Builds apps for iPhone and Android phones and tablets, from the screens users tap to the code that syncs data and handles offline use. BLS does not publish separate figures for web developers; it counts them within web developer (SOC 15-1254), whose median pay is $92,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1254
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mobile App Developer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $92,650a year, or $44.54/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $162K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,30087,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202587.4K
- Projected 203590.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 87.4K Projected 2035 90.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school4.2%
- High school8.3%
- Certificate16.7%
- Some college4.2%
- Associate's16.7%
- Bachelor's45.8%
Highest education held by web developers Segment Value Less than high school 4.2% High school 8.3% Certificate 16.7% Some college 4.2% Associate's 16.7% Bachelor's 45.8%
Also advertised as: iOS Developer, Android Developer, Mobile Developer, Mobile Software Engineer, React Native Developer.
Pay
How much do Web Developers make?
Every mobile app developer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$92,650
Middle half earn $64,230 to $126,230
- 10th
- $48,100
- 25th
- $64,230
- 75th
- $126,230
- 90th
- $162,290
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,100 |
| 25th | $64,230 |
| Median | $92,650 |
| 75th | $126,230 |
| 90th | $162,290 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $92,650
- Median hourly wage
- $44.54/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $98,770
- People employed
- 70,190
Versus all US occupations
At $92,650, Web Developers earn 82% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $41,670 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $162,290 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,100, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 68% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($130,440), but once local prices are taken into account Virginia leads at $126,978 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Web Developers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $130,440 | $121,892 | 4,430 |
| 2Virginia | $128,380 | $126,978 | 4,590 |
| 3California | $119,570 | $107,993 | 7,320 |
| 4District of Columbia | $114,690 | $104,358 | 430 |
| 5Maryland | $112,690 | $107,366 | 1,960 |
| 6Missouri | $103,750 | $114,241 | 1,160 |
| 7Minnesota | $101,020 | $102,433 | 1,200 |
| 8Utah | $100,170 | $101,321 | 1,280 |
| 9New York | $98,580 | $91,345 | 3,990 |
| 10Massachusetts | $98,470 | $93,110 | 1,940 |
Job outlook
Is Mobile App Developer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Web Developers | +3.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Web Developers to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,300 openings are projected each year, 6.1% of the 87,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Mobile App Developer
Many mobile developers have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, but self-taught developers and bootcamp graduates are common, especially those with published apps. Learning Swift and SwiftUI through Apple's developer documentation, or Kotlin and Jetpack Compose through Android's official training, is the usual starting point.
Publishing even a small app to an app store is strong evidence of skill because it shows you can finish and ship. Employers mostly judge portfolios and coding interviews rather than certificates. Web developers often move into mobile through cross-platform frameworks.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as web developers.
- Bachelor's Degree45.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree16.7%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)8.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma4.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 45.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 16.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 16.7% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 8.3% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mobile App Developer do?
Mobile app developers build the apps people use on their phones. iOS developers typically write in Swift using Apple's frameworks, Android developers in Kotlin, and cross-platform developers use tools such as React Native or Flutter to target both. They turn designs into working screens, connect them to backend services, store data on the device, and handle real-world problems like weak connections, small batteries and many different screen sizes.
Developers also manage the release process through Apple's App Store and Google Play, which have their own review rules and guidelines. After launch they track crashes, fix bugs, adopt new operating system features each year, and keep the app fast and accessible.
Day-to-day tasks
- Build app screens from design files
- Write app code in Swift, Kotlin or a cross-platform framework
- Connect apps to backend APIs and handle offline data
- Test on multiple devices and operating system versions
- Submit releases through the App Store and Google Play
- Monitor crash reports and fix bugs
- Improve app speed, battery use and accessibility
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Mobile developers work at app studios, startups, agencies, retailers, banks, media companies and large technology firms. The work is desk-based and often remote or hybrid. Hours are mostly regular, with pressure around app releases and annual operating system updates. Developers test on a drawer full of real devices as well as simulators.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Speaking3.3
- Writing3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Programming4.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Operations Analysis3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Systems Evaluation3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Programming | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Mobile App Developer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IAC) built on O*NET's Web Developer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mobile App Developer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative5.3
- Conventional5.0
- Artistic3.8
- Realistic3.0
- Enterprising3.0
- Social2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Mobile App Developer
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with web developers highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
- Mobile App Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
| Mobile App Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Mobile App Developer appears on
Questions
Mobile App Developer: frequently asked questions
How much do Web Developers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for web developers. It counts them within web developer, whose median pay is $92,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $64,230 and $126,230, and the top 10% earn $162,290 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mobile App Developer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Web Developers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Mobile App Developer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mobile App Developer do?
Mobile app developers build the apps people use on their phones. A typical task: build app screens from design files. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Web Developers the most?
The highest state medians for Web Developers are Washington ($130,440), Virginia ($128,380), California ($119,570) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Virginia moves to the top at $126,978.
What personality type suits a Mobile App Developer?
O*NET scores Web Developers highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.