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How to Become a Mobile App Developer in Minnesota

Written by Judee ShipmanMay 28, 2012
How to become a mobile app developer in Minnesota

High tech professionals in the state of Minnesota are increasingly finding employment in the field of mobile application design.  Apps are used to compose songs, multiply numbers, sell autos, watch movie trailers and perform more than a million other functions.  There's even an app that issues random office sound effects like keyboard tapping and paper shuffling so your eavesdropping boss will think you are working when you're actually taking a nap.  Needless to say, Minnesota businesses maintain a healthy economic demand for innovative local app developers.

Minnesota Schools and Training Programs for App Developers

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Minnesota app developers learning the skills often study computer science at accredited local colleges.  Prominent Minnesota programming colleges with open admissions policies include ITT Tech in Eden Prairie and DeVry University with campuses in Edina and Saint Louis Park.  Also popular are National American University, located in Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Minnetonka and Roseville, as well as Rasmussen College in Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Lake Elmo, Mankato, Moorhead and Saint Cloud. 

Additional local educational options include on-the-job-training and online instruction.  Popular accredited online colleges of computer science include Colorado Christian University, Liberty University, Post University, Rasmussen College and University of Phoenix, to name only a fraction.  

Working as a Mobile App Developer in Minnesota

Minnesota-based corporations recruit app development specialists for numerous commercial projects.  Developers of mobile apps sometimes work for local computer programming businesses like Derell Computer Applications in Minneapolis, Guardian Applications in Saint Paul, Bolcer Computing in Elk River, Avalon Computing in Burnsville and Heavenly Computers in Hugo, for example.  Some app developers design digital products for prepackaged software makers like Ecologic Analytics in Bloomington, Lawson Software in Saint Paul, Exit Care in Lake Elmo, Cadence Design Systems in Arden Hills or The Softies in Minnetonka. 

Based on reports available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, companies in the state of Minnesota currently employ roughly 14,190 professional app developers on a full time basis.  They claim an average individual hourly earning of $43.15, with a mean reported yearly income of around $89,750.  Independent freelance app developers who design and sell apps at online app stores often supplement their incomes with consulting gigs, writing assignments and website design. 

Skills of a Professional App Developer

Professional app developers are mainly computer programming wizards with tremendous innovation and advanced project management skills.  Technical qualifications aside from programming may include graphic design and website design, as well as familiarity with electronic equipment and infrastructural elements.  App developers generally possess a knack for detail combined with exceptional organizational ability.