What Is an Android App Developer? Your 2025 Career Guide

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Find out whether a career as an Android app developer is for you by exploring requirements, salary, responsibilities, and more with this guide.

[Featured image] An Android app developer in a blue shirt works with a laptop and a smartphone.

We use apps for everything from ordering dinner to creating documents to watching movies—and more are developed every day. As an Android app developer, you'll design, develop, and test applications primarily for Android devices. You can find entry-level Android app developer positions, but you'll need certain skills to obtain one. You can explore these qualifications and career paths in the following article.

If you're ready to start preparing for an entry-level Android app developer job today, learn from an industry leader with Meta's Android Developer Professional Certificate program. It's designed to equip you with the skills you need to land your first role in as little as eight months.

What can you earn as an Android app developer?

The average salary for an Android app developer will vary based on the company, location, and job duties. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), software developers earn an average annual salary of $131,450 [1]. According to Glassdoor, an Android app developer in the US earns a median total pay of $98,000 per year [2]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Read more: Android Developer Salary: Your Guide

What is the job outlook for Android app developers? 

With a growing reliance on mobile devices, it’s not surprising to see a promising job outlook for app developers. Job growth in software development is expected to grow 15 percent by 2034 [1]. According to the BLS, from 2024 to 2034 an estimated 287,900 jobs will be added to the economy in this field [1].

Android programming languages

One of the most notable skills of an Android app developer is their knowledge of programming languages used to develop efficient code for mobile devices. Here are a few popular programming languages for mobile app development:

Java

For a long time, Java was the official programming language of Android apps. While the preferred language has changed to Kotlin, Java is still a popular language choice for many developers. However, the language is complex and has a high learning curve for beginners. Due to the popularity of this language, there’s a good support community to help developers troubleshoot problems, and Google’s Play Store widely supports it.

You can master Java in as little as six months with no previous experience through Duke University's online program, Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization.

Kotlin

Google declared Kotlin the preferred language of Android apps in 2019. Kotlin is an easier language to learn than Java, as it doesn’t have as much complexity or as many nuances, making it easier for developers to pick up.

Dart

Dart is an up-and-coming language created by Google. The purpose of Dart is to create apps in less time with more built-in features and easy-to-design graphics. This language tends to focus on the user experience too. With the end-user considered during the development, apps tend to be more user-friendly.

C++

C++ is still used, but not as an app’s main programming language. Some developers like to use it to build certain pieces of an app, but combining it with other languages can create bugs. While budding developers should be aware of this language, other languages will likely take priority.

A day in the life of an Android app developer 

As an Android developer, you’ll likely spend time collaborating with colleagues, writing code, troubleshooting tech problems, and working to improve applications. More specifically, daily duties might include: 

• Working with different departments to understand an app’s purpose

• Strategically designing an app’s navigation with a focus on the end-user

• Managing outside data sources and APIs to facilitate app development

• Writing code to make the app function simply, but with purpose

• Testing the app and fixing bugs as they arise

• Reviewing an app with various team members

• Staying on top of trends in the industry

How to develop Android apps: Skills needed

If becoming an Android app developer sounds like a good career fit for you, here’s a look at the skills you should work to acquire:

Programming languages

It’s advantageous to be proficient in two programming languages, like Java and Kotlin, as you’ll use these languages to write code that makes an app function. You’ll likely need to take classes to obtain this technical skill. 

Additional app development software knowledge

It’s a good idea to be familiar with the Android software development kit (SDK), which is Google’s app developer toolkit. Also, knowing storage definition language (SDL), a program designed to manage and store data, is helpful. Developers should also review the Material Design guidelines set by Google. These guidelines must be met for an app to appear in the Google Play Store. 

Strong communication skills

Developing an app is a team effort. Depending upon where you work, you might work with other colleagues or clients to build an app. The ability to listen and respond to a person’s needs might seem simple, but communication is a vital part of building an app efficiently. 

Attention to detail

As a developer, you’ll write hundreds of lines of code. It’s a skill that requires attention to detail. If a character or letter is off, the code won’t work. Attention to detail will ensure your code is well-written and ready to test. 

Ability to adapt

The world of mobile apps is constantly changing. New programming languages can emerge, standards might change, and software will evolve. An app developer must be able to adapt.

Check out this preview of a free online course in Android app development offered by the University of Maryland:

If you’re considering a job in this field, you might be curious about the apps created by today’s developers. There are a staggering 1.68 million Android apps to choose from in the Google Play Store as of mid-2024 [3].

As you research this career field, you might consider downloading a few of these apps to explore their navigation, aesthetics, and user experience. Here’s a snapshot of some of the most popular Android apps:

1. DuckDuckGo

This Android app is a simplified web browser designed to increase the privacy of your online activities through encryption. As of September 2025, the app is available for free on Android devices.

2. Podcast Addict

This handy app provides a searchable database for podcasts. Aside from searching for shows, users can also create playlists, download episodes, and receive reminders when a new show drops.

3. 1Weather

1Weather is a weather app with a simple, clean design that provides everything from the forecast to fun weather facts. 

4. Microsoft SwiftKey

This app creates a more user-friendly keyboard on a smartphone or tablet and gives users the ability to customize it. Users can add a number row or a space for emojis, for example. 

5. Google Drive

File sharing and collaboration have become an everyday necessity, which is probably why the Google Drive app is so popular. It makes reading documents easy on a small screen. 

How to become an Android app developer

If you’re ready to dive into the world of Android app development, you need to build the skills necessary to apply for a job. As with most jobs, there isn’t one specific path to take.

You might consider getting a bachelor’s degree in software development, mobile application 

development, mobile computing, or a similar program. As you look through job advertisements, you’ll notice that many of them do ask for a four-year degree. 

However, you can also consider taking courses in Android app development at your own pace. Coursera partners with many schools and universities to offer online classes and Specializations that can help build skills for this career choice. 

Check out these free mobile app development career resources

Stay at the forefront of mobile app development with Career Chat, Coursera’s weekly LinkedIn newsletter featuring trending skills, tools, and certifications. Learn more about artificial intelligence’s impact on software development and hear from industry professionals by exploring free digital resources:

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses. 

Article sources

1. 

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm." Accessed September 4, 2025.

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