How to Become an iOS Developer [2023 Salary and Skills]

Becoming an iOS developer is a great career choice that allows you to demand a high salary and work on interesting projects at top companies.

Learning iOS development can take time, but you can speed up the process and optimize your learning following the steps I outline in this article.

Table of contents

An iOS developer creates software applications (apps) for iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system that powers the iPhone. An iOS developer must be proficient in the Swift programming language, the official development language for Apple platforms.

What does an iOS developer do?

An iOS developer primarily spends time programming in Swift, which involves typing code in a text editor. Although you’ll use some visual tools to build apps, most of your time will be devoted to coding.

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		var balance = 0
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		}
		return balance
	}

	mutating func add(_ transaction: Transaction) {
		transactions.append(transaction)
	}
}

Thanks to Apple’s integrated operating systems, the skills you acquire as an iOS developer enable you to create apps for other platforms like iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the most recent visionOS.

While iOS developers focus primarily on writing code for new features, their role might also include tasks such as:

• Testing apps and resolving bugs or performance issues.
• Publishing apps in the App Store for users to download.
• Collaborating with team members to design and develop new features.

Visual interface design is not part of an iOS developer’s responsibilities

What you won’t be doing as an iOS Developer is designing iOS apps. That’s the responsibility of a UI/UX designer. UI design is a broad field that requires in-depth study.

As a developer, you will collaborate with designers who handle the visual aspects of apps while you implement their functionality. This means you don’t need to become proficient in using design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Omnigraffle.

UI design is a valuable skill that can prove beneficial later in your career or if you decide to create your own apps.

Is iOS development hard?

iOS development is a demanding field that requires a combination of skills, tools, and knowledge. In addition to programming, it involves various aspects of software engineering, such as architecture, design, testing, debugging, deployment, and maintenance.

Key traits of a software developer include:

• Logical thinking and problem-solving.
• Spatial reasoning and system design.
• Abstract thinking, imagination, and creativity for finding solutions.

These traits are all linked to intelligence.

Furthermore, iOS developers must keep up with the latest technologies and industry trends and learn the new features and APIs that Apple introduces annually.

Finally, iOS developers must consider the performance, security, accessibility, and user experience of their applications, as well as compatibility with different devices and operating systems. However, you don’t need to learn all this at once. The requirements for junior iOS developers are lower.

There’s also no need to panic and think your knowledge will become obsolete yearly. The foundations of computer science and programming have remained consistent for decades.

While technology evolves rapidly, the fundamental principles of iOS development remain constant. Once you grasp these fundamentals, you can readily adapt to any new technology.

How long does it take to become an iOS developer?

Becoming an iOS developer takes months or years, not days or weeks. The exact duration varies depending on your circumstances and preferences.

A realistic estimate is that it may take at least one year of consistent and focused learning and practice to attain a level of competence and confidence that allows you to create professional-quality iOS apps.

Ultimately, there’s no definitive answer to how long it takes to become an iOS developer. It depends on various factors, such as your prior programming experience, learning ability, goals, and resources.

There are many other aspects of iOS development that you need to learn and master. At a minimum, you need to follow these two steps, which may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months each:

• Proficiency in Swift is the most crucial skill for an iOS developer.
• The second fundamental step is learning the foundations of iOS development with SwiftUI.

To become an iOS developer, you must be proficient in the Swift programming language. You must also and have a strong understanding of the foundations of the iOS platform and the best practices that surround iOS development.

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Learn Swift programming (separately from iOS development)

Swift programming is the first skill you need to acquire to become an iOS developer.

Spend a few weeks concentrating on building a solid foundation in these programming concepts:

• The basics: numbers, strings, constants, variables, and operators.
• Control flow statements: if-else, switches, and for/while loops.
• Collections: arrays and dictionaries.
• Types and interfaces: structures and enumerations, functions, methods, protocols, and extensions.
• Object-oriented programming concepts: classes, inheritance, and polymorphism.

Several methods exist for learning Swift. You can begin with my Learn Swift series or explore books and courses on Swift programming. Since I learned programming in university long ago, I don’t have any books I can recommend. However, the Big Nerd Ranch Guide is a widely endorsed choice.

You can also read the Swift Language Guide, but it might be dense without guidance unless you’re already familiar with programming in another language. Since it’s a reference manual, it doesn’t teach programming step-by-step.

A crucial piece of advice is to learn Swift programming separately from iOS development. Both require significant effort to master and attempting to learn both simultaneously can lead to confusion.

Unfortunately, many online resources follow this approach, and even Apple is guilty. However, I met many individuals who struggled with this approach. They spent considerable effort to learn both topics and ended up with a limited understanding of either.

Should you first learn Swift or Objective-C?

The Swift programming language was introduced several years ago to replace Objective-C, the primary programming language for all of Apple’s platforms up to that point.

There was a debate over which language, Swift or Objective-C, one should learn first. Swift emerged as the clear winner in that debate long ago, and the introduction of SwiftUI has only solidified that choice (I’ll discuss SwiftUI in more detail below).

So, if you come across articles debating this issue, you can safely disregard them. Learn Swift as your first choice.

However, it’s worth noting that Objective-C was the foundation for many decades of Apple development. While many companies have transitioned their apps from Objective-C to Swift, you may still need to learn it at some point, especially when working on older projects.

For instance, a significant portion of Apple’s codebase is written in Objective-C. Completely rewriting such a vast codebase in another language would bring more downsides than advantages.

Focus on the essentials for building any iOS app

To build the user interface for iOS applications, you’ll use SwiftUI, a UI framework comprising pre-built, reusable components for creating user interfaces.

As the name suggests, SwiftUI is based on the Swift language. This is why I recommend starting with Swift programming.

You can find articles covering various iOS development topics online, but not all are equally essential. Your initial focus should be on fundamental concepts that apply to every app you’ll create:

• Understanding the basics of the framework. Apple offers the free  Introducing SwiftUI and Learning SwiftUI tutorials, along with a few sample SwiftUI apps. These resources provide a broad overview of how SwiftUI works. They may seem scattered in their approach, trying to cover everything at once. Therefore, I also recommend reading my introductory article to SwiftUI, which presents the concepts in a more structured manner.
• Grasping SwiftUI’s data flow. Once you know how to build user interfaces, you must learn how to fill them with data efficiently. SwiftUI offers several data flow mechanisms, each suitable for different scenarios.
• Mastering Architectural Design Patterns. Understanding SwiftUI alone is not sufficient. Design patterns like MVC (Model-View-Controller) and MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) help you structure your entire app correctly, making it more robust, easier to maintain, and simpler to update.

What is UIKit and should you learn it?

Apple introduced SwiftUI at its World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) in 2019, replacing the older UI framework named UIKit. This shift has left many newcomers to iOS development wondering which framework to learn first.

My recommendation is to prioritize SwiftUI but with a caveat.

The market has swiftly moved toward SwiftUI:

• In the 2019 iOS Developer Community Survey, 9% of respondents reported delivering apps using SwiftUI, and 60% said they would use it for new applications.
• In the 2020 survey, those numbers increased to 35% and 75%, respectively.
• I surveyed over 12.000 email subscribers, and SwiftUI garnered more interest than UIKit.

SwiftUI also works across all Apple platforms, allowing you to leverage your skills and reuse much of your code for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS app development.

Furthermore, newer technologies like WidgetKit and Swift Charts are exclusively available in SwiftUI.

However, UIKit has been a part of the iOS platform for a long time. Most iOS apps developed in the past decade are based on UIKit. To secure a job as an iOS developer, you might have to work on one of these apps.

The second, most pervasive framework for iOS development is Foundation

SwiftUI primarily focuses on the user interface, but building iOS apps involves more than creating interfaces. The other essential framework for iOS development is Foundation.

Foundation is an extensive framework with a wide range of features. However, you don’t need to become familiar with everything it contains. Some parts of Foundation are rarely used or might be required only for specific tasks.

Typically, you learn the relevant portions of Foundation while following an iOS development book or course or trying to achieve a specific objective.

Here’s a brief list of its key features for your reference:

• Foundation includes basic data types in addition to those provided by the Swift Standard Library. Notably, URL and Data enable you to download data from the internet or save it on the device’s disk. You typically learn to use these two types when dealing with storage and networking (more on this later).
• Many apps require handling dates and times. Foundation contains types for managing calendars, dates, times, time zones, and calendrical calculations.
• Foundation also provides numerous formatters to display numbers, currencies, personal names, dates, times, and other measurements in a user-friendly, readable format.
• For applications that involve converting values, Foundation includes various units and measurements. You should explore these features if your app deals with lengths, areas, weight, mass, speed, acceleration, energy, temperature, light, or electricity.

Creating basic iOS apps is a significant achievement that can already land you an entry level job. However, that’s just the beginning of your career. Being a developer demands much more than a surface-level understanding of the platform. To excel in this field, you’ll need to acquire additional skills.

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Storing the app’s data on the device disk

Most iOS applications require the permanent storage of data. There are several iOS data storage technologies, each with pros and cons. Here’s a short list of what you should learn:

• To save data on your app’s device, you need a method for converting it into binary data. The standard approach in iOS is to use Codable protocols. The most used data format in iOS is JSON because it’s also used to transfer data over the internet.
• Once you have data in binary format, you need a way to store it. The Foundation framework provides a straightforward API for saving files in the file system, the standard choice for user data storage.
• For storing the app’s configuration and settings, use Foundation’s Preferences system instead.
• When dealing with data having complex relationships, you can turn to the new Swift Data framework. However, the older Core Data framework is still widely used. Be aware that both frameworks are intricate and may require some time to master.

Using relational databases and the SQL language

Databases offer an alternative method of storing data for iOS apps. They are used in applications spanning various platforms, from the web to mobile apps.

Managing a database is considerably more complex than using storage solutions previously mentioned, but it can sometimes provide performance advantages. As an iOS developer, you will rarely need to work with databases. In over a decade, only two projects I worked on used a database.

iOS employs SQLite, a cross-platform relational database system.

Working with relational databases requires, first of all, understanding how to design tables using the Entity-relationship model.

Once you’ve established these tables, you’ll use a specialized language called SQL to manage the data. SQL is distinct from programming languages like Swift. It’s not a programming language but a querying language to combine and filter data.

Mastery of databases is a time-consuming endeavor. You should consider this option only when necessary.

Making network requests and interacting with REST APIs

Many modern applications rely on internet data. While the Foundation framework provides a URL loading system, learning how to perform network requests in your apps can be challenging.

The process involves learning how to:

1. Identify internet resources using URLs.
2. Perform asynchronous tasks using Swift concurrency with async/await.
3. Download data from the internet using URLSession.

These steps provide the foundational knowledge to add networking capabilities to your apps. More advanced applications must interact with a REST API and implement a proper networking architecture.

Becoming an iOS developer is a good career choice. iOS developers can command high salaries and work on interesting projects at top companies.

More and more companies want to have a presence in Apple’s App Store, which significantly increases the demand for iOS developers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers is expected to rise 25% between 2022-2032, much faster than average.

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iOS developer salaries according to experience

iOS developers typically earn high salaries. In 2023, these salaries range from $67.000 per year to $205.000 per year in the United States, with additional benefits, bonuses, and profit sharing.

Here are salary figures for iOS developers in the United States in 2023, according to Glassdoor:

• Entry level: $88.000 per year
• Average: $112.000 per year
• High: $144.000 per year

Please note that specific locations, such as tech hubs like Silicon Valley, can significantly impact salary levels. The high-end figures are typically associated with large companies like Apple, Google, or Facebook.

Payscale presents slightly different figures:

• Entry level: $67.000 per year
• Median: $100.000 per year
• High: $147.000 per year

Payscale also lists factors such as bonuses and profit sharing, which can push top salaries to $154.000 per year.

Indeed provides even higher salary estimates:

• Entry level: $86.000 per year
• Median: $133.000 per year
• High: $205.000 per year

Indeed also lists various benefits offered to iOS developers, such as:

• 401(k) and 401(k) matching;
• Health, dental, life, vision, and disability insurance;
• Flexible schedule, parental leave, and paid time off.

It’s important to note that these figures are not absolute and can vary based on location and experience. Expectations that may be realistic in one region might not apply in another. I once met a guy who wanted a Silicon Valley salary here in The Netherlands, where I live, and that’s simply not possible.

Can You Become an iOS Developer Without a Degree?

While a formal degree in computer science can be helpful and is occasionally required by certain companies, it’s possible to become an iOS developer without one. However, even if you don’t pursue a degree, gaining knowledge of fundamental computer science concepts can be highly beneficial and is often encouraged.

For example, my first job as an iOS developer at a social media company in Amsterdam mandated that all candidates hold a master’s degree in computer science. In contrast, during my second job at a software development consultancy, I worked alongside a colleague who lacked a formal degree or formal training but had self-taught iOS development skills.

Here are some computer science concepts I learned in university that are particularly valuable for iOS development:

• Algorithms and data structures (I recommend this book).
• Operating systems, parallelism, concurrency, and threading.
• Internet protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, FTP, and HTTP), the domain name system (DNS), and internet routing protocols.
• Formal grammars, state machines, and compilers.

How to get an iOS developer job

Start looking for iOS development jobs early in your learning process, even if you’re not ready to apply. This will help you understand what’s available in the job market and guide your learning journey.

You can search for iOS development jobs on platforms like LinkedIn jobs and likely find more options through Google searches. This will also give you insights into the job requirements for different positions, helping you determine what to focus on in your studies.

I recommend contacting companies early, even before you’re actively job hunting. But you should not contact the HR departments responsible for job applications. Instead, connect with developers already working in roles similar to what you aspire to achieve.

This approach offers several advantages:

• You can gain valuable information about job requirements.
• You’ll get a feel for the company’s culture and whether it aligns with your preferences.
• Establishing connections with individuals working at companies early on can help you access hidden job opportunities. Many positions are filled through networking rather than formal job listings.
• Having a contact within a company can expedite the interview process and potentially bypass HR screenings. Additionally, many companies offer referral bonuses to their employees, which can motivate them to assist you in your job search.

You can find more details about the process and the email scripts to use in this article from Ramit Sethi. Here, you can find what questions to ask.

Crafting an effective resume

When you’re ready to apply for an iOS development job, you must create a resume. A well-crafted resume is essential, even if you’re connected with a personal contact.

If you conduct informal interviews with developers at your target company, you will know what they are looking for in new candidates. You should highlight that in your resume, which will give you a tremendous advantage over your competition.

Your resume should tell a compelling story that differentiates you from other applicants. Highlight your unique qualities, experiences, and skills that make you memorable.

The two essential tools you need as an iOS developer are a Mac computer and Xcode. An iOS device can be helpful if you already have one, but it’s not required.

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Do you need a Mac to learn how to develop iOS apps?

To develop iOS apps, you need a Mac computer running the latest version of Xcode. A Mac is also necessary to submit iOS apps to the the App Store.

While it is technically possible to run macOS on a Windows or Linux machine, this process is complex and not permitted by Apple’s licensing terms. Therefore, I do not recommend pursuing this path.

However, I understand that Macs can be expensive.

Fortunately, you don’t need the latest Mac model available. You can often find affordable, second-hand Mac Minis on eBay, typically priced between $100 and $300. Check also Apple’s refurbished Macs or Amazon’s renewed options for discounts.

Ensure that the Mac you purchase can run the latest version of macOS and, ideally, the next one if Apple has already announced it.

Currently, I recommend a computer capable of running macOS Sonoma to learn the latest technologies. You can find a list of compatible devices at the bottom of the page.

Apple announces new versions of iOS and macOS each year at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), usually in June, so keep an eye on its website for updates.

Download the latest version of Xcode, provided by Apple for free

Once you have a Mac, the next step is to install Xcode, the integrated development environment (IDE) that iOS developers use to create apps. You can obtain Xcode for free from the Mac App Store or Apple’s website.

To beginners, I recommend downloading Xcode from the Mac App Store, as it’s the most straightforward method.

You can find the Xcode guide here, but I don’t recommend it as a starting point, so keep the link for future reference. It’s a user manual that assumes you already know how to write code.

It’s hard to understand why Xcode’s features are helpful when you don’t know what to use them for. It’s better to learn to use Xcode as you learn iOS development.

An iOS Device can be helpful for iOS development, but is optional

If you already own an iPhone or an iPad, these devices can be beneficial but are not required for learning iOS development. Xcode includes an iOS simulator that allows you to run your apps on your computer.

The iOS simulator covers all your learning needs. I developed my first iOS app solely using the simulator. I also worked for many clients where I rarely ran apps on real devices, if ever.

An actual iOS device is necessary for final testing before submitting an app to the App Store or for features unavailable in the simulator, such as multitouch, gyroscope, camera, or Apple Pencil support. However, these are advanced features that you shouldn’t worry about when starting.

If you decide to acquire a device, consider purchasing a second-hand one, as this can be cost-effective.

Ensure that the device can run the latest version of iOS, which, at the time of writing, is iOS 17. Check the list of compatible devices at the bottom of the page.

If you plan to develop apps specifically for the iPad, ensure the device is compatible with iPadOS 17.