Today, most companies rely on some form of technology to conduct business every day. In a world where the reliance on technology is only growing, the demand for full-stack developers is also rising rapidly. Full-stack developers are valuable in today’s web and application projects, because they are responsible for both front-end and back-end development. These are vital for constructing fully integrated and effective applications.
According to a report by Developer Nation, there will be 45 million developers by 2030. This increase highlights the importance of experienced developers in this day and age across all sectors.
In this article, we’ll discuss what is the cost of hiring a full-stack developer, which factors affect these costs, and why hiring such a specialist can turn the tide for your business.
What is a full-stack developer?
A full-stack developer is a software developer who is skilled in working across all layers of a web application’s technology stack. This means they have the skills and knowledge to handle both the front-end and back-end development of an application. As well as front-end and back-end development, this also involves database management and version control as well as the ability to diagnose issues and solve issues when problems arise.
Factors affecting the cost of hiring a full-stack developer
Having a full-stack developer can have big benefits for any company or freelancing project. A full-stack developer brings a comprehensive skill set that spans both front-end and back-end development, allowing them to handle all aspects of web application development. This versatility can be invaluable, as it allows the development team to seamlessly integrate different components of the project, streamline workflows, and address issues across the whole technology stack.
If you’re thinking of employing or contracting a full-stack developer, it’s important to note that there are several factors that determine the cost of these professionals.
Experience and skillset
A highly skilled full-stack developer with several projects in their portfolio will charge more. As per the findings of Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey of 2021, the most utilised programming languages by full-stack developers are JavaScript, SQL, and HTML/CSS. Experience in frameworks such as React, Angular, and NodeJS is also required.
Here are some key skills to look for in your candidate if you are going to hire a full-stack developer:
- Mastery of fundamental front-end languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- JavaScript frameworks (AngularJS, React, Vue).
- Networking experience (subnets, firewalls).
- Server-side languages and version control systems (Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, .NET, GIT, CI/CD).
- Database technology (MySQL, Oracle, Cassandra).
- Web APIs and RESTful APIs, microservice architectures.
- Experience with tools (TFS, GIT, Jira, Confluence, SDLC, Agile, Scrum).
The cost varies as it is based on the professional’s experience. If you want to hire a full-stack web developer, you must know that senior developers are relatively more expensive than junior developers as they need to be trained and supervised, and they might take longer to complete a single project.
Geographic location
Full-stack developer salaries and hourly rates vary widely across the globe. This depends on many different factors, including the global economy and the demand for full-stack developers in different areas around the world.
Project complexity and size
The complexity and size of the project also influences the cost. Projects with sophisticated technologies like Blockchain or AI require more experienced developers. If you want to hire a full-stack developer, you must know the important considerations, which include the following:
- Front and back-end technology requirements.
- Number of object types managed in the cloud.
- Number of external APIs.
- Preferred technology for web applications.
- Required skill set at both front-end and back-end levels.
- Necessary licences or certifications.
All of these will help you know what you want from your full-stack developers, and accordingly, you can evaluate how much full-stack developers will cost.
Comparing the cost of hiring full-stack developers (country and experience)
The salary a full-stack developer earns in 2024 can depend on the geographical location of the developer. In countries such as India and the Philippines, hiring full-stack developers may cost between $15 and $50 per hour. The comparison of the two budgets shows that the geographical location of a region should be considered when setting the development budget. Below are the factors to consider if you wish to hire full stack developer:
Geographic location
Below is a breakdown of the approximate cost of hiring full-stack developers depending on a particular region in the world:
- Australia: $110,000 to $130,000 per year and the freelance rates may start from about $80 per hour.
- Asia (China, India, Philippines): $10,000 to $40,000 per year. Freelance prices may begin at around $15 each hour.
- North America (Canada, USA): $80,000 to $190,000 per year depending on experience and geographical region.
Experience and number of years in the profession
The cost of hiring a full-stack developer also varies due to the level of experience and expertise. Of course, a junior full-stack developer with less years of experience will earn less than a senior full-stack developer who has been working in the industry for more than ten years.
- Junior full-stack developers:
- 1-3 years of experience
- Average salary: $70,000 to $90,000 per year
- Freelance rate: $30 to $50 per hour
- Mid-Level Full-stack Developers:
- 3-5 years of experience
- Average salary: $90,000 to $120,000 per year
- Freelance rate: $50 to $75 per hour
- Senior Full-stack Developers:
- 5+ years of experience
- Average salary: $120,000 to $150,000 per year
- Freelance rate: $75 to $100 per hour
- Lead Full-stack Developers:
- Extensive experience in managing development teams
- Average salary: $150,000 to $200,000 annually
A full-stack developer can be a worthwhile addition to your team
If you want to hire a full stack developer, you should know that the salary will vary with location and experience level. Since such a generalist professional is in high demand, it becomes essential to factor these costs into the equation.
In this way, companies are in a position to make improved decisions that could relate to geographical and experience variations in development project investments.
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