Did you know that more than 218 billion apps were downloaded in the year 2020?
With a large number of apps being downloaded by users, the need for aspiring app developers is growing.
Why become an app developer?
In 2023, mobile apps will generate a revenue of more than $935 billion. App developers are one of the most demanding and high-paying jobs within the technical field.
According to the report of Payscale, the average mobile application developer salary is $73,404/year in the USA. And if you're an experienced mobile developer, then the average salary is expected to reach $1,12,000/year.
So how do you become an app developer?
First: choose the types of apps and platforms you'd like to work on.
To get started as an app developer, decide which types of apps you'd like to develop.
Desktop apps: Users can access these apps through their laptops or desktop computers.
Web apps: Unlike desktop apps, web applications have the advantage that users can access them from anywhere.
Mobile apps: These apps live on mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.
From there, choose one of the major platforms and start learning how to develop their apps.
Android for Google and Samsung devices
iOs for Apple devices
Windows for PCs
Second: learn essential background skills.
To be a mobile app developer, you'll need the required software development skills and knowledge.
If you're an absolute beginner in programming, it’s best to take up a short introductory course on computer science. You can easily find free or cheap courses online on sites like Coursera, and edX.
Some hard skills you'll need to learn:
Programming — you'll need working knowledge of programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
Logic — you'll need to understand how a variety of app functions work on different devices and systems.
Design — you'll work a lot with UX designers, so it's good to have some understanding of app design principles.
Third: plan your career path.
Review the educational options and career paths you can take to become an app developer.
Start with education:
Get a bachelor's or associate degree in computer science at college/university
Join app developer boot camps and certificate programs so you can get practical, hands-on training.
Get your foot in the door and work your way up:
Your first job will likely be as a junior developer.
With enough experience and the right opportunities, you can move up to senior and lead developer positions.
The most experienced developers become development managers or technical directors.
Take Action
Follow these next tips to help you started on your new career:
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.