What It's Like to Be an Android Developer

Do you know that Android device users can currently choose from more than 2.5 million apps worldwide? If we compare Android with computer OS, it would be Windows, the OS with the highest share in the world. Unsurprisingly, developing apps for Android devices is top-rated, and this booming trend doesn't seem to decrease anytime soon. From this, it's easy to conclude that the demand for Android developers will be high in the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% growth in the employment of Android developers by 2024. So, if you'd like to be highly employable, earn good money, and become a part of something fascinating, keep on reading to discover more about Android devs.

Top Advantages of Android OS

Despite the growing popularity of iPhones with their iOS, Android devices are still the main force that continues to break through the mobile landscape. For reference, Android boasts 74.43% of the total mobile OS market share and over 52 billion app downloads to date. No wonder many businesses want to have high-quality, engaging, and user-friendly Android apps at their disposal, allowing them to reach a larger audience, gain more exposure, and increase their sales. Why Android?

Cost-Effectiveness

The primary reason for Android popularity is that it's relatively cost-effective. Compared to other platforms, Android is much cheaper. In addition, Android devs can turn to open sources with no license fees when creating apps, significantly decreasing the cost. In other words, you can get a high-quality Android app with a small investment.

Security

Java is the primary programming language for Android development (though it's not the only one). And, as you already know, Java is very stable and secure. Not only that, but it also makes the Android-driven devices run smoothly.

Quick and Efficient Results

Due to the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) with many ready-made codes, developers can create Android applications quickly without sacrificing quality.

Who Is an Android Developer? Main Responsibilities

From all this, it's easy to see that Android apps and specialists to develop/maintain them will be in great demand for a long while. But what is an Android developer, and how to identify a good one? In brief, an Android developer is a person who creates applications for the Android OS. However, it is not as simple as it may seem at first. Unlike iOS, which is exclusively for iPhones, Android varies for different devices. So, Android developers should keep extra attention to the app's compatibility with all devices that run on Android OS, including smartphones, tablets, e-books, and some others. In general, an Android developer should be able to:

• Create the app's features. It's the primary duty of any Android Developer, which involves a process on how the end-user will use the app.
• Design interactive user interfaces (UI).
• Write and maintain a reusable, high-performing code for licensed wireframes and designs.
• Test, troubleshoot, and fix bugs (both while developing the app and when it's already available to users).
• Prioritize customers' requirements and add new features to the app accordingly.
• Keep up to date with the new development tools.
• Work with Outside Data Sources and different APIs, including external ones.
• Work with different departments within the company to develop new functionality users demand.
• Track the app's reviews to spot weak points.

Naturally, the tasks and responsibilities vary from company to company, but this list is the most common duties that almost any Android developer should take on.

Essential Skills Required

Android development is quite hard, and there is no doubt. And to be able to perform all those duties, you should gain the following skills:

• It would be best if you were an expert in Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, C++, or C#.
• Know Android Architecture concepts (Activities, Services, Broadcast receivers, Content Providers, Intents, Android Runtime, and much more).
• Have familiarity with various APIs to connect Android apps to back-end services.
• Be able to write a generic code that won't crash on different Android devices.
• Work with Android Studio. It is the fastest and the most powerful tool for developing Android apps for any Android OS device.
• Understand the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) – a set of Java code modules allowing you to access such functions as the camera and accelerometer on mobile devices.
• Be proficient in MVC, MVP, or MVVM architecture.
• Have extensive knowledge of Screen Layout Designing with XML.

Among the welcome soft skills for Android developers, we can highlight flexibility and adaptability of the work style, the ability to take ownership of one's work, and accountability to take constructive criticism.

Demand for Android Developers and Average Salaries

Gradually, we have come up with one of the main questions "Where Can I Find Work as an Android Developer and How Much Can I Earn?" Besides Google, Android devs are highly demanded in such well-known corporations as OpenXcell, Cubix, RipenApps, NIX, Utility, Swenson He, Day One Technologies, Zco Corporation, Promatics Technologies, Quytech, Konstant Infosolutions, WilltowTree, Intellectsoft, and many others. Of course, speaking of salary, it varies from company to company, but on average, an Android Developer makes $126,461 per year in the United States. Is the demand for android developers high? Definitely. Currently, there are about 5,500 job openings only in the USA, both for entry-level and experienced Android developers. And it's easily justified that Android apps continue to grow in popularity, creating a wide variety of job opportunities. With that, you can find offerings to work either as a permanent employee or as a freelancer.

How to Rise Above the Competition

You should get solid Java knowledge if you'd like to get your place under the sun as quickly as possible. Yet, what is essential here, it's better to concentrate on "what matters." Many Java features are not used in Android since they are not needed… at all. That's why we have prepared the unique course "Android app development for beginners", where you'll get only the most valuable knowledge within the shortest period. The course lasts only three months (36 hours and 24 lessons in total), and during this time, you will learn the basics of Android and UI, as well as become proficient in connecting to an API and using third-party libraries. It's a targeted online course that involves a lot of practice and teaches you how to work with the leading Android tools you'll need in your future career. What's remarkable is thateverything is thoroughly controlled by a real mentor, an experienced Android developer, so you have fewer chances for mistakes (and hence, quitting). And here's the cherry on top – after completing the course, you'll have four full-fledged apps behind your belt to include in your CV and show the proven-track of your progress.

Conclusion

The prospects offered by Android development are huge since this OS is a rapidly evolving platform that can give Apple iOs a run for its money. Hence, the career of Android developers is increasingly popular too. Moreover, the mobile market is growing, so there will always be a massive demand for mobile devs. So, if you choose an Android path, we bet you'll get many opportunities and ways to grow. Let's try and see for yourself!

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