What is a Good Application Developer Salary in 2023?

Application development is the art and science of developing software apps and digital services for a broad spectrum of devices and platforms. Some well-known devices and platforms that use apps are desktop computers, mobile devices, smartwatches, and the web (online websites). Application development requires programming languages, frameworks, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), libraries, and Software Development Kits (SDKs) to build an application project. The goal of application development is to create programs that deliver a particular purpose, are user-friendly/easy to use, and meet the intended audience.

Application development is in massive demand across the globe. It is because of the exponential growth in digitization. According to Verified Market Research, in 2021, the application development software market was at USD 168.71 billion. As per the projection, we will witness its growth to USD 1,039.89 billion USD by 2030. It will mark a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.54% from 2023 to 2030. The development process involves several stages. These are planning, designing, programming, testing, and deployment. 

Application developers are programmers who plan, design, develop, test, and deploy software applications according to the client or user expectations. Application developers are responsible for creating the code that powers the application and logical working. Also, they build the User Interface (UI) and the code for interactions between the user and the backend. Of the various types of app developers, some develop applications for smartphones, some build standalone applications, and others develop web applications. According to Indeed, the average application developer’s salary is $86,180 annually. 

There are primarily three primary fields of application development, which are discussed below.

• Standalone or Desktop Application Development 
  Standalone or desktop application development is the development and creation of software applications that run on a user’s PC or workstation. To run such software, the user does not require keeping an Internet connection. These applications are typically installed on the user’s computer and run directly from the hard drive. Unlike web applications that require web browsers or online platforms, these are independent and hence called standalone.
  
  Software developers develop standalone or desktop applications for various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. They can range from simple applications, such as calculators or notepads, to more complex applications, such as photo-editing software, Office suite, video-editing software, database management systems, etc. 
  
  Companies like Adobe, Microsoft, Wondershare, etc., hire developers for developing standalone applications. These applications might require the Internet only during the activation of the software. Otherwise, it can run as offline software. The desktop app developers’ salary depends from company to company. As per Glassdoor’s report, a desktop app developer’s salary is $103,593 annually.
  
  If you wish to become a desktop application developer, you must upskill your programming skills in languages like Java, Python, C++, etc. Some well-known courses on these programming languages are linked below:
  • Java Coding Practices 
  • Software Development with Python and Java
  • Python 201: Learn Intermediate Python Programming
  • Introduction to Desktop Apps with Python
  • Complete Java 9 Masterclass- Beginner to Expert
     
• Web Application Development
  Web application development helps companies create software or website applications accessed through a web browser or web-enabled device. Since web applications require the Internet to access these apps, users can access them anywhere globally. Such software usually resides in the servers and serves its users as clients. These applications mostly follow the client-server architecture for delivering the software to the clients.
  
  Users can access these applications from anywhere with an Internet connection. They can run these apps on numerous platforms and devices, including desktop computers, tablets, laptops, and smartphones. Web application developers typically develop using frontend technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with server-side technologies such as PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, and others. Aspirants who are planning to set a career in web application development must be good at frontend designing, backend designing, API development and integration, or both (full-stack developer).
  
  Since web application development has become increasingly popular due to the widespread availability of the Internet and the flexibility and accessibility of web-based apps, enterprises are hiring potential aspirants and developers. One can access web apps from anywhere, making them an ideal solution for businesses and organizations. Customers can easily check out online stores and items through these web apps.
  
  If you wish to switch careers or build a career as an app developer, you must develop your frontend or backend skills. You can also develop both frontend and backend skills. There are different technologies and verticals available under web development, which are listed below:
  • Frontend Development
    Frontend developers are responsible for developing the user-facing side of the application. It involves creating the part of a website or web app that users interact with directly, such as the design, layout, and functionality through buttons, forms, and other UI elements. This type of development typically leverages scripting languages like HTML and JavaScript and styling and layout frameworks like CSS and Bootstrap. 
    
    Careervira is an excellent online learning platform that offers popular courses on Front-end Development for beginners. Some well-known courses are as follows:
    • Basic HTML 5
    • HTML Tutorial: Learn HTML For Free
    • CSS Bootcamp - Master in CSS
    • JavaScript - Master JavaScript The Most Complete JavaScript
    • Advanced JavaScript
    • Bootstrap Tutorial: Learn to Create Dynamic Websites In a Pinch
       
  • Backend Development 
    Backend developers are responsible for developing the backend or logic implementation part. It is called server-side programming. It involves building the web app’s server code, which handles tasks and functionalities like data storage, authentication, and user management.
    
    This type of development typically uses server-side languages such as PHP, Python, and Ruby, and databases such as MySQL, MongoDB, or PostgreSQL. According to Salary.com, the average frontend web application developer salary  ranges from $93,992 to $119,809 per year.
    
    Some well-known courses are as follows:
    • PHP Fundamentals
    • PHP Crash Course: Learn PHP in 90 Minutes
    • Node, SQL, & PostgreSQL - Backend Web Development
    • A Beginner’s Guide to Backend Development
    • Ruby on Rails 5, MySQL Masterclass
    • MongoDB Fundamentals
       
  • Full-Stack Development 
    Full-stack developers are responsible for creating the entire project from the frontend to the backend. Their process involves working on both the frontend and backend of a website. Full-stack development requires skilled professionals who can handle all aspects of the development process from design to deployment.
    
    Full-stack developers must be familiar with a range of technology stacks and tools, including both frontend and backend languages, frameworks, and databases. According to Glassdoor, the average full-stack web app developer’s salary in India is ₹6,21,500 per year, and for US, it is $77,078
    
    Some well-known courses are as follows:
    • Full Stack Development
    • Full Stack Web Development
    • Full-Stack Web Development with React Specialization
       
  • E-Commerce App Development
    Some other categories of web developers build e-commerce apps, like Amazon, Flipkart, Shopify, etc. E-commerce applications enable users for online shopping, cart various items, and make payments/transactions. Developers who build such web apps must also know how to handle APIs and payment gateways.
    
    This type of development typically uses specialized e-commerce app development Content Management System (CMS) like Magento. These types of developers remain specialized in developing e-commerce apps only. According to Ambitionbox, the e-commerce app developer’s salary in India is ₹3.8 lakhs annually, whereas the average annual salary in the US is $85,501 as collected from Glassdoor.
    
    Aspirants looking to develop their skills in building e-commerce sites must opt for particular courses. Some popular e-commerce courses include:
    • E-commerce Website Development Tutorial: Codeigniter E-Commerce System
    • WooCommerce Theme Development: Advanced Course
    • How To Use WordPress for E-Commerce
    • WordPress for E-Commerce: Build Your Own E-Shop with WooCommerce
       
  • Progressive Web App (PWA) development
    Progressive Web App (PWA) developers are responsible for building web apps that function like native mobile apps, with features like push notifications, offline access, and app-like UIs. Developers use HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, and JavaScript to build PWAs. Users can access them from any web browser. Many companies want to develop websites that smartphone users and PC users can use.
    
    PWAs can help reduce the development cost and time. Many web development firms and companies are hiring PWA application developers. Aspirants planning to join those firms must skill up themselves from online courses.  According to Glassdoor, the average frontend web app developer’s salary in India is ₹6,39,359 per year.
    
    If you want to develop your PWA skills, you will find various self-paced courses PWA courses, some of which are listed below:
    • Progressive Web App Fundamentals
    • Progressive Web Apps: The Big Picture
    • Building Progressive Web Applications
       
• Mobile Application Development
  Mobile application development helps software development firms create apps and services that run on mobile devices. Some popular devices that run mobile apps are smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Mobile app developers can create these apps for different mobile platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows. Like other app development, mobile application development involves several stages, including planning and designing, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, and updating patches.
  
  With the widespread use of portable devices, the demand for mobile app developers is increasing significantly. Different software development companies hire mobile app developers to develop lightweight games, editing apps, social networking, e-commerce, productivity, entertainment, utility tools, etc. Developers can also integrate mobile applications with other mobile technologies, such as location-based services, push notifications, and smartphone and smartwatch sensors. Developers can enhance the UI to provide a unique and immersive User Experience (UX).
  
  On an average, the mobile application developer salary  is $135,939 annually. Mobile developers write programs in different languages like C, C++, C#, Python, or Java. They also use different frameworks like React, Ionic, Flutter, Xamarin, Swiftic, PhoneGap, NativeScript, etc. 
  
  There are different types of mobile app development available. Aspirants can develop skills in one or more of them, which are listed below:
  • Native Mobile App Development
    Native mobile app development refers to developing mobile applications designed and developed for a particular platform (mobile) or smartphone operating system. Such an app gets built using platform-specific programming languages, frameworks, and development tools. These languages and tools take complete advantage of the native features, functionalities, and capabilities of the target platform.
    
    Native app developers are responsible for creating separate versions of an app for different platforms, such as iOS and Android. They use native programming languages to do so. For example, Swift or Objective-C is used for iOS app development, whereas Java or Kotlin is used for Android app development.
    
    On average, according to Indeed, an iOS app developer’s salary reaches $135,602 per year and for India it is ₹4.5 lakhs per annum. Again, according to Ambitionbox and Indeed the Android app developer’s salary in India ranges from ₹1.4 to ₹10 lakhs per annum for the USA is $126,171 respectively. 
    
    Some well-known online courses on native app development are:
    • Build Mobile Applications With React Native
    • Build a Chat Application with React Native
    • Build Mobile Web Applications With Flutter
       
  • Mobile Web App Development 
    Other than native apps, developers can also create web apps that will work like mobile apps within smartphones and mobile devices. Here the app developers create web applications that get optimized and designed explicitly for mobile devices. Instead of developing separate applications for different mobile platforms, many companies prefer to create mobile web apps. One can access them through a mobile web browser.
    
    Hence, mobile web apps are platform-independent and accessible across various devices through different browsers. Such developers use web technologies and useful web application programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, and other frameworks to develop them. These mobile apps are responsive or adaptive web applications. It means the UI and layout get adjusted and adapted based on the screen size and device capabilities.
    
    Such developers must have the skills of web app development and the understanding of using mobile features like sensors, cameras, Bluetooth, etc. They also get similar salaries as other mobile app developers.
     
  • Hybrid App Development 
    In this type of mobile app development, the app developer creates the mobile app by combining the features of both native and web app development. Companies built hybrid apps using web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript). Then they wrapped these apps within a native container. It allows them to install and run on a mobile device like a native app. 
    
    In hybrid app development, the developer creates a single codebase through web technologies. They will deploy it across multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and Windows. The native container works like a bridge between the web-like code and the device’s native capabilities. It allows access to native features like contacts, cameras, geolocation, and push notifications through that native container.
    
    According to Ambitionbox, the hybrid Android app developers’ salary in India is ₹3.8 lakhs per annum. According to Salary.com, in the USA, it goes from $68,601 to $114,157 per year.
    
    Here are some of the self-paced courses on hybrid mobile app development like:
    • Hybrid Mobile App Development with Ionic
    • Architecting Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Anthos
       
• AI Application Development  
  Artificial Intelligence (AI) is getting popular as every technology uses the possibilities and benefits of AI. AI app development is the creation of software applications that incorporate AI technologies to perform intelligent tasks. These software apps can learn from data and make autonomous decisions. AI developers must know various programming languages required for web or mobile app development.
  
  Alongside this, they know how to leverage AI applications and other domains like machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, etc., to provide advanced capabilities and automate complex processes. According to Salary.com, the AI app developers’ salary in the USA goes from USD 93,137 to 111,187 per year.
  
  Check out some of the top self-paced learning AI project development courses like:
  • Python Project for AI & Application Development
  • Building AI Applications on Google Cloud Platform

If you look forward to getting a job in Fortune 500 MNCs or FAAMNG, there are some noteworthy skills you must learn for web development and mobile app development roles.

For grabbing a good app development salary, you must have a solid understanding of native and web technologies. Also, it becomes easy for aspirants to get a job as an app developer if they are from IT and Computer Science backgrounds with a diploma or degree in web development. Also, if you have upskilled in a particular framework or web development language (through online crash courses), it gives you a competitive advantage.

Let us explore the various skills web developers must possess to get a good app developer salary package.

• HTML and CSS 
  Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are the two fundamental tools for frontend web development. HTML is the mother or base for all web scripting languages. It helps build the primary structure of a webpage. Again, CSS helps in designing and adding styles to the web elements. 
  
  A web app developer with complete proficiency in HTML and CSS gets a salary of ₹3 lakhs per annum in India, according to Ambitionbox. The HTML and CSS app developer’s salary in the USA is $81,146 per year, according to Glassdoor.
   
• JavaScript and Frameworks 
  Another scripting language that frontend developers must know to provide logic and implementation is JavaScript. It helps to develop interactive web apps. Aspirants skilled in various frameworks like Angular, Express JS, Vue JS, jQuery, etc., can also build modern web apps. JavaScript app developer salary in India is ₹6,31,179 per year, whereas that in the USA is $107,770 per year, according to Glassdoor and Indeed respectively. 
  
  Check out some of the various framework-related courses like:
  • Web Development with ExpressJS, 
  • Write a University Index Web App with VueJS
     
• Version Control Tool 
  Web developers use version control systems like GitHub to manage, regulate, and revise code changes. A version control or source control system is what software tool developers use to manage and track their codebase and repositories over time. It allows multiple developers to collaborate on a project, keep track of revisions, and easily manage different versions of files.
  
  Some well-known courses are 
  • Mastering GitHub
  • GitHub Fundamentals
  • Version Control with TFVC
  • Version Control with Google Cloud Source Repository
     
• Backend Database Language 
  Backend database languages are programming languages web developers use to build the schemas where data will reside. These languages also help interact with databases and handle data operations on the server side of a web application. These languages provide the tools and frameworks to connect to databases, execute queries, retrieve and manipulate data, and handle data storage and retrieval. 
  
  SQL is a database query language that leverages backend scripting languages like PHP or JSP to interact with the database on the server side. The average PHP app developer salary (entry-level) in the USA is $66,355, whereas that of a JSP developer is $102,860, according to Salary.com and Ziprecruiter respectively. 
   
• Testing and Debugging 
  Testing the software and debugging any issue are two critical facets of app development. It helps and ensures that the quality, reliability, and performance of the app/project remain preserved. Web app developers are not software testers.
  
  But if you are an aspirant with preliminary skills in app testing, the project deployment and release becomes stable with fewer bugs. You can learn software-based testing from courses like 
  • Mobile App Testing Using Appium
  • Debugging, Testing, and Publishing a Flutter App
     
• Programming Languages for Native Apps
  Programming languages like Python, Objective-C, Swift, Java, etc., play a notable role in developing standalone, native, and AI-based apps. Aspirants who want a good application developer salary  must become proficient in one or some of these programming languages. According to Glassdoor, the average Python app developer’s salary is $83,242 per year. Again, Glassdoor reports, the average Java app developer’s salary is $92,428 per year. 
  
  Check out some of the well-known courses on Programming Languages:
  • Learning Objective-C Programming
  • AI Programming with Python
  • Java Programming for Complete Beginners
  • Swift Fundamentals by Pluralsight

Various companies like Amazon, IBM, PayPal, Myntra, Accenture, etc., hire app developers (both web and mobile) to release various products and online services. If you look forward to upskilling yourself to become an app developer, now is the time. Online platforms are excellent solutions to skill-up your knowledge of different technologies and get a larger salary package or land in a good firm. Careervira is an online self-paced learning platform that can help you update your skills or learn new app development industry-standard technologies.