are written in Swift or Objective-C. These languages are preapproved by the vendor who manufactures the device.

How to Learn Mobile App Development

If you wish to begin a career as a Mobile App Developer, learning to code with a bootcamp is probably the fastest option. Mobile App Development bootcamps can range from 5 weeks to 10 months and vary in price from $5,000-$15,000. The tuition depends on several factors, including location, whether it's immersive or part-time, or online vs in-person. If you’re a self-starter, you may be able to get the education you need by paying for an online, self-paced curriculum, or building your own curriculum to get the training to become a Mobile App Developer. Online resources like Treehouse and Codecademy offer free trials and paid monthly subscriptions. Many mobile app development bootcamps offer deferred tuition, Income Share Agreements (ISA), and financing options.

What Does a Mobile App Developer Do?

The job description for a Mobile App Developer often depends on the employer. The primary duty of a Mobile App Developer is to create, maintain, and implement source code that meets the requirements of the client. They should also understand the different platforms and tools available, and be able to design for any mobile device. The Mobile App Developer should understand the entire development process of an application and how to develop a minimum viable product (MVP). Their duties may include one or all of the steps in the design, development, testing, release, and maintenance life cycle. 

Some of the most common Mobile App Developer job titles for bootcampers are:

  • Mobile Application Developer
  • Mobile Application Programmer
  • iOS Mobile Application Developer
  • Android Developer
  • Mobile Engineer
  • Mobile Software Engineer
  • Hybrid Mobile Application Developer
  • Mobile Developer
  • Software Developer, Mobile

What Kind of Skills Do Mobile App Developers Need?

Most Mobile App Developer positions do not require a degree, but will require you to prove your skills with a coding challenge or whiteboarding. Additionally, you should have a portfolio of your apps ready to show potential employers. The skills you need will vary, based on whether you choose to develop for Android or iOS (or both). 

Hard Skills Required for a Mobile App Developer

To be an Android Developer you’ll need to know:  

  • Java 
  • C++ 
  • Android Studio 
  • Eclipse 
  • XML
  • Kotlin 
  • Unity 

To be an iOS Developer you’ll need:

  • Objective-C 
  • Swift 
  • Xcode 

You can develop on both operating systems using:

Other hard skills that would be helpful for a Mobile App Designer include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Frameworks such as jQuery, Bootstrap, and ReactJS.

Soft Skills Needed to Become a Mobile App Developer

Don’t discount the importance of soft skills to your career path. To be a successful Mobile App Developer, the following soft skills are vital:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Creativity
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem-solving

Strong communication skills also are a requirement for App Developers because they’ll need to collaborate with other designers, developers, and departments as well as interact with clients. 

Job Market and Salary Insights

Mobile app developers are in high demand. The growth rate for developers is projected to be 25 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than average. Globally, the mobile app market is expected to jump from $206.73 billion in 2022 to $407.31 billion by 2025, and the number of downloads is projected to increase by over 40 billion from 2020 to 2024. The job possibilities are nearly endless; after a mobile development bootcamp, you can design native apps for a vendor like Apple or Google, develop apps at a startup, or start your own business.

The average salary for a Mobile App Developer is $128,002. Location is a big factor when it comes to salary, with top markets such as Orlando ($211,747), New York ($155,412), and Atlanta ($147,173) offering the highest rates of pay. Educational requirements vary; while many employers prefer to hire those with college degrees in computer science, that isn’t always the case. However, there are a few certifications that can boost your salary, such as Certified iOS App Developer, Mobile Development Institute Certified Developer (MDICD), Oracle Certified Professional/Java ME Mobile Application Developer, or Xamarin Certified Mobile Developer.

FAQ Section

How do you become a Mobile App Developer?

Learning to code via a bootcamp is often the most efficient way to become a Mobile App Developer. Mobile app development bootcamps will teach you the hard skills you need to start your career, such as C++, Java, or Swift, and may offer career assistance after you complete the program.

How long does it take to become a mobile app developer?

It depends entirely on you and how much time you can commit to a bootcamp. Bootcamps take anywhere from 5 weeks to 19 months to complete, depending on whether you go full or part time, and may cost $5,000 to $15,000 (although most bootcamps offer financing options).

How do you become a mobile app developer without a degree?

Most app developer positions do not require a degree. To become a Mobile App Developer you will need to demonstrate your skills by creating a strong portfolio of apps you’ve designed, as well as performing a coding challenge or whiteboarding. The skills required for a position as a Mobile App Developer will vary based on the employer and whether you specialize in Android, iOS, or both. These skills can all be learned in a mobile development bootcamp.

Want help finding the best school for you?

Get Matched
Share this article
Explore More Bootcamp Resources
Mobile App Development Schools
Displaying schools 101-117 of 117 in total
  1. edit-logo
    1 Review
    2 Courses
    4.0

    About This School

    EDIT offers part-time, 3-to 6-month courses in web development, digital marketing, UX/UI design, and mobile development in Porto and Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain. EDIT provides students with individual and group projects, case study analysis, workshops, and inside knowledge from tutors, guest speakers, and renowned professionals in the web and digital industry. EDIT focuses on the needs of the job market, aiming to give students a modern and competitive education.

  2. codecamp-charleston-logo
    0 Reviews
    8 Courses

    About This School

    CODEcamp offers a series of 4-week evening courses and one-day intensive trainings for those looking to improve their current skills or learn new technologies. CODEcamp operates in collaboration with the Charleston Digital Corridor. Courses include Web Basics, JavaScript, MySQL, PHP 101, and Ruby 101, and are held in the evenings to accommodate your schedule. These courses consist of hands-on projects and lectures taught by software professionals working in Charleston.

  3. sd-code-bootcamp-logo
    0 Reviews
    1 Course

    About This School

    SD Code Bootcamp is an intensive full time coding school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The program is Monday to Friday for 8 weeks covering technologies like HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Bootstrap, Git, and mobile for Android and iOS. SD Code Bootcamp features additional specialized curriculum for those that want it after the bootcamp is over along with career services like resume and interview prep. 

  4. geekskool-logo
    0 Reviews
    1 Course

    About This School

    Geekskool is a 3 month intensive coding bootcamp in Bangalore, India. The program is free of charge for all participants, and is a great fit for programmers who want to be placed in startups. The bootcamp covers skills in full stack web development and mobile development for iOS and Android. Students will engage in project-based learning. Geekskool welcomes career-changers, but also current programmers who want to improve their skills or get the skills they need to work in startups. Applicants without a college degree should have a familiarity with at least one programming language.

  5. ixperience-logo
    0 Reviews
    6 Courses

    About This School

    iXperience is a credit-bearing, study-abroad career accelerator program for university students based in Cape Town, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, and Berlin, in partnership with the University of Virginia. iXperience offers a 6-week iX learn and intern program, which combines blended learning courses with interning experiences taught by industry experts in full stack coding, data science, visual design, product management, management consulting, cloud computing, digital marketing, or investment finance. The program begins with a week of Global Studies, followed by two weeks of classroom learning, and finishing up with three weeks of work experience at a local company with support from teaching staff. Class sizes are limited to 25 students with help from hands-on teaching assistants to ensure that complex concepts are grasped. Outside of class, students can explore their host city, with planned excursions like food tours, surfing, diving, hiking, sailing, and cultural immersions. Modern accommodation is provided and located near vibrant restaurants, cafes and public transport.


  6. About This School

    Monroe College in Queens, NY launched The Tech Boot Camp in response to the growing need for qualified professionals in the tech industry. It offers weekend classes over five or 10 weeks in Mobile Application Development, Open Source Web Technologies and Microsoft Technologies.

  7. hack-school-logo
    0 Reviews
    0 Courses

    About This School

    Hack School MX is a coding bootcamp that teaches programming skills and entrepreneurship in Latin America. Students will learn in Monterrey, Mexico. Hack School caters to beginners, and applicants do not need programming experience to apply. Applicants should choose from tech bootcamps in subjects ranging from Front End and Back End Web Development to Data Science to iOS and Android. 

  8. andela-logo
    0 Reviews
    1 Course

    About This School

    Andela is a four-year, paid Technical Leadership Program in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya. The program is designed to shape you into an elite software developer. Through your training and work with top global technology companies, you’ll master the professional and technical skills needed to become a technology leader, both on the continent and around the world. The curricula spans the following programming languages: Ruby / Ruby on Rails, Python / Django, PHP / Laravel, MEAN Stack, & Mobile Development (Android and iOS).

  9. playcrafting-logo
    0 Reviews
    2 Courses

    About This School

    Playcrafting offers part-time, 8-week mobile game development courses in NYC, San Francisco, and Boston. Students will focus on learning Unity and C# to create games from prototype to finished product. Each class session incorporates time for troubleshooting and critiquing of a student's current project, and by the end of the course, students will be able to build a game idea in Unity and export it to the platform of their choice. By learning from gaming industry professionals, students will sharpen their game development skill set. Also, students will join the Playcrafting community and have access to educational events, dynamic networking opportunities, and classes to help them crack the code to gaming success.

  10. ntier-training-logo
    0 Reviews
    3 Courses

    About This School

    nTier Training offers 8-week technical courses designed for national and international corporate IT departments and teams. nTier Training works with companies to address skill gaps through immersive bootcamps in full stack web development, Agile development, test driven development, Java, Design, and DevOps. Valuing hands-on labs over lecture, nTier Training leverages the experience of each team to customize course content to meet business needs. Courses promote team collaboration and support in-depth learning with on-site classes designed to give students immediate feedback and individual attention.

  11. intela-education-logo
    0 Reviews
    4 Courses

    About This School

    Intela Education offers a full-time, 4-day data science course in Los Angeles and San Jose, California, and Calgary, Canada. This hands-on course covers the fundamentals of data science, Python, machine learning, artificial intelligence, Apache Spark, and more. Intela Education’s goal is to provide machine learning and data science expertise to students from across the globe to help nurture top talent and create opportunities for collaboration. During the course, Integrated Technologies Laboratory (Intela) provides students the completely free opportunity to use cutting-edge platforms for all computing needs.

  12. mediatech-institute-logo
    0 Reviews
    2 Courses

    About This School

    MediaTech Institute offers full-time, 45-week programs in mobile app development and web design and development in Houston and Dallas, Texas. The mission of MediaTech Institute is to provide educational opportunities in digital technologies, emphasize skills and knowledge, and allow students to adjust to a lifetime of professional and technological change. Courses cover core skills and technologies including HTML and CSS, with an introduction to JavaScript and PHP. Students also learn how to program in Java, Objective C, and create iOS apps.

  13. immune-technology-institute-logo
    0 Reviews
    6 Courses

    About This School

    IMMUNE Technology Institute is a technological center in Madrid, Spain that offers a three-year Computer Entrepreneurship Program, and 12- and 18-week intensive bootcamps in programming and web development, data science, cybersecurity, DevOps & cloud computing, and UX/UI design. The programs can be completed online or in-person at IMMUNE's campus in the tech and financial hub of Madrid. IMMUNE students will receive hands-on training and collaboration with corporate partners. IMMUNE also offers masters and executive management programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Architecture & DevOps Management.

  14. vilnius-coding-school-logo
    0 Reviews
    7 Courses

    About This School

    Vilnius Coding School is a Lithuanian-based bootcamp offering part-time online courses in manual testing (8 weeks), data analytics (8 weeks), automated testing (7 weeks), front end JavaScript (8 weeks), full stack web development (4 weeks, full-time), UX/UI design (4 weeks, full time), and cybersecurity (6 weeks). Vilnius Coding School also offers a co-working space for students to work on projects and learn outside of class.

  15. siliconvalley4u-logo
    0 Reviews
    4 Courses

    About This School

    SiliconValley4U is a technical training provider offering a 24-week, online, part-time coding bootcamp. The adult coding bootcamp covers topics like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and APIs. Students will complete real world projects to reinforce the concepts they cover. SiliconValley4U also offers other technical courses for students of all ages.

  16. ark-x-academy-logo
    0 Reviews
    2 Courses

    About This School

    Ark-x Academy is a Morocco-based tech training provider offering a free Jobintech Program (20 weeks) in either Full Stack Java/Angular or Full Stack JavaScript/MERN. The Full Stack Java/Angular bootcamp covers topics like Java, Angular, Git, SQL, networking, HTML, CSS, REST, Agile, Scrum, and JavaScript. The Full Stack JavaScript/MERN bootcamp covers topics like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js, Agile, Scrum, and Git. In addition to the bootcamps, Ark-X Academy also offers a variety of technical courses. 

  17. ydev-academy-logo
    0 Reviews
    8 Courses

    About This School

    YDev Academy offers Full Stack Software Development (24 week),  IT-Ops (20 week), Data Science (12 week), Product Management (8 week), and Design (8 week) bootcamps designed to equip Africa’s emerging workforce with in-demand technology skills. All Ydev Academy bootcamps combine online and in-person learning in Nigeria. Weekend class schedules are available. 

Get Free Bootcamp Advice

Sign up for our newsletter and receive our free guide to paying for a bootcamp.

By submitting this form, you agree to receive email marketing from Course Report.

Get Matched in Minutes

Just tell us who you are and what you’re searching for, we’ll handle the rest.

Match Me