Become An Android Developer In 2023: Are you considering a switch to mobile development?
Looking to be a job-ready Android developer?
Are you still figuring out the landscape as a beginner?
We’ve got your back.
In this Guide, We’ll Discuss
- What is an Android developer?
- Types of Android developer jobs.
- Skills an Android developer needs.
- How to become an Android developer.
But before we start, let’s talk about the operating system called Android.
What is an Android Operating System
Developed by Andy Rubin and the Android Inc team in 2003, Android is an operating system for mobile devices that has grown to take up 75% of the market share under the guidance of Google, which bought them in 2004.
As we speak, it has 2.5 billion users and spans 190 countries.
So naturally, there has been an increase in the need for Android developers worldwide, and many companies are hiring agencies or using developer marketplace platforms like Deazy to find the best talents for their needs.
What’s more, many professionals are switching to Android development for more reasons than one. Here are some of them.
- It’s cost-effective to build and launch apps with the cheap and robust distribution of the Google Play Store;
- The speed and ease of launch of Android mobile apps supersede other platforms. You can get your app running in a day or so;
- Regarding Android development, there’s flexibility in adding features and functions.
So now we have an idea of the Android operating system, let’s talk about the Android developer.
Who is an Android Developer?
Android developers build software products for devices that run on the Android operating system. They could either work on firmware for device manufacturing companies or build mobile apps for these Android devices.
The former are regarded as core developers, while the latter are Android app developers.
In the course of their work, Android developers do a series of tasks to build and maintain software. Some of them include:
- Module testing during software development;
- Using development tools to code programs that create Android applications;
- Troubleshooting bugs and fixing problems;
- Working in teams to discover user needs and building features for them;
- Effective use of outside data sources and API to improve their problem-solving skills.
Types Of Android Developer Jobs
As an Android developer, there are many job opportunities to engage your skills as a developer while earning a living. There’s the
- Entry Level Android Developer;
- Freelance Android Developer;
- Junior Android Developer;
- Senior Android Developer.
Let’s take a look at each of them below.
Entry Level Android Developer
This is often the first job you get after learning coding skills and using such skills to build projects on the Android platform.
At this point, you would have familiarised yourself with the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) and have had a grasp of computer languages and testing scripts.
The salary range for this job position is between $60,000 – $75,000 annually.
Freelance Android Developer
Instead of being an employee, an Android can decide to freelance. Being self-employed has both benefits and setbacks. What is great about freelancing can be a setback as well.
Flexibility can be amazing in choosing projects and earning the capacity of a freelance Android developer.
But these benefits can become limitations when a freelance Android developer goes for projects that optimize money over problem-solving skills, especially early on in their career.
The salary range here can be between $90,000 – $160,000.
Junior Android Developer
At a salary between $65,000 – $85,000 per year, most Android developers fill these positions at companies across the world.
As a Junior Android developer, you’re expected to design, build and maintain Android applications using app frameworks like Google’s Kotlin and Java.
You’ll improve the usability and reliability of your code via unit testing. Always working with the lead engineer and other teammates to create quality Android applications that meet company objectives.
Senior Android Developer
Here you get to analyze, test and develop Android applications as well.
But in addition to that, you design and plan projects and inspect team code as you work to hit project goals.
Generally, the salary range at this level is $120,000 and above.
Skills Of An Android Developer
When it comes to skills, Android developers need a couple of skills that are generally categorized into Hard and Soft skills. Let’s explore them, shall we?
Hard Skills
These are core technical skills that an Android developer needs to express their product vision in the Android ecosystem.
Companies and project managers want Android developers capable of using APIs and standard libraries.
And that you are experienced in programming languages like JavaScript. But that’s not all. You also need to be conversant in C/C++ and MySQL Databases.
Then there are the requirements: be comfortable with Android Studio and have analytical skills to solve problems efficiently.
Soft Skills
Having hardcore skills isn’t enough to become a good Android developer.
Soft skills are often underestimated because they’re not easily quantifiable as their hard counterparts, but they’re the fuel that’ll take your tech career to greater heights.
Grit
The silent persistence to see a project through as efficiently as possible.
Many times in your Android developer career, you’ll be stuck on tough problems. You need the grit to stay the course.
Through practice and consistency, you can grow grit.
Communication
Another would be the art of communication. You’ll be reading a lot of code and documentation to be effective at your job.
You’ll also work with teams and lead project managers to hit company goals.
Being a team player would make the process far more enjoyable for you and everyone else.
Curiosity
The technology industry is an ever-changing one. And as an Android developer, you’ll have to keep learning new languages and tech environments to stay relevant.
Steps From Novice To Android Developer
Now you have an overview of the Android Developer’s Career, let’s explore how you can become one.
Let’s get in the weeds – Programming
Before you learn about the Android ecosystem, start with programming languages Java, Kotlin and XML.
Android
Here you get used to the Android studio environment. There’s the First structure where you examine files like the Drawable file, mipmap file and styles.xml file.
And then create a project, reopen, close and save said project. Also, study Android components like Activity, Services, Content Provider, and Broadcast Receiver.
Design
When it comes to design, look at simple UI designs like intent, View Elements and Layouts. Once you’re done, you can explore complex designs like Bottom Sheets, Toast, Dialogs, Fragments, Material Design and Animation.
Conclusion
Once you’re done with the design, study Android systems like Shared Preferences, File System and RoomDB Database.
There’s also Build with Release Configuration and Gradle.
Then explore Threading which includes Threads and Looper and to be proficient at debugging, look into Memory Profiling, Logging, Exceptions and Error Handling.
Another skill you need is the ability to find and fix Memory Leaks.
Here you also have to find the Cause of the Memory Leaks and Context.
Then examine 3rd-party libraries and Android Jetpack.
Learn about Android Architecture through the three widely used architectures in Android like the following:
- MVVM (Model-View-View-Model);
- MVP (Model View Presenter);
- MVI (Model-View-Intent).
But it doesn’t end with Android Architecture. There’s Firebase, Unit Testing, and Security App Release. Once you’ve studied all the bolded subjects above, start building projects to practice your skills as an Android Developer.
Bravo!
