Mobile App Developer
Also advertised as: Android Developer, app coder, app developer, App Developer, app programmer, Cross-Platform Developer
Builds applications for smartphones and tablets.
What the job involves
Mobile app developers design and build apps for iOS, Android or both, working with designers to translate mockups into working software. You handle performance, offline behaviour and app store releases. A strong portfolio of published apps matters as much as formal qualifications.
Typical responsibilities
- Build and maintain mobile applications
- Integrate with backend APIs and services
- Optimise app performance and battery use
- Test across devices and screen sizes
- Manage app store releases and updates
Common employers
- App development agencies
- Media and gaming companies
- Retailers
- Startups
- Banks
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £35,000 a year
With experience
£45,000 – £65,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours
Working environment
Office or remote
Remote working
remote
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Swift or Kotlin
- Cross-platform frameworks
- API integration
- UI implementation
- Version control
- App store deployment
Transferable skills you may already have
- Self-taught coding projects
- Design sensibility
- Problem solving
Requirements employers ask for
- Swift or Kotlin
- Cross-platform frameworks
- API integration
- UI implementation
- Version control
- App store deployment
- No formal qualification required; a published app or portfolio expected
- develop software prototype
- create flowchart diagram
- integrated development environment software
- utilise computer-aided software engineering tools
- analyse software specifications
- tools for software configuration management
- Internet of Things
- migrate existing data
- ICT debugging tools
- collect customer feedback on applications
- interpret technical texts
- use software design patterns
Useful but not essential
- Self-taught coding projects
- Design sensibility
- Problem solving
- Level 4 Software Developer apprenticeship
- Google Associate Android Developer
- Apple developer programme experience
- Smalltalk (computer programming)
- Puppet (tools for software configuration management)
- mobile device software frameworks
- Android (mobile operating systems)
- Erlang
- iOS
- APL
- Scala
Helpful qualifications
- Level 4 Software Developer apprenticeship
- Google Associate Android Developer
- Apple developer programme experience
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Software Developer (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Computer science
- Related subject: Software engineering
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Mobile Developer
next
Mobile Team Lead
next
Software Architect
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Tangible products used by real people
- Strong demand for experienced developers
- Portfolio can substitute for a degree
What people find hard
- Platform updates force frequent rework
- Entry-level roles are competitive
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a mobile app developer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a mobile app developer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £35,000 a year, rising towards £65,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Self-taught coding projects, Design sensibility, Problem solving.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
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