Mobile Developer Salary in San Francisco 2026: iOS, Android & Cross-Platform

Mobile development is one of the most concentrated specializations in the San Francisco tech market. Apple, Google, Meta, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Stripe, Robinhood, Notion, and dozens of unicorn-stage startups all compete for the same pool of experienced iOS and Android engineers. That competition shows up in the numbers.

This guide covers what mobile developers actually earn in San Francisco in 2026, broken down by level, platform, and employer type. For the broader SF tech market context, see Tech Salaries in San Francisco 2026.

Salary by Level: Base and Total Compensation

Senior mobile developers — the level most engineers target in their first decade — command $155K–$200K base at top SF employers. Total compensation frequently reaches $250K–$310K once RSU grants and annual bonuses are included. Staff-level engineers at FAANG-tier companies regularly clear $300K+ total comp.

For a multi-city comparison of mobile developer salaries, see the Mobile Developer Salary Guide 2026.

iOS vs Android vs Cross-Platform: Platform Pay Premium

Native platform expertise commands a meaningful premium over cross-platform development at the senior level.

iOS developers hold a slight edge in SF because Apple's headquarters in Cupertino — just 40 miles south — creates outsized demand for Swift and SwiftUI expertise. Android expertise is equally valued at Google and Meta. Cross-platform engineers are in demand at startups and scale-ups, but the ceiling is lower.

Skill Premiums: SwiftUI vs Jetpack Compose vs React Native

Beyond platform choice, specific framework fluency drives compensation.

Engineers who can combine SwiftUI proficiency with on-device ML integration are among the highest-earning mobile specialists in the market, especially at Apple and companies building consumer AI features.

Top SF Employers and Comp Structures

Apple anchors the iOS developer market. Senior iOS engineers at Apple earn $175K–$215K base with RSU grants totaling $120K–$200K over four years, putting senior TC in the $240K–$310K range. Apple's comp skews toward base over RSU compared to other FAANG firms. The Cupertino commute from SF is a trade-off engineers factor into negotiations. Google is the primary destination for senior Android engineers. Base runs $170K–$205K at the senior level, with RSU grants and the Google-wide performance bonus structure pushing total comp to $260K–$340K for strong performers. Google's L5 (Senior) to L6 (Staff) jump is among the highest leverage compensation gaps in the industry. Meta / Instagram hires for both platforms. Meta's E5 (Senior) mobile engineers earn $180K–$215K base, with RSUs and bonus bringing TC to $280K–$360K. Meta's four-year vest with a one-year cliff and back-weighted refresh schedule rewards tenure. Uber and Lyft both maintain strong mobile engineering orgs given their consumer app focus. Senior mobile engineers at Uber earn $160K–$190K base ($230K–$290K TC); Lyft is similar at $155K–$185K base. Airbnb rebuilt its mobile infrastructure significantly after going public and pays competitively: $165K–$195K base for senior engineers, $245K–$305K TC. Stripe, Robinhood, and Notion represent the high-growth startup tier. Stripe pays $165K–$195K base at senior level, with equity upside that varies significantly by grant timing. Robinhood and Notion are similar, with equity weighting higher relative to base.

SF vs Other Markets

San Francisco pays the highest mobile developer base salaries in the US, but California's tax structure significantly narrows the effective take-home advantage.

Seattle often provides the best take-home per dollar of base for mobile engineers who prefer on-site work, given Washington's 0% state income tax. A $170K Seattle offer effectively beats a $185K SF offer for most engineers when taxes and rent are factored in.

California Tax Impact

California's top marginal income tax rate of 13.3% is the highest in the United States. For a senior mobile developer earning $175K base in San Francisco:

Federal income tax (effective): approximately 24–26%

California state income tax (effective): approximately 9–11%

Combined effective rate: approximately 33–37% before payroll taxes

Estimated net annual take-home on $175K base: approximately $105K–$115K

This is why many experienced mobile engineers evaluate Seattle or remote opportunities carefully — the nominal SF premium can evaporate once taxes, rent ($3,500–$5,500/month for a one-bedroom in SF), and cost of living are factored in.

Navigating Total Comp Negotiation

At the senior and staff levels in SF, base salary is only one variable. RSU grant size, vesting schedule, refresh cadence, and signing bonus structure are often more valuable than negotiating the last $5K–$10K of base.

Strategies that work in SF mobile developer negotiations:

Competing offer leverage. FAANG-tier companies move compensation most when a competing offer exists. Even a lower-value competing offer signals market demand and typically unlocks exceptions to standard band ranges. Grant refresh timing. Ask about refresh RSU grants at year 2 and 3, not just the initial four-year grant. At Apple and Meta, refresh grants for strong performers add $40K–$80K annually by year three. Signing bonus offset. Companies with fixed RSU vesting schedules often have more flexibility on signing bonuses, which can compensate for unvested equity left at a previous employer.

For comparison with adjacent SF roles, see Frontend Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026 and Full Stack Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026.

The Bottom Line

San Francisco remains the highest-paying market for mobile developers in the US, with senior iOS and Android engineers earning $155K–$200K base and $220K–$310K total comp at top employers. Platform expertise still commands a 15–25% premium over cross-platform roles. California's tax structure is the main drag — engineers who can achieve equivalent TC in Seattle or as a US-remote employee often take home more. The decision hinges on career stage: early-to-mid career engineers benefit most from the network density and learning environment SF provides; staff and above should model total comp net of taxes carefully before accepting.