Find out whether a career as an Android app developer is for you by exploring requirements, salary, responsibilities, and more with this guide.
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.
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 $130,160 [2] According to Glassdoor, an Android app developer in the US earns an average yearly salary of $104,000 [3].
Read more: Android Developer Salary: Your 2025 Guide
With a growing reliance on mobile devices, it’s not surprising to see a promising job outlook for app developers. Jobs growth in software development is expected to grow 17 percent by 2033. According to the BLS, an estimated 327,900 jobs will be added to the economy in this field [2].
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:
Read more: Python vs. Java: Which should I learn?
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 of 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.
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 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++ 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.
Read more: What Is C++ (And How to Learn It)
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
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:
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.
It’s a good idea to be familiar with the Android Development Kit, which is Google’s app developer toolkit. Also, knowing 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.
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.
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.
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 [1].
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:
This Android app is a simplified web browser designed to increase the privacy of your online activities through encryption. As of January 2025, the app is available for free on Android devices.
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.
1Weather is a weather app with a simple, clean design that provides everything from the forecast to fun weather facts.
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.
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.
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.
You can master the basics of developing for Android in as little as eight months with in-demand skills like programming in Kotlin and the principles of UI/UI design with Meta's Android Developer Professional Certificate.
Not yet sure if Android development is for you? Try it for free with the University of Maryland's online course, Programming Mobile Applications for Android Handheld Systems: Part 1.
course
This course is all about starting to learn how to develop video games using the C# programming language and the Unity game engine on Windows or Mac. Why use ...
4.7
(2,418 ratings)
124,343 already enrolled
Beginner level
Average time: 19 hour(s)
Learn at your own pace
Skills you'll build:
Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Software Engineering, Computer Programming Tools, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Problem Solving
Or, focus on learning a programming language you can use broadly for mobile app development with Duke University's Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization.
Statista. "Number of available applications in the Google Play Store from December 2009 to March 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/266210/number-of-available-applications-in-the-google-play-store/." Accessed January 28, 2025.
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 January 28, 2025.
Glassdoor. "Android App Developer Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/android-app-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm?clickSource=searchBtn." Accessed January 28, 2025.
Editorial Team
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.