Do your developers have on-off relations with coding? When they start learning to code, it’s like a new challenge that may last the rest of their life. They have to go through a certain number of steps to become successful programmers. Practicing algorithm drills and syntax, writing or passing test cases are only a few circles of hell in learning a particular programming language.

If you need to hire a developer, keep in mind that you will have to take into account the circles mentioned above. My friend, an experienced freelance developer says that the strong coding skills are the only halfway to success.

It’s hard for the beginning developers to get their first job and make a good name for themselves. Most customers don’t understand the differences between a Junior, a Middle, and a Senior developer, and accordingly, they don’t understand why they should pay higher fees.

Here are 5 top factors that affect developers rates you must consider when hiring a software development team.

Factor 1 – Scope of the Project

Considering time and nature of the project work to be done, developers are offered the fixed or full-time rates. Software development time evaluation depends directly on the nature of the projects, number of features required, developer’s personal time management abilities and professional skills.

Be sure that a developer’s knowledge and competencies fit the offered job. Read accurately all terms and conditions and once you’re done with making everything clear propose a job.

Factor 2 – Competencies and Experience

Think, for instance of a JavaScript programmer. $55 is an average hourly rate for a JavaScript developer with a certain set of expertise in back-end and front-end technologies.

While you are looking for the right candidate, learn carefully each profile from your list and get to know about all technologies, libraries, and frameworks a developer is well familiar with. It will help you understand if a person is qualified enough to work for you.

Factor 3 – Certificates

Usually, certificates and diplomas are optional and you may not see them in developers profile. But think, how certification makes the difference. When potential employees find a confirmation of candidate’s professional skills and education, they are more likely to trust and hire the right person.

A lot of developers pass a certification exam in their programming languages and add the results to their education field in the profile. In case you see no certificates or diplomas, ask a developer directly about those.

Taking professional tests and exams on a regular basis is necessary for being always one jump ahead, be sure your team members are familiar with the latest technologies.

Factor 4 – Location

Modern technologies offer employers to get in touch with a pool of outsourcing companies and freelance developers all over the world. People living in different countries of the globe are easy to reach by various means of communication.

The differences between levels of life allow big companies to outsource experienced developers from the emerging countries at lower rates. For example, two developers producing code in the same programming languages, with the same levels of expertise, one from the USA and another from the Philippines, will earn different money with a 20-dollar variation.

Factor 5 – Employer Status

You may be a big agency or an individual contractor. If you own a big agency you should take into consideration that a hired developer will have to cooperate with other developers, project and QA managers, or designers.

Calculate the time required for communication and think if the time taken for interacting will be included in the rate. If you are an individual contractor, you won’t probably spend so much time on finding out the details about the issues assigned to all team members. You will likely be able to communicate with an assigned project manager.

Bonus: Helpful Tips to Choose the Right Developer at Reasonable Rates

Here are 5 more tips that can help you identify if an outsourcing company or an individual developer are reliable:

• They provide you with a clear cover letter or a comprehensive description of their professional competencies.
• They are flexible to discuss the prices and deadlines.
• They are constantly available online.
• They can easily demonstrate the successful user case studies, recommendations, and feedbacks from their partners, colleagues, or customers.
• They took some certification exams and tests that provide evidence to their cover letters.

Clear outsourcing and freelance business insight including the factors that influence developers rates will help you build powerful work strategy and get invaluable experience.

Keep in mind that you have to choose carefully not to be deceived or caught by scams: check if possible the skills of a developer by giving him/her some test tasks, ask if they visit special meetups and workshops, pass certification exams to confirm their experience with high-quality orders completed.