When it comes to hiring a part-time developer, the big question is – how much is it going to set you back? The rates can really vary depending on where you’re located, the developer’s skills and experience level, and even the technologies they work with.
A junior developer just starting could charge around $30-50 per hour, while a seasoned pro with lots of in-demand skills could charge over $100 per hour. And that’s just freelancers – if you go through a development shop, the rates get even higher.
Of course, you get what you pay for an experienced full-stack developer who can deliver quickly, which is worth the premium rate. But even simpler projects add up fast when you’re paying developer fees. An essential website with just a few pages could easily cost thousands if you want it done right.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the mystery of part-time development rates. You’ll discover what hourly rates to expect, what skills command higher prices, and strategies to get the best value.
A brief overview of the cost of hiring a part-time developer:
- Rates for part-time developers can vary significantly based on factors like location, experience level, and specific skills. In general, expect to pay $30-$100+ per hour.
- Entry-level or junior developers may charge around $30-$50 per hour. Mid-level developers with 3-5 years of experience could charge $50-$80 per hour. Senior developers with 5+ years of experience could charge $80-$150+ per hour.
- When hiring overseas, rates may be significantly lower. Eastern Europe and South America tend to have lower average rates for software developers.
- The specific skills and technology stack will impact rates. Developers with in-demand skills like mobile development, data science, DevOps, etc, may charge higher rates.
- You may be able to find freelancers willing to work part-time for a discounted hourly rate compared to a development firm. However, freelancers may need more benefits, support, and formal operations.
- Development firms will charge more but provide a team, project management, quality assurance, guarantees, support, and more structure. Their rates could be $100-$150+ per hour.
- The number of hours required will depend heavily on the project’s scope and complexity. Even simple projects could require 50-100+ hours for an MVP. Plan for the cost to add up quickly.
- Carefully vet developers for relevant skills, capabilities, communication abilities, and reviews/references from past clients to ensure you get quality work and avoid issues down the line.
Web developers:
As per Upwork, the median hourly rate for a web developer is about $20, and the middle range lies between $15 and $30. It is possible to hire a half-full web developer and pay them about 4800 to 7200 dollars per month for twelve hours of work.
Front-end developers:
Arc states that they usually pay front-end developers an average hourly rate ranging between $61-$80. However, these figures may change depending on a specific location of origin and how long one has been in service. For instance, it would cost approximately between $1220 and $1600 per week to hire a part-time front-end developer working for only 20 hours. Such a person would be paid between $4880 and $6400 per month.
Software developers:
On the other hand, claims that the average hourly price of a software developer ranges from 15$ up to 35 $. Therefore, hiring a part-time software developer for approximately 20 hours every week would amount to between $500 and $700 weekly, which is equivalent to an overall wage of between $2,000 and $2,800 on a monthly basis.
Based on the developer’s freelance rate, this estimate is an average. However, in reality, the costs involved when hiring part-time developers depend upon the uniqueness of a specific project, the availability of the developer, and the negotiation process. As such, one should carry out some study work and testing before employing a developer, as well as comparing several options and offers.
Hidden Costs
Development Tools Add Up
Developers rely on various tools and programs to complete projects efficiently. These can include code editors, version control systems, debuggers, project management platforms, and more.
While some essential tools are free or have free tiers, more advanced tools often require paid subscriptions or licenses.
For example, JetBrains IDEs like PyCharm for Python development start at $199 per year for an individual permit. GitLab, a code hosting and DevOps platform offers premium tiers starting at $19 per month. These tooling expenses can multiply when hiring part-time developers.
Software and Platform Fees
Part-time developers may also need access to paid software, services, or platform subscriptions related to the specific project.
Hiring an iOS developer will require an Apple Developer Program membership at $99 per year to publish apps. Web developers may need services like Webflow or Bubble, costing $25+ per month for website building and hosting.
If your project involves any proprietary software, database, or cloud platform, additional licensing, hosting, or access fees will apply. Though essential for development, these recurring software expenses have a way of eating into project budgets if not anticipated.
Discuss required tools and software access with potential part-time developers early in the hiring process.
As a result, you can budget for these hidden costs separately from the hourly development rates. With diligent planning, you can account for additional tooling expenses so they don’t become an unwelcome surprise down the road.
Freelance vs Firm Rates- The Real Cost of Part-Time Development:
When looking to hire a part-time developer, you have two main options- freelancers or development firms. Going solo with a freelance coder seems like the budget choice on the surface. But development shops argue you get what you pay for with their teams and full-service offerings.
So which is really more cost-effective for part-time work? Let’s dig into the rates and crunch the numbers.
Freelancers often charge $30-50 per hour for essential work, sometimes less if they’re just starting. With firms, you’ll regularly see rates of $100-150 per hour or more. No question – freelance looks cheaper by the hour.
But, firms provide project management, quality standards, dedicated resources, and specialized skills. With freelancers, you may sacrifice oversight and reliability. And if things go sideways, the hours (and costs) can pile up fast.
To get an accurate picture, we have to look at total project costs, not just hourly rates. A simple 5-page website might take 10 hours with a freelancer at $40 per hour = $400 total. The same site through a firm could be $150 per hour x 15 hours = $2,250.
The difference is firms ensure the project is done right. What seems like the cheaper freelance option often ends up being more expensive and time-consuming with all the extra hours and headaches. We’ll break down when freelance versus firm part-timers truly make sense cost-wise.
How Much Should You Budget?
Hiring a part-time developer can be a smart move for many projects. You get technical expertise without breaking the bank with a full-time salary. But before you go down that road, you need to level with yourself – how much should you realistically budget for a part-time developer?
It is different than not the same as hiring your niece to babysit or your neighbor’s kid to mow your lawn. Developers are core costly, even if it’s just part-time work. Depending on experience level and skillset, you could spend anywhere from $30 to $150+ per hour to hire part-time coding talent.
And remember that rate is just the tip of the iceberg. You also need to factor in the total number of hours required for your project. Even something simple like building a website can easily cross into thousands of dollars territory once the hours add up.
Bottom line: when budgeting for a part-timer, think tens of dollars per hour at a minimum for starter talent and potentially over $100 per hour for more specialized skills. Let’s dig into the details so you know exactly how much to plan for.
Final thought
When it comes to part-time development, cost and quality don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Set reasonable expectations around project scope and timeline to control costs. Vet developers thoroughly on skills, reviews, and past work rather than choosing the cheapest option. Start with a smaller test project to evaluate quality before committing to a significant undertaking.
Define success metrics and milestones upfront to minimize hidden hours. With the proper planning, communication, and developer match, you can get solid results on a startup budget. That said, specialized skills and expertise do come at a premium cost. For more complex projects with little room for error, paying higher rates for quality assurance and oversight is prudent.
Find the balance between an affordable hourly rate and the total hours required, even if that means paying more per hour for speed and reliability. With some careful analysis and REALISTIC budgeting, you can maximize value from your part-time developer.
Hire with WINaTALENT
WINaTALENT provides access to qualified part-time developers like senior software developers, freelance Python developers, offshore WordPress developers, etc.
A large portion of our global talent pool is located in Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Though not the cheapest source, WINaTALENT thoroughly vets and profiles developers to ensure you get the right talent match.
WINaTALENT offers benefits like ratings, reviews, flexible hiring options, and access to niche skills like IoT and blockchain development.
For complex or business-critical projects, WINaTALENT’s reliability and oversight may justify the higher rates for quality part-time work.