Mobile Developer Salary in Seattle 2026: iOS, Android & Cross-Platform
What iOS and Android developers actually earn at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and top Seattle employers — with total comp breakdowns and the zero-tax advantage.
Seattle has become one of the most compelling markets for mobile developers in 2026. Amazon and Microsoft both operate massive mobile engineering organizations here — from Alexa and Kindle apps to Microsoft Teams and Office mobile — and a cluster of high-growth tech companies provides strong mid-market competition for talent. Washington's zero state income tax amplifies every dollar earned.
Whether you are evaluating a Seattle offer, benchmarking your current salary, or planning a relocation from San Francisco or New York, this guide covers exactly what the Seattle mobile development market pays in 2026.
For a broader multi-city comparison, see the Mobile Developer Salary Guide 2026 covering nine cities worldwide.
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Seattle Mobile Developer Salary by Level
All figures are gross annual base salary in USD. Total compensation including RSUs, signing bonuses, and annual bonuses can be substantially higher, particularly at Amazon and Microsoft.
| Seniority | Experience | Base Salary | Total Comp (TC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Mobile Developer | 0–2 years | $90,000 – $115,000 | $105,000 – $140,000 |
| Mid-Level Mobile Developer | 2–5 years | $118,000 – $148,000 | $145,000 – $195,000 |
| Senior Mobile Developer | 5–9 years | $145,000 – $195,000 | $200,000 – $285,000 |
| Staff Mobile Developer | 9–14 years | $190,000 – $240,000+ | $270,000 – $370,000+ |
Senior mobile developers — the core hiring band at Amazon L5 and Microsoft Senior SDE — cluster around $155K–$175K base at established tech companies, with total compensation frequently reaching $210K–$270K when RSUs and bonuses are included. Staff-level engineers at FAANG-tier companies regularly clear $300K+ total comp.
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iOS vs Android vs Cross-Platform: Platform Pay in Seattle
Native platform expertise commands a meaningful premium over cross-platform development at the senior level.
| Platform | Senior Base Range | Premium vs Cross-Platform |
|---|---|---|
| iOS (Swift / SwiftUI) | $150,000 – $195,000 | +14–22% |
| Android (Kotlin / Jetpack Compose) | $148,000 – $192,000 | +12–20% |
| React Native | $130,000 – $168,000 | Baseline |
| Flutter | $125,000 – $160,000 | –4–6% vs React Native |
iOS expertise is in strong demand at Amazon's consumer-facing app teams (Amazon Shopping, Prime Video) and Microsoft's productivity suite. Android is equally valued across the same employers, plus Amazon's device teams (Kindle, Fire TV, Echo Show). Cross-platform engineers are consistently hired at mid-market companies like Expedia and Zillow, where the ceiling is lower but the competition for talent is meaningful.
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Stack Premium Table
Beyond platform choice, specific framework fluency drives compensation in Seattle's competitive mobile market.
| Skill / Framework | Salary Premium vs Platform Baseline |
|---|---|
| SwiftUI (advanced proficiency) | +$9,000 – $18,000 |
| Kotlin / Jetpack Compose | +$8,000 – $16,000 |
| React Native (senior, brownfield migration) | +$5,000 – $11,000 |
| Flutter (senior, custom rendering) | +$4,000 – $9,000 |
| On-device ML (Core ML, TensorFlow Lite) | +$10,000 – $22,000 |
| Performance optimization (rendering, memory) | +$7,000 – $16,000 |
SwiftUI adoption accelerated significantly across Seattle's Apple-platform development ecosystem after Apple made it the default UI framework. Engineers who combine SwiftUI proficiency with on-device ML integration are among the highest-earning mobile specialists in the market, particularly at Amazon's Alexa and Amazon Go teams.
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Top Seattle Employers for Mobile Developers
Seattle's mobile engineering market is anchored by two giants but supported by a rich ecosystem of product and e-commerce companies:
1. Amazon — The largest mobile employer in Seattle. iOS and Android teams across Amazon Shopping, Prime Video, Kindle, Alexa, Amazon Fresh, and Ring. SDE I through SDE III, with VP-level mobile leadership also based in Seattle. 2. Microsoft — Deep mobile engineering in Teams Mobile, Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), Surface hardware software, and Xbox companion apps. Strong ESPP program and well-regarded work-life balance. 3. Google (Kirkland) — Google's Kirkland campus is a 20-minute drive from Seattle. L4–L6 mobile engineers on Google Maps, YouTube, and Cloud console apps. 4. Meta (Bellevue) — Meta's Bellevue office runs mobile teams across Instagram and WhatsApp. FAANG-tier compensation; React Native, Relay, and GraphQL stack. 5. Expedia Group — Travel booking apps (Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo). Strong Next.js and React Native usage; solid equity and good engineering culture. 6. Zillow — Real estate platform with a significant mobile app investment. TypeScript-first codebase, good work-life balance reputation, competitive equity. 7. T-Mobile — Seattle-based telecom tech hub with a growing mobile engineering org. Competitive packages and consumer app focus. 8. Redfin — Real estate search with native iOS and Android apps. Competitive salaries at a smaller scale than Zillow. 9. Tableau / Salesforce — Data visualization products with mobile companion apps. Post-acquisition Salesforce benefits and complex frontend challenges. 10. Rover, Chewy (Bellevue), and Smartsheet — Consumer and SaaS companies rounding out the mid-market, offering $120K–$160K base at the senior level.
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Amazon vs Microsoft Comp Structures
The two dominant Seattle employers have meaningfully different compensation philosophies that affect long-term income planning.
Amazon (Senior SDE — Mobile)Amazon's back-weighted vesting is the defining comp feature to understand. Engineers accepting Amazon offers should model year-by-year cash flow carefully — the signing bonus bridges year 1 and 2, but year 3 and 4 represent the real upside. Many Amazon mobile engineers who stay to year 3 find themselves in the $250K–$330K total comp range.
Microsoft (Senior SDE — Mobile)Microsoft's quarterly vesting and refresh program creates a smoother, more predictable income ramp. Engineers who stay beyond year 2 begin accumulating multiple overlapping refresh grants, which can add $40K–$70K annually to their realized equity income. This structure is less dramatic than Amazon's year-3 spike but more predictable for financial planning.
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Seattle vs San Francisco vs New York vs Remote
| Market | Senior Mobile Base | TC Range | Est. State Tax | Rent (1BR avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $145,000 – $195,000 | $200,000 – $285,000 | 0% | $2,100 – $2,800 |
| San Francisco | $155,000 – $200,000 | $220,000 – $310,000 | Up to 13.3% | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| New York City | $148,000 – $193,000 | $210,000 – $295,000 | Up to 10.9% + 3.8% city | $3,200 – $4,800 |
| Remote (US) | $130,000 – $175,000 | $155,000 – $230,000 | Varies | Varies |
For a deeper dive into the broader Seattle tech market context, see Tech Salaries Seattle 2026.
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The Washington State Tax Advantage: Real Dollar Examples
Washington State has no personal income tax — a fact that transforms the compensation math for Seattle mobile engineers when compared to California and New York peers.
Example: Senior Mobile Developer, $170,000 base salary| Location | State + City Tax | Annual Tax Paid | Net Take-Home (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $0 (0% state tax) | $0 | ~$118,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 13.3% effective ~9.5% | ~$16,150 | ~$102,000 |
| New York City, NY | 10.9% state + 3.8% city | ~$24,000 | ~$94,000 |
On a $170K base, a Seattle mobile developer takes home approximately $16,000–$24,000 more per year than equivalent counterparts in San Francisco or New York City — before accounting for Seattle's lower average rent. Over a five-year career, this compounds to $80,000–$120,000 in additional retained income, roughly equivalent to a year's salary.
This tax advantage is why many senior mobile engineers who receive competing offers from SF and Seattle companies find that the Seattle offer is more financially compelling despite a nominally lower headline salary.
For more context on Seattle-specific compensation dynamics, see the Software Engineer Salary Seattle 2026 and Frontend Engineer Salary Seattle 2026 guides.
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Negotiating Your Seattle Mobile Developer Offer
The Seattle market has specific negotiation dynamics that differ from San Francisco:
Equity is the leverage point. Amazon and Microsoft both have significant flexibility on RSU grant size compared to base salary bands. At Amazon, RSU grants at the same level can vary by $50K–$100K+ depending on competing offers and hiring manager discretion. Lead with competing offers — even from mid-market companies — to unlock grant exceptions. Amazon year-3 value. When evaluating Amazon offers, always model year-3 and year-4 total comp, not just year-1. Many engineers undervalue Amazon offers because year-1 appears modest. The true comp ceiling lands in years 3 and 4 when the 40%/40% vest lands. Microsoft refreshes compound. At Microsoft, negotiating strong annual refresh grants is more valuable than maximizing the initial grant. A senior engineer who negotiates $40K annual refreshes will accumulate $120K in additional grants by year 3 on top of the original vest. Signing bonus covers unvested equity. Both Amazon and Microsoft offer signing bonuses primarily to offset unvested equity left at a previous employer. Document your current unvested position carefully — this is the most straightforward negotiation anchor in Seattle comp discussions.---
Summary
Seattle is one of the highest-value markets for mobile developers in the US in 2026. Senior iOS and Android engineers earn $145K–$195K base and $200K–$285K in total compensation at Amazon and Microsoft, with zero Washington state income tax making the effective take-home substantially higher than equivalent SF or NYC salaries.
Native platform expertise (Swift/SwiftUI and Kotlin/Jetpack Compose) commands a 14–22% premium over cross-platform roles. Amazon's back-weighted RSU structure and Microsoft's quarterly vesting represent the two dominant comp philosophies — understanding the multi-year cash flow implications of each is essential before accepting any offer.
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