Kotlin Market in 2025: Where is Demand Heading?
The Kotlin language has firmly established itself not only in mobile development but also in backend development, data engineering, and cross-platform solutions. In 2025, the demand for Kotlin specialists continues to grow, despite the general slowdown of the IT market. Analysts from HeadHunter and Glassdoor note an 18% increase in the number of vacancies compared to 2024, while the average salary for a Middle developer has exceeded the 350,000 ruble mark.
We have compiled the top 5 most in-demand directions for Kotlin developers in 2025. If you are planning to change your tech stack or are just starting to learn the language, this material will help you choose the right vector.
- Android Developer (Kotlin + Jetpack Compose) — a classic that never gets old. In 2025, companies are looking for engineers who master Compose, not outdated XML. Senior salary: from 450,000 rubles.
- Backend Developer (Ktor, Spring Boot) — the corporate sector is actively migrating from Java to Kotlin. Specialists who can write reactive microservices are especially valued. Middle: 300,000 – 400,000 rubles.
- Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) Developer — explosive growth in vacancies in fintech and edtech. One codebase for iOS and Android saves up to 40% of time. Senior: from 500,000 rubles.
- Data Engineer (Kotlin + Apache Kafka) — big data processing in Kotlin is becoming mainstream. Knowledge of working with streams and ETL pipelines is required. Middle: 350,000 – 420,000 rubles.
- Full-stack Kotlin (KMP + Ktor + Compose Multiplatform) — generalists capable of leading a project from server logic to UI on all platforms receive premium offers up to 600,000 rubles.
Key Trends Affecting Salaries
First — shortage of Senior engineers. The market is oversaturated with juniors, but there is a lack of experienced specialists with real-world cases of migration from Java or implementation of Compose. Second — growth of remote projects. Most vacancies (up to 70%) offer full remote work, which is especially valuable for regions. Third — the requirement of English proficiency at the Upper-Intermediate level and above has become mandatory for positions from Middle, as many clients work with international teams.
According to a survey by "Moy Krug", 45% of Kotlin developers in 2025 are considering relocation offers to the UAE, Kazakhstan, or Turkey, where salaries in dollar terms are 20-30% higher than in Moscow.
How to Increase Your Salary in 2025?
If you already write in Kotlin, add the following skills to your resume to qualify for top vacancies:
- Coroutines and Flow — the foundation without which no modern project can function.
- Compose Multiplatform — the ability to write UI for Android, iOS, and Desktop with a single codebase.
- Ktor + Exposed — a lightweight stack for rapid backend prototyping.
- Docker and Kubernetes — deploying microservices on Kotlin.
Conclusion: 2025 is a great time for Kotlin developers. Demand is shifting from simple mo