What is an ios developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Craig Tidwell Ph.D.,

Christian Hansen Ph.D.

An IOS developer specializes in creating applications for Apple's mobile operating system. They use programming languages such as Swift and Objective-C to develop apps that run smoothly on iPhones, iPads, and Apple devices. An IOS developer works with designers and the development team to create functional and visually appealing apps. An IOS developer must stay up-to-date with the latest trends in mobile app development and constantly adapt to new technologies.

What general advice would you give to an IOS Developer?

Craig Tidwell Ph.D.

Professor/Program Manager, Seminole State College of Florida

Students who are graduating with a degree in computer and information systems should focus on being lifelong learners. The most challenging, and sometimes frustrating, aspect of a career in information technology is that it is always changing. Employers are also looking for employees that can work well with others, especially in teams. Having a good understanding of the development and design process, and project management (DevOps) is a plus. Currently, there is a high demand for graduates with cloud and information security knowledge and skills.

ScoreIOS DeveloperUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $101,536

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.0

Growth Rate 21%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 29.79%

Black or African American 4.61%

Hispanic or Latino 8.37%

Unknown 4.85%

White 52.22%

Gender

female 13.81%

male 86.19%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an IOS Developer?

Pros

Competitive salary and benefits
Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
Possibility of working on your own app or project
Potential for career advancement and leadership roles
Being part of a dynamic and fast-paced industry

Cons

Hard to balance work and personal life
Dealing with difficult stakeholders or clients
Possible burnout or stress-related health issues
Working on projects that may not align with personal interests or values
Lack of job security, as the industry is constantly evolving

Key steps to become an ios developer

Explore ios developer education requirements

Most common ios developer degrees

Bachelor's

72.9 %

Master's

21.6 %

Associate

3.1 %

Start to develop specific ios developer skills

Skills	Percentages
Objective C	12.66%
UI	7.32%
GIT	6.87%
API	4.88%
Android	4.57%

Complete relevant ios developer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ios developers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an ios developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ios developer resumes.

Research ios developer duties and responsibilities

Manage client and server code base using git version control.
Manage the CSS on a full rebranding of the web product.
Utilize C++, BDE, STL, and thread pool to achieve optimal design efficiency.
Manage all phases of the application development from implementing the user interface design, coding, testing, debugging and deployment.

Prepare your ios developer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ios developer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an ios developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable IOS Developer Resume templates

Build a professional IOS Developer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your IOS Developer resume.

Apply for ios developer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an ios developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do ios developers rate their job?