Hiring a React Native Developer in 2024: Everything You Need to Know

React Native is a prevalent open-source mobile app framework, with extremely high demand for professionals.

Many different solutions promise to help you hire a top-tier React Native developer quickly, efficiently, and without spending a fortune. For this reason, we have created a detailed guide to include various models for hiring an engineer.

We will analyze how to use the average salaries of engineers and different engagement types to your favor. By the end of this article, you will have the information needed for hiring a dedicated React Native developer.

Is React Native popular? How does this popularity influence the hiring process?

React is the most popular framework among all application programming interfaces (APIs) when building applications with JavaScript. Even though most people confuse React.js with React Native, these are two entirely different platforms.

React Native is a well-known platform that allows programmers to build cross-platform mobile applications, while React.js is a JavaScript library. Thus, if you need to create a dynamic, high-performing mobile app, React Native is simply the best platform to do so. According to Stack Overflow, React is the second most popular framework among developers. For instance, 42.62% of engineers mentioned React is the framework they will learn next.

This means that React Native developers are in high demand, which makes development rates rise every year. In the table below, we’ve collected salary data for senior React Native developers hired for a one-month project in 2024.

Sources: Glassdoor, YouTeam, Upwork

However, the situation is not critical. There are specific tactics your business can follow to hire a top-tier React engineer. Let’s have a look at those different solutions.

What are React Native developer responsibilities?

React Native software engineers build responsive applications, ensure ongoing code quality through automated testing, and collaborate with back-end developers, UX designers, and architects to implement and improve web and mobile solutions. Depending on the project, their responsibilities may include:

• Development, deployment, and maintenance of applications that can run on multiple platforms.
• Using React Native to design and build UI components for web and mobile applications based on JavaScript.
• Leveraging native APIs for deep integration with both iOS and Android platforms (using Java/Kotlin).
• Ensuring code quality through automated unit and integration testing.
• Improving app performance by finding and fixing system errors, bugs, and performance bottlenecks.
• Using tools like Flux, Flow, and Redux for data flow management, debugging, and making asynchronous API calls.
• Collaborating with product design, development, and customer service teams to understand customer requirements and build applications to meet project timelines and budgets.
• Transitioning existing React web apps to React Native.
• Evaluating and implementing new technologies to maximize development efficiency.

Technical skills to look for in a React Native developer

React Native developers use JavaScript and native APIs to build high-performance Android and iOS apps with smooth user interfaces. They have a strong foundation in JavaScript, React, and React Native, and are able to debug, test, and optimize performance. The following include the technical skills an organization should verify when hiring a React Native developer:

• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and fundamental JavaScript concepts, such as the scope of variables, array methods, callback functions, and DOM manipulation.
• A strong experience in building React Native apps.
• A command of native iOS and Android development.
• Knowledge of third-party dependencies.
• Using APIs in cross-platform integration.
• Performance optimization.
• Debugging skills and ability to test code in different scenarios.

React Native developer hiring options

Hiring developers in-house remains the #1 way to involve specialists in React Native projects. Companies like this engagement model because it’s safe and well-known, consequently, decision-makers have a better understanding of how the hiring process works. However, it is no longer the only way.

It has been more than one decade since other models were developed based on geography and the type of engagement. Let’s explore those models separately by analyzing their pros and cons.

Hiring a React Native developer: Solutions based on the type of engagement

Apart from your choice based on geographic parameters, you can also hire React Native devs through four different collaboration types: in-house software development, freelancing, staff augmentation, and outsourcing.

Engagement types: Hiring an in-house developer

We already mentioned that in-house hiring is the traditional way of scaling a team. By hiring an in-house React Native engineer, you add a member to your front-end development team and provide a monthly salary.

Although this means that you hire an enthusiastic professional in your business, this is also the most expensive engagement type. When hiring an in-house full-time employee, you have to pay the worker’s financial and non-financial benefits.

If you still decide to go with in-house hiring, we recommend starting your search by posting your job on Wellfound. It’s the #1 website that startups choose for their candidates’ searches.

Engagement types: Hiring a freelancer

Freelancers are an excellent solution for those looking for a temporary employee. By hiring a freelancer, all you have to do is pay them for the work done. You can easily find a freelancer for your upcoming React Native project via online platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.

Although freelancers are an affordable solution, many companies complain that they usually face delays and cancellations. Thus, this is a great, affordable solution for quick tasks but not ideal for big React project management.

Engagement types: Hiring dedicated React Native developers via staff augmentation

Like freelancing, staff augmentation is a temporary collaboration model. And like in-house hiring, staff augmentation is a way to involve a full-time dedicated engineer to work solely on your project. However, with staff augmentation, you don’t have to worry about delays or cancellations (unlike freelancers), benefits, or other employee compensation (unlike in-house hiring). Therefore, this model is safer than freelancing and much more affordable than in-house hiring.

All you have to do is choose high-quality React engineers from a development company and sign an outstaffing agreement. There are numerous trustworthy dev shops. Do your research and check their rating and customer review on platforms like Clutch and G2. In addition, ask for case studies proving the dev shop has had a positive experience with similar projects.

Another way is hiring developers with the help of YouTeam. This can save you time as we have already vetted and partnered with reliable development companies from Eastern Europe and Latin America. Thus, if you need a trustworthy partner to help you find the best developer for your project, staff augmentation is the best temporary hiring model. Additionally, with the help of the YouTeam platform, you can get your first candidates within 48 hours.

Source: YouTeam

Browse 500+ Dev Teams Available for Hire

Engagement types: Outsourcing development services

If you need to get the job done without being fully involved in the web development process, software outsourcing is probably the best possible option. When working with outsourcing companies, you can hire the whole team, including PMs who will coordinate the working process, UI/UX designers that will take care of the user interface and all visual elements, React Native app developers, and QA engineers to test for bugs and user experience. Whether you need a native iOS or native Android app, or you haven’t decided yet—outsourcing gives you the flexibility to choose from your IT partner talent by building the team you need.

Hiring a React Native developer: Solutions based on geography

Suppose your company needs to hire a programmer to build a React Native application. In that case, you have three different solutions based on geography: you can either hire someone locally, hire a nearshore engineer, or search offshore.

Hiring a local engineer: Usually, this is an option for companies that want to hire developers in-house. There are numerous places to find a professional if you choose to hire locally, from online job boards such as Glassdoor to hiring through your HR services, tech conferences, or hackathons.

Hiring nearshore or offshore engineers: Choosing to hire a remote engineer is a cost-saving alternative to local hiring. This option is perfect for companies residing in countries with higher costs of living. For instance, for US tech companies, hiring a top-notch engineer locally can be a challenging task. They have to compete for talent with the world’s top tech companies. However, if they try to hire top-performing engineers from Mexico or Ukraine, their chances of finding a good fit increase dramatically. The developers have the same level of experience and expertise, but the salary requirements are more reasonable, making offshore development more affordable.

How much does it cost to hire a dedicated React Native developer?

When it comes to hiring a React Native developer nowadays, it is essential to understand that you are no longer limited to your local market. Thus, exploring the differences in the developers’ average income is crucial.

For this article, we have compiled those salary differences globally and translated the following income amounts into US dollars.

North and Latin America

As with most developers, React Native developers in the US have one of the highest average incomes worldwide. According to Glassdoor, a React developer in the US earns around $96K per year. On the flip side, Latin American countries have much lower average salaries for very similar work.

The same situation applies to the React developers’ average income. For instance, a front-end React Native developer in Mexico earns around $40K per year. Thus, due to their lower cost of living, countries like Mexico and others throughout Latin America provide more affordable engineers.

Source: Glassdoor, Indeed, PayScale

Europe

In Europe, there are wide income gaps between Western and Eastern countries. For example, in countries like Germany and the UK, where the cost of living is higher, the developers’ base income is higher. On the other hand, Eastern European countries like Ukraine offer lower average salaries for React engineers.

More precisely, as of 2024, the React developers located in the UK earn an average of $78K annually. Likewise, software engineers in Germany earn up to $77K per year. Conversely, Ukrainian and Bulgarian React engineers located in the Eastern part of the continent make around $30K and $50K, correspondingly.

Source: Glassdoor, Indeed, PayScale

Africa and Asia

As with countries like Ukraine, most countries in Africa and Asia have relatively lower salaries. For example, React developers in India earn an average of around $15K, and a software engineer in South Africa earns $48K per year. 

Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are the most affordable places to look when hiring a developer. Thus, let’s dive deeper into how these average incomes can benefit your company.

Source: Glassdoor, Indeed, PayScale

How can knowing these average salaries help your company?

Due to the rapid popularity growth of hiring models like outsourced mobile app development and staff augmentation, your company isn’t limited to the local talent pool anymore.

Thus, you can now hire a top-tier React Native engineer from across the world and work efficiently on your application development process. For this reason, we have gathered the different options you have when hiring a developer from abroad.

Average salary, in this case, is a baseline given for comparative reasons. Think of it as a starting point to compare your hiring options. Here are some examples:

• The average salary is always lower than the final amount you will pay for an in-house developer with this salary [as you need to account for taxes, benefits, and other compensation];
• The average salary is always lower than the average salary of a senior developer [as a senior developer has much more experience];
• The average salary is always lower than the rates offered by an outsourcing company [the latter includes calculated taxes, benefits, and so on];
• The average salary allows for comparing job markets worldwide.

Comparing the React Native developers’ expertise: the US vs. Europe vs. Asia

According to Hackerrank research, countries like Ukraine not only have great software developers but, in many cases, those developers have better IT scores than more expensive engineers from countries like the US. For instance, Ukrainian developers had a fantastic score of 88.7% across Hackerrank’s challenges, which gave Ukraine 11th place on HackerRank’s scoreboard. On the flip side, US developers ranked in 28th place and Indian engineers at 31st place. It becomes evident that many countries like Ukraine, Bulgaria, or Mexico provide top-tier, affordable developers.

For this article’s purposes, we have also created a table to examine some other crucial hiring parameters.

Where to find React Native developers?

Here is the list of job boards and communities dedicated to React Native:

• Reactnativejobs.com
• React Native developers at YouTeam
• React Native contributors on GitHub
• React Native Jobs on Twitter
• React Native Community on Facebook

There are also specialized marketplaces that offer a wide pool of remote Native React developers with the skills and experience required for the specific role. These engineers come from a variety of technical backgrounds and showcase their project portfolio, which companies can view to select the best match for the project. Some of these platforms include:

• Upwork
• Toptal
• YouTeam
• Guru

Why is YouTeam the best company to hire React Native developers for your business?

If you want to hire a top-tier React developer via staff augmentation, YouTeam is simply the best way to go. Let’s see why:

• Unlimited options: With YouTeam, you can find the best dev individuals and companies quickly. YouTeam has vetted the most professional, affordable developers from Eastern Europe and Latin America. 
• Hire top-tier developers: Although YouTeam’s engineers are not freelancers, the YouTeam platform allows you to make the final decision when it comes to the hiring process. By interviewing as many developers as you need, you can check their skill sets and find the best React developer for your company.
• There are no hidden costs: If you choose to hire a React developer through YouTeam, the sourcing and interviewing process is free.
• Numerous positive reviews from previous clients: You can see for yourself why YouTeam is the best choice. Clients fully trust YouTeam’s vetting process and choose to work together after trying the matching service.  

What should you ask when interviewing a React Native engineer?

Whether you choose to hire a React Native developer via staff augmentation or outsourcing, platforms like YouTeam allow you to interview their vetted devs before you make your choice. So, what types of questions should you ask when interviewing a React Native developer?

• Hard skills: You should always make sure that the interviewee has the technical skills you are looking for. Therefore, you can ask questions about their previous experience. Asking questions about React (i.e., the framework’s features, creating a cross-platform app through React Native, functionality questions, etc.) will help you verify a candidate’s hard skills. 
• Soft skills: After examining an interviewee’s skills, you should ask questions about their cultural fit and background. It is equally important to ensure that each candidate is a great team player who will fit perfectly into your company.

Conclusion

Since React Native app development has become the most popular way for programmers to create a modern Android or iOS app with the help of this framework, finding and hiring an engineer with years of experience has become more difficult. For this reason, we analyzed all the hiring alternatives your business has and concluded that hiring a developer to work remotely on your projects is the most intelligent solution. 

Countries like Ukraine provide top React Native developers who prove to be both experienced and affordable. In the end, we explored why YouTeam is the best partner for those of you who want to hire a React developer through staff augmentation.