Job Profile

App Developer

The majority of people who create apps are creative thinkers with the ability to program new concepts as apps — every App Developer must be driven by a desire to learn new, specialised information and put it into practice.

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App Developer Job Profile

What Is an App Developer?

In essence, App Developers adapt to the times. They must be aware of what their clients desire — how can users get more quickly to their destination, and how should they utilise the app? An App Developer can work alone, creating and marketing their own apps, or work for a company that specialises in programming and promotes apps to its clientele.

App development spans three core areas of activity:

  • Developing an app idea (on behalf of an employer) or evaluating a client’s idea for feasibility
  • Writing the initial version of the app
  • Building, programming, testing, and ensuring the app is approved for major app stores

What Are the Tasks of an App Developer?

The role goes well beyond programming alone. App Developers must handle internal communication (with colleagues and other departments) as well as external communication with customers. There are varying requirements depending on whether you work independently or in a permanent position.

Jobs in specialist agencies are accessible for permanent employment. Large companies, industrial and commercial organisations, and public institutions also rely on their own App Developers for related initiatives. As a freelancer, you are accountable for the same three core areas, plus your own financial management and marketing — which calls for business acumen.

What Is the Salary of an App Developer?

Although the internet industry has been growing for some time, the demand for app development continues to be strong. The average monthly wage in Germany for App Developers is €4,800, which even outpaces the pay of conventional software developers.

Junior App Developer salary:

Junior App Developers are young, inexperienced programmers with fewer than three years of industry experience. They often handle simpler tasks, manage smaller projects, and avoid direct client contact and project management. In Germany, Junior App Developers typically start at around €3,650 gross per month.

Senior App Developer salary:

Senior App Developers have several years of work experience and have learned a variety of programming languages and technologies. They frequently specialise in a specific technology stack, handle complex architectural challenges, manage projects, and mentor junior developers. In Germany, Senior App Developers can anticipate an average monthly pay of about €5,000 gross.

What Skills Does an App Developer Have?

App Developers master programming languages such as:

  • Objective-C and Swift (for Apple iOS)
  • Java and IDE Eclipse (for Google Android)
  • C#, C, and C++ (for Windows applications)

They also benefit from an understanding of user interfaces and data management systems. Knowledge of business and commerce is increasingly important for marketing apps. The profession is built on inventiveness — this makes it possible for App Developers to conceive, create, and market new applications.

What Specialisations Are There?

Since all App Developers are also Application or Software Developers, App Development is already a specialised field. The focus is on mobile applications, whether Web Apps or Native Apps. Native Apps are created exclusively for a mobile operating system, while Web Apps are essentially HTML5 websites expressly coded for mobile use.

Most developers prefer to concentrate on apps for one platform — iOS, Android, or Windows Phone. With a combined market share of over 85% (Google Android) and 15% (Apple iOS), the two major platforms dominate the smartphone market. Specialising in either is a sound long-term career choice.

Summary: What Does an App Developer Do?

  • They develop an app idea or check the feasibility of a customer’s idea
  • They write the first version of the app
  • They build, program, test, and ensure the app is approved for the major app stores

The average monthly salary for App Developers in Germany is €4,800, which even exceeds the salaries of conventional software developers. Programming languages such as Objective-C, Swift, Java, and C# are core tools of the trade, alongside an understanding of UX design and data management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an App Developer?

App Developers adapt to the times by creating mobile and web applications for clients and end users. They develop app ideas, write initial versions, build and test functionality, and ensure apps meet the requirements of major app stores. They can work independently as freelancers or as permanent employees in agencies and companies across all industries.

What skills does an App Developer need?

App Developers master programming languages including Objective-C and Swift (iOS), Java and IDE Eclipse (Android), and C#, C, and C++ (Windows). They also benefit from knowledge of user interface design and data management systems. Business and commercial knowledge is increasingly important for marketing apps, and creativity is the profession's core foundation.

What does an App Developer earn?

The average monthly salary for App Developers in Germany is around €4,800, which even exceeds the salaries of conventional software developers. Junior App Developers typically start at around €3,650 gross per month. Senior App Developers with several years of experience can expect an average of about €5,000 gross per month.

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Sören Elser

Sören Elser

CEO & Co-founder of ElevateX GmbH and your contact for the strategic use of freelancers.

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