How to Make 6 Figures As A Mobile App Developer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a mobile app developer? Good for you! Being a mobile app developer is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a mobile app developer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a powerful way to supplement your income and move towards earning six figures as a mobile app developer. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could offer personalized coaching sessions, guiding others through professional transitions and growth opportunities within the tech sector. You could assist clients with resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement, making use of your specific insights into the mobile app development field.
With flexible options for in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a diverse client base, empowering career breakthroughs with specialized advice and accountability. Additionally, if you have a knack for speaking and a passion for mentoring, this could be a lucrative side business or even a primary revenue stream. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to monetize your motivational abilities, helping others succeed while setting your own schedule and further diversifying your income sources.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
2. Digital products ($261K/month)
As a mobile app developer, diving into the world of digital products could significantly boost your income and help you reach six figures. You could create software-based products like apps or games, leveraging your existing skills to produce valuable tools or entertainment for users. Alternatively, you might develop information-based products such as ebooks, tutorials, or online courses, sharing your expertise with a broader audience and establishing yourself as an authority in the field.
Digital products are particularly attractive because they’re easy to create and distribute, without the logistical hassles of physical inventory. You could sell these products directly from your website, eliminating overhead costs and maximizing profit margins. With perseverance and strategic marketing, this side pursuit could evolve into a thriving business, providing a steady stream of passive income and helping you achieve your financial goals in 2024.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
3. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a mobile app developer. By leveraging your technical skills and understanding of the digital world, you could create and implement effective social media marketing strategies for various clients. This could provide a steady stream of additional income without requiring a significant time commitment, thanks to automation tools.
Moreover, building a strong agency portfolio could make it easier to attract and retain customers, which could help you to rapidly scale your business. If you aim to clear your utility bills, finance your education, or save for a vacation, running a social media marketing agency could be an efficient and rewarding side business. With the right strategies and tools, you could significantly boost your earnings and achieve your financial goals.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
4. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Supplementing your income as a mobile app developer by becoming an affiliate marketer could be a lucrative way to reach six figures. By leveraging your technical skills and understanding of online traffic, you could effectively promote other companies' products and services through your apps or associated platforms.
As an affiliate marketer, you would sign up for affiliate programs and use your marketing skills to drive sales, earning commissions for each successful referral. This business model requires minimal upfront investment, making it accessible while you continue working as a developer. Starting an affiliate marketing venture allows you to generate additional revenue streams, helping you accelerate your path to six figures.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a mobile app developer, helping you move closer to making six figures. Because freelance writing offers the flexibility to work from home and define your own schedule, you could easily balance it with your primary job. Additionally, leveraging your technical expertise, you could carve out a niche by writing specialized content related to mobile app development, technology trends, and software engineering, which is often in high demand.
This entrepreneurial venture allows you to stay on the cutting edge by constantly researching and writing about the latest developments in your field. Moreover, acquiring strong writing skills, and staying up-to-date with current writing tools and trends could significantly boost your credibility and earning potential. By meeting deadlines and maintaining clear communication with clients, you could build a strong reputation that might lead to lucrative long-term contracts.
Thus, integrating freelance writing into your career strategy not only diversifies your income streams but also enhances your professional portfolio, helping you achieve your financial goals faster.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
6. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a game-changer for a mobile app developer looking to make six figures. By sharing your expertise and insights in app development, you could establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field, attracting a dedicated readership. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and blogs being rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your knowledge could reach a vast audience.
Monetizing your blog through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and ad revenue could supplement your primary income. Given that approximately 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages each month, the potential for audience growth is significant. If your blog gains enough traction, it might even transform into a full-time profitable business, allowing you the flexibility to work from anywhere and create a sustainable, location-independent income stream.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
7. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could help you make six figures as a mobile app developer by establishing you as an industry thought leader and expert. By sharing your insights, experiences, and tips about app development, you could attract a loyal audience that finds value in your content. This audience could, in turn, become a source of revenue through sponsorships, ads, and listener donations.
Moreover, being a mobile app developer, you could use your podcast platform to offer consultations, promote your own apps, or even sell online courses related to app development. The exposure from a well-produced podcast could elevate your personal brand, leading to more business opportunities, freelance projects, or speaking engagements. Embracing the podcasting industry could supplement your income significantly and potentially turn into a profitable side business, driving you closer to achieving a six-figure income.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
8. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a mobile app developer. Given your technical background, you could leverage your existing skills to create and manage a sophisticated, secure, and user-friendly online store with relative ease. This not only opens up an additional revenue stream, but also provides an opportunity to apply your technical expertise in a new, entrepreneurial context.
With the booming ecommerce market, you could cater to the growing demand for convenient shopping experiences. By utilizing your knowledge in app development, you might even develop a unique app-based shopping platform that differentiates your store from competitors, thus attracting a wider audience and increasing your sales potential. Lower overhead costs and increased flexibility are significant advantages, allowing you to scale your business with minimal financial risk.
In addition, your ability to handle website setup and payment processing systems on your own could save you substantial initial costs, making your ecommerce venture more profitable sooner. Overall, starting an ecommerce store offers a practical and exciting avenue to potentially reach six figures, all while diversifying your career and honing your entrepreneurial skills.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
9. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Starting a social media influencer side business could significantly boost your income as a mobile app developer by leveraging your technical expertise and passion. By choosing a popular niche such as app development tutorials or tech reviews, you could create engaging and educational content that attracts a large following on platforms like YouTube or TikTok.
Brands looking to target tech-savvy audiences might partner with you for sponsored posts, reviews, or even paid collaborations, which could result in substantial additional income. With the right strategy and consistent effort, this side venture could evolve into a primary revenue stream, helping you reach the six-figure mark more quickly.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
10. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a mobile app developer. By sharing your expertise, you could attract a broad audience interested in learning about app development, industry trends, and coding techniques. With consistent quality content, you could achieve the necessary 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to join the YouTube Partner Program, thereby opening up revenue streams like ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
Moreover, a YouTube channel could establish you as an authority in the field, potentially leading to consulting opportunities, paid courses, or collaborations with other tech influencers. If you love content creation, leveraging YouTube's popularity might be a smart move to not only boost your income but also enhance your personal brand. So, think of your YouTube channel as both a side business and a platform to grow your network and professional opportunities.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
11. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Building an online course could present a lucrative opportunity for you as a mobile app developer to make six figures by monetizing your specialized skills and knowledge. By identifying educational gaps in the highly dynamic field of mobile app development, you could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials that cater to the needs of aspiring developers or seasoned professionals looking to upskill.
With the flexibility of self-paced or cohort-based structures, you could build a student base, resulting in continuous passive income. This entrepreneurial endeavor not only capitalizes on your instructional talents but also comes with small startup costs, making it an efficient and rewarding side business. Enthusiastic lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects would find great value in your courses, further boosting your financial prospects.
How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
