What is the Employment Outlook for Mobile Computing Jobs?

Updated December 6, 2022 · 2 Min Read

Mobile computing has taken the internet by storm, with the convenience and practical applications of mobile and wearable technology overtaking the advantages of a traditional desktop setup. As a result, the software development industry is undergoing a rapid shift to mobile application development. Mobile apps are optimized for use on mobile computing platforms; many of ...

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Mobile computing has taken the internet by storm, with the convenience and practical applications of mobile and wearable technology overtaking the advantages of a traditional desktop setup. As a result, the software development industry is undergoing a rapid shift to mobile application development. Mobile apps are optimized for use on mobile computing platforms; many of them do not have compatible versions for traditional desktop or laptop PCs. Today, exclusively mobile software apps are among the most popular software in the world, and the majority of software downloads occur on mobile platforms.

Given the state of things, it should be no surprise that the employment outlook for mobile application development is high. Here's some basic information covering the foreseeable future of mobile development, over the next 10-15 years:

Explosive Growth in Job Opportunities

The traditionally-defined concept of the "job" is vanishing from its most long-designated industries at an alarming rate. Manufacturing and production industries are turning more and more to automation, just as they have been for several decades running. Automation is a much more distant threat to in-depth software development, however, and this is where we see a great deal of growth across the country. Most major cities have strong new IT and technology startup centers, with a wide range of supporting industries providing funding, services and workspace. Many traditional startup concerns, such as finding a location from which to base one's operations, are no longer of major concern. As a result, the software development industry is slated to experience one of the highest growth rates in the nation: as much as 20% through 2030, with the majority of that being centered around mobile applications.

A Startup Scene Rich with Potential

With the growth of startup business services, venture capital and workspaces among them, a skilled mobile app developer can begin their own enterprise with very little personal funding. Space and resources are available, and there are a lot of resources through which professional insights and practical accounts can be gleaned. Twitter is an excellent resource for tracking down high-profile data streams on app development, digital marketing, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the industry. Professional associations for software developers are also starting to cater more and more to the needs of mobile app developers, opening up a world of new resources and information.

High Pay and Upward Mobility

The average median wage for software app development, across the United States, is approximately $105,000 per year. The median wage is $50/hour for hourly employees. This is more than three times the average income for workers in manufacturing and production across the majority of traditional industries, and is nearly double the average compensation available to critical operations personnel in those same industries. Along with the high pay comes high upward mobility and lateral advancement: executive positions in software companies are available to developers, in a changing professional strata that rewards ability directly. The opportunity to become a consultant, a freelancer, or an entrepreneur oneself, with just a few years' experience and something to show for it, has never been greater than it is today.

The development of mobile computing apps represents an explosive expansion in the software development industry, so much so that many companies and government agencies are scrambling to keep up with the statistics. The growth of professional associations for app developers, along with the dissemination of available job opportunities, make it one of the best fields to get involved with at the present time. Opportunities in the field are based all across the country, and an independent professional can get started anywhere; that being said, the major concentrations of new opportunities are to be found in the metropolitan areas of the northeastern states, the Midwest, Texas, and southern California.

See also: Top 8 Cheap Online Mobile Computing Degree Programs (Bachelor's)

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