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Tips on Becoming a Mobile App Developer in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Written by Judee ShipmanMay 28, 2012
How to become a mobile app developer in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is bursting with local businesses in search of high tech professionals with app development expertise.  Mobile apps are virally popular, often used for operating navigational instruments, viewing great works of fine art, photographing friends, looking up phone numbers and every other conceivable purpose, however trivial it may seem.  There's even an app that tells you whether or not it is dark outside.  The commercial economy of Grand Rapids represents a wealth of employment opportunities for local app developers.

Grand Rapids Schools and Training Programs for App Developers

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Grand Rapids app developers often train at local colleges, where they typically study computer science and interactive communications.  Grand Rapids schools of programming and interactive media include Cornerstone University and Davenport University. 

Two viable local educational alternatives are private instruction and online training.  Successful accredited online colleges with degree programs useful to app developers include Baker College, Kaplan University, Liberty University, Penn Foster Career School and Regis University, to name merely a few. 

Working as a Mobile App Developer in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Numerous Grand Rapids companies hire professional app developers to oversee countless digital projects.  Local app experts are sometimes hired by computer programming service businesses like Atomic Object, Techbear Computers, Mutually Human, Resource Ocean and 3rd Wave Computing, for instance.  Some app developers work for prepackaged software firms like Cascade Computer Consulting, Physician Evaluation Group, Weaver Instructional Systems, Mitchell Data Services or Innovative Software Solutions.  Other Grand Rapids-based corporations recruiting app design specialists may include various independent subcontractors, educational media distributors, electrical engineers, web consultants and music producers, for instance.

Corporations located in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan currently employ approximately 1,050 full time professional app developers.  According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, full time app developers in Grand Rapids claim and average per-person annual salary of about $77,390, with a reported mean hourly wage of about $37.20.

Skills of a Professional App Developer

Professional app developers are basically high tech wizards with advanced organizational skills, keen attention to detail and exceptionally innovative ideas.  Their tireless technical skills mainly include computer programming, interactive design, website construction and server development.  However, app developers need also to understand marketing techniques and online distribution if an app is to achieve financial success.  Lastly, project management skills are especially important for developing a mobile app from concept to completion.