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How to hire an Applications Developer

Applications developer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring applications developers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an applications developer is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per applications developer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 598,804 applications developers in the US and 279,877 job openings.
  • Boston, MA, has the highest demand for applications developers, with 47 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of applications developers.

How to hire an applications developer, step by step

To hire an applications developer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an applications developer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step applications developer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an applications developer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new applications developer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Applications Developer do?

An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.

Learn more about the specifics of what an applications developer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your applications developer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an applications developer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An applications developer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, applications developers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of applications developers.

    Type Of Applications DeveloperDescriptionHourly Rate
    Applications DeveloperSoftware developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show More$32-56
    Java/J2ee DeveloperJava developers are in charge of the design, development, and management of Java-based applications. Whereas, J2EE or Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition developers are responsible for developing web and software enterprise-internet level applications... Show More$33-56
    Software DeveloperA software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems... Show More$32-54
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Java
    • JavaScript
    • C++
    • QA
    • Database
    • HTML
    • Application Development
    • Debugging
    • Regression
    • CSS
    • Scrum
    • Web Services
    • JQuery
    • SQL Server
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Used to update issue tracker and manage code using version control system git.
    • Create UNIX shell scripts to automate the FTP process, handling of data discards, data errors, compliance errors etc.
    • Manage complete SDLC for development projects including gathering and determining business requirements.
    • Used AngularJS HTTP request to read data from web services and process JSON data to render in the UI.
    • Develop interfaces using JavaScript, HTML technologies for several web applications to fetch and graphically present require data from database.
    • Core service uses the main database and the other Microservices use their individual databases to access and store data.
    More Applications Developer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the applications developer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An applications developer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for an applications developer in Arkansas may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level applications developer. Additionally, an applications developer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average applications developer salary

    $89,205yearly

    $42.89 hourly rate

    Entry-level applications developer salary
    $67,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 16, 2025

    Average applications developer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$117,549$57
    2Washington$114,625$55
    3Oregon$99,560$48
    4New York$91,282$44
    5Massachusetts$90,070$43
    6Delaware$88,974$43
    7District of Columbia$88,816$43
    8New Jersey$87,689$42
    9Virginia$87,451$42
    10Arizona$85,590$41
    11Connecticut$85,277$41
    12Minnesota$83,530$40
    13Texas$83,215$40
    14Pennsylvania$81,898$39
    15North Carolina$80,074$39
    16Ohio$80,040$38
    17Illinois$79,329$38
    18Michigan$78,938$38
    19Georgia$77,187$37
    20Missouri$75,229$36

    Average applications developer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1Meta$139,440$67.041,909
    2Apple$131,448$63.201,042
    3Safeway$130,714$62.84
    4Google$129,681$62.35472
    5PayPal$128,707$61.8848
    6Southern California Edison$127,644$61.376
    7Lord Abbett$125,895$60.531
    8First Republic Bank$125,415$60.30
    9Intuitive Surgical$125,088$60.146
    10Yelp$124,899$60.05
    11ICE Mortgage Technology$124,549$59.88
    12Microsoft$123,557$59.40305
    13eBay$123,211$59.2416
    14NVIDIA$122,600$58.94210
    15Broadcom$121,996$58.6560
    16Portland General Electric$121,924$58.626
    17Workday$121,558$58.4416
    18Varian Medical Systems$121,404$58.37
    19Salesforce$121,398$58.3680
    20Barclays$121,377$58.3518
  4. Writing an Applications Developer Job Description

    An applications developer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an applications developer job description:

    Applications Developer job description example

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking an Application Developer for Technical Support. This position will report to the Senior Application Developer in the Information Technology at Continuing Studies (ITaCS) department. This position works as a collaborative member of the Application Development Team ( ADT ) within ITaCS, DoCS, and with all other technical teams throughout the University. Currently, this position has a flexible work schedule (subject to change).
    Among the key duties of this position are the following:
    Contributes to the maintenance, testing, coding, implementation, deployment, and development of websites, and custom online and mobile applications. Assist in and provide technical advice to the ADT lead on various projects. Works on projects to enhance the user experience, application architecture, prototyping, and site layout/user interface. Works collaboratively with all members of ITaCS to support user needs around custom applications built to streamline online learning initiatives, course registration, and faculty course assignments. Provides advice on content creation, development, deploying web hosting servers, and maintaining servers to ensure a robust web infrastructure. Assist in the deployment and configuration of new servers, DNS settings, and mobile application deployments and updates/grades, as they relate to current projects. Make significant contributions to the direction of the Division of Continuing Studies web presence and for ITaCS internal departments.

    Minimum Education and Experience

    Bachelor's degree in computer science/information technology or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. A minimum of two years of programming experience with solid knowledge of current programming languages and methodologies.

    Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

    The developer will be expected to contribute to the production of a new full-stack application utilizing NestJS and React written in Typescript. Ability to work in a UNIX environment Strong Knowledge of MVC Architecture Comfortable with GIT version control Expertise with the PHP framework Laravel Knowledge of React Native is a bonus Must be able to collaborate and communicate effectively with all levels of university faculty, staff, and administration

    Overview

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Established in 1766 and celebrated a milestone 250th anniversary in 2016, the university is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States. More than 70,800 students and 27,000 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world.

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick took root over 250 years ago. We are the state's most comprehensive intellectual resource-the flagship campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, as designated by the Association of American Universities. We are the region's most high-profile public research institution and a leading national research center with a global impact.
  5. Post your job

    To find applications developers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any applications developers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level applications developers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your applications developer job on Zippia to find and attract quality applications developer candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit applications developers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with an applications developer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

    • TestDome
    • CodeSignal
    • Testlify
    • BarRaiser
    • Coderbyte

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new applications developer

    Once you've decided on a perfect applications developer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new applications developer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an applications developer?

Hiring an applications developer comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting applications developers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of applications developer recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $89,205 per year for an applications developer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for applications developers in the US typically range between $32 and $56 an hour.

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