The job board is full of “iOS developers.” Most of them have never shipped to the App Store.

We've hired a lot of iOS engineers at Applefy. Here's what actually separates experienced iPhone developers from people who learned Swift last month — and what to pay, and where to find them.

What to Look For

Published Apps in the App Store

First filter. Non-negotiable.

Not portfolio projects. Not apps that “would be in the App Store if they deployed them.” Actual apps that went through review and are live.

You learn more from one App Store deployment than from years of tutorials. You learn submission requirements, rejection and recovery, real performance on real devices, and how users find bugs you missed. If a candidate has never shipped to the App Store, they haven't completed the iOS journey yet.

Understanding SwiftUI and UIKit Trade-offs

This question separates people who read Medium from people who build for production.

SwiftUI is Apple's modern framework. UIKit is the proven framework powering apps shipped since 2008. The right answer isn't “SwiftUI is better.” The right answer is “it depends”:

• Need absolute control and performance? UIKit.
• Building new features and want rapid iteration? SwiftUI.
• Need to support older iOS versions? UIKit or selective SwiftUI.

Junior developers say SwiftUI is the future. Shipped developers say which one fits your specific problem. This is also a strong signal of whether they understand Swift's design philosophy.

Opinions Based on Shipped Code

Ask about architecture, memory management, async/await. Answers should come from real production experience, not blog posts.

“We used MVVM because Medium recommends it” — studied.

“We used MVVM because we had three developers and needed structure that let us work independently” — shipped.

You'll know the difference immediately.

Experience Debugging User Issues

It's easy to debug an app you wrote when you understand all the assumptions. It's hard to debug an app other people are using in ways you didn't predict.

Ask about the weirdest bug they've solved. Not bugs in their own code — bugs that turned out to be device-specific, related to iOS updates, or caused by weird network conditions. Someone who's shipped has stories. Someone who hasn't is silent.

The Red Flags

Fresh Out of Bootcamp

Nothing wrong with bootcamp graduates. They're learning iOS — not experienced with iOS. Big difference.

Hire as junior with mentorship: fine. Pay as senior: expensive mistake.

“I Learned Swift in a Week”

Swift isn't Python. Learning syntax is one thing. Understanding optionals, memory management, the type system, the frameworks — that takes months of real use. Anyone who learned Swift in a week learned the surface.

No Published Work

If they can't show real apps they've built and deployed, there's a reason.

Defensive About Technology Choices

Ask why they prefer SwiftUI or UIKit. Good answer addresses trade-offs. Bad answer is “because SwiftUI is the future.”

What to Pay

Experienced iOS developers are expensive. A developer who's shipped multiple apps, understands the ecosystem deeply, and can teach your team costs more than a junior.

• Junior iOS developer: $70K–$100K
• Mid-level iOS developer: $100K–$140K
• Senior iOS developer: $140K–$200K+

The senior ships in half the time with fewer bugs and better architecture. Worth the premium. For full development cost breakdowns, see our pricing guide.

Where to Find Them

Not job boards. Not LinkedIn recruiter spam.

• Open-source iOS projects — look at meaningful contributors
• iOS conferences — speakers are invested in the craft
• Your network — ask other founders for referrals
• Developers you respect — they know who else is good

The best iOS developers aren't looking for jobs. They're working on something. You have to convince them your problem is worth their time.

Can't find the right person? We keep a bench of vetted senior iOS engineers at Applefy — drop us a message.

Before You Post the Job

Hiring wrong costs you 3–6 months minimum. Hiring right is one of the best investments you'll make in the product.

Take your time. Ask hard questions. Check the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I hire freelance or full-time?

Freelance for short, specific work. Full-time when you need ongoing product ownership. Most early-stage startups should start with one strong contractor and convert later.

How do I evaluate someone's code without being technical myself?

Get a technical interviewer or trusted advisor. Don't fake your way through it. Bad hires cost 3–6 months minimum.

Do I need a native iOS developer if I'm using React Native?

Eventually, yes. Cross-platform frameworks hit limits — push notifications, background modes, custom UI. A native iOS developer unblocks you.

What's a reasonable take-home test?

Two to four hours, max. Anything longer and good candidates won't bother. Look at small published apps instead.

Where can I find iOS developers outside the US?

Eastern Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia have strong iOS talent at lower rates. Expect $40–$80/hour for senior contractors versus $100–$150/hour US-based.