Mobile Developer Salary New York 2026: $85K–$240K+ (iOS, Android & Cross-Platform)
Finance fintech apps, Big Tech offices, and the NYC salary transparency law — what mobile developers actually earn in New York City
# Mobile Developer Salary in New York City 2026
Mobile developers in New York City earn between $85,000 and $240,000+ in base salary in 2026, with total compensation reaching significantly higher for senior and staff-level engineers at finance firms and major tech companies.
NYC sits at a unique intersection: Wall Street's demand for fintech and trading apps drives a premium that does not exist in San Francisco or Seattle. Combined with the NYC Salary Transparency Law (effective November 2022), salary expectations are increasingly visible in job postings — making it easier than ever to benchmark your market position.
This guide covers salary ranges by level, platform (iOS, Android, cross-platform), top NYC employers, and the tax reality that shapes take-home pay.
Mobile Developer Salary Ranges in New York (2026)
| Level | Experience | Base Salary | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 years | $85K–$110K | $90K–$125K |
| Mid | 2–5 years | $110K–$145K | $120K–$175K |
| Senior | 5–8 years | $145K–$190K | $170K–$250K |
| Staff/Principal | 8+ years | $185K–$240K+ | $230K–$350K+ |
Total compensation includes base salary, annual bonus (common in finance), and RSU/equity grants (common in tech). Finance firms typically pay larger cash bonuses; tech companies lean on equity grants with 4-year vesting.
For context on the national picture, see the Mobile Developer Salary Guide 2026.
iOS vs Android vs Cross-Platform in NYC
Platform choice directly affects compensation in New York City.
Android developers consistently earn more than iOS developers in NYC. Android's dominant global market share (~72%) and device fragmentation complexity make experienced Android engineers harder to find. Finance firms in particular prioritize Android for their broadest-reach consumer banking and trading apps. iOS developers earn slightly less at the mid level but command premiums in media, consumer app, and fintech roles where iPhone users represent higher-value demographics. Bloomberg's trader terminal app, Spotify's audio experience, and luxury e-commerce all skew iOS-first. Cross-platform engineers (React Native, Flutter) typically earn 10–20% less than native specialists at the same level — but that gap is narrowing as cross-platform tooling matures. For startups and mid-sized companies, React Native or Flutter engineers are often preferred for their efficiency across both platforms.| Platform | Mid-Level Range | Senior Range | Premium vs Cross-Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android (Kotlin) | $115K–$150K | $150K–$195K | +15–20% |
| iOS (Swift) | $112K–$148K | $148K–$192K | +12–18% |
| React Native | $100K–$135K | $135K–$170K | baseline |
| Flutter | $98K–$132K | $130K–$165K | –5% |
Platform Premium Table
Specific framework knowledge commands additional premiums in the 2026 NYC market:
| Framework / Technology | Annual Premium | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SwiftUI (iOS) | +$8K–$15K | Apple's declarative UI; high demand, short supply |
| Kotlin / Jetpack Compose (Android) | +$10K–$18K | Google's recommended modern Android stack |
| React Native | Neutral | Strong cross-platform versatility; lower premium vs native |
| Flutter / Dart | –$5K to –$3K | Growing but still a niche vs dominant platforms |
Finance firms and FAANG offices in NYC pay the strongest premiums for SwiftUI and Kotlin/Jetpack Compose expertise, as they build performance-critical, complex native applications.
NYC's Top Mobile Employers
New York City's mobile developer market is shaped by two distinct employer clusters: Big Tech offices and the finance/fintech ecosystem.
Big Tech NYC OfficesNYC vs SF vs Seattle vs Remote
How does New York compare to other major tech markets?
| City | Mid-Level Base | Senior Base | State Income Tax | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $110K–$145K | $145K–$190K | Up to 10.9% + 3.9% city | Finance premium, media sector |
| San Francisco | $125K–$160K | $160K–$210K | Up to 13.3% | Highest base salaries, FAANG density |
| Seattle | $105K–$140K | $138K–$180K | 0% | No state income tax; Amazon/Microsoft |
| Remote (US) | $95K–$130K | $130K–$165K | Varies | Location arbitrage |
San Francisco leads on raw base salary, but California's 13.3% top state income tax rate narrows the effective take-home advantage. Seattle's 0% state income tax makes a $155K Seattle salary roughly equivalent in take-home to a $175K NYC salary. For the full SF comparison, see Mobile Developer Salary San Francisco 2026.
The Finance Sector Premium
New York's unique edge is its finance sector, which does not exist at scale in San Francisco or Seattle. Mobile engineers building fintech and trading applications earn 15–30% above the tech baseline:
The finance premium is most pronounced at Staff and Principal levels, where domain expertise in financial regulations (PCI-DSS compliance, real-time settlement) commands a significant salary moat.
NYC Salary Transparency Law and Tax Context
New York City's Salary Transparency Law (Local Law 32, effective November 2022) requires employers to list good-faith salary ranges in all job postings. This has materially improved salary negotiation leverage for mobile developers: candidates now enter conversations knowing the posted range before the first screen.
In practice, most companies post ranges of $30K–$50K width. Negotiating toward the top of the posted range is realistic for candidates with relevant stack experience and a strong portfolio.
Tax Reality at $160K (Senior Mobile Developer):| Tax Component | Approximate Rate |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | ~24–32% marginal |
| New York State | 6.85–10.9% |
| New York City | 3.1–3.9% |
| Social Security + Medicare | 7.65% |
| Effective take-home | ~$92K–$100K/year |
The combined federal, state, and city tax burden in NYC is the highest of any major US metro. A $160K gross NYC salary results in approximately $93K–$100K take-home — meaningfully less than the same salary in Texas or Washington State.
For broader context on how mobile developer compensation fits into New York's overall tech salary landscape, see Tech Salaries in New York 2026 and Frontend Engineer Salary New York 2026 for comparison with adjacent roles.
Should You Target NYC as a Mobile Developer?
New York City is the right market if you have native iOS or Android experience and want finance-sector premium roles, if you are building fintech, trading, or consumer banking applications, or if you value the density of major employers — Google, Meta, Amazon, Bloomberg, and JPMorgan are all within a few miles of each other.
For pure base salary, San Francisco edges NYC. For tax efficiency, Seattle wins. But for the combination of finance premium, media sector diversity, and Big Tech presence, New York City is unmatched.
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