On Thursday of this week, CyberCoders -- a recruiting firm founded in 1999 that utilizes both technology and over 200 recruiters to match people with the right companies -- announced new research and data comparing recent salary and hiring trends for both iOS and Android developers. The data consists of information compiled from the years 2011 to 2013, and reveals some very interesting iOS and Android developer stats.

For this particular mobile developer-focused research, CyberCoders analyzed more than 10,000 tech companies hiring developers that specialize in iOS and/or Android development. CyberCoders compared the average salary of placed candidates within U.S.-based companies for the period noted above as well as hiring-rate changes year over year between 2012 and 2013. In addition to average salary, CyberCoders analyzed hiring rates year over year. Aggregated individual salary listings for candidates that  specialize in iOS and Android development were used for the study. The salary ranges provided are a calculated average based on the aggregated data.

In all areas hiring rates increased for 2013 compared to 2012. Heidi Golledge, CEO and co-founder of CyberCoders notes that, “It is a very interesting and dynamic hiring climate for mobile developers. Although Android’s latest numbers put them at about a 53 percent market share, we have seen a much greater increase in hiring for iOS developers.”

The key report data is shown in the chart below:

Chart courtesy CyberCoders
These are interesting numbers. The research clearly reveals that senior/lead Android developers receive an average of $10,000 more a year in salary when compared to their iOS counterparts. Both salary levels are nevertheless impressive. They are as well for more junior developers -- where there is no real difference in the related dollar amounts each earns on average. The real difference, however, is that companies are hiring many more iOS developers than Android developers. Although this isn't surprising given the general state of iOS and Android enterprise market penetration, it confirms from a different angle and perspective that this remains the case.

CyberCoders finds that the applicant pool for Android developer positions is in fact much smaller than that for iOS developers. This was a key factor that underscores the higher average salary for experienced Android developers. Senior level developers saw a dramatic increase in hiring regardless of which operating system these developers specialize in. Based on the current data, CyberCoders projects a more than 200 percent increase in hiring for senior level mobile talent into 2014.

This certainly bodes well for junior level programmers. Cybercoders did uncover that junior level talent, although in demand, was not close to the demand for senior level talent. This further reflects the urgency that many enterprises feel to get their mobile houses in order. And it certainly points to the kinds of skills that will give college graduates an edge in the job market both today and tomorrow.