How to hire an information technology programmer

How to hire an information technology programmer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information technology programmer hiring guide:

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

What does an information technology programmer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the information technology programmer you need to hire. Certain information technology programmer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an information technology programmer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an information technology programmer that fits the bill.

   This list presents information technology programmer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Information Technology Programmer	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Technology Programmer	Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.	$30-59
   Programmer Analyst	A programmer analyst is responsible for monitoring database performance and software applications, performing basic troubleshooting, and improving program operations as needed. Programmer analysts' duties also include making adjustments on the system based on client's specifications, creating reports for any updates and new system procedures, designing specific technology solutions to improve the business operations, and performing necessary code adjustments... Show more	$26-43
   Programmer	Computer programmers provide assistance and services concerning computer applications and software programs. A computer programmer must be highly-knowledgeable on programming languages and operating systems to create projects and fix any malfunctions under minimal supervision... Show more	$25-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • Java
   • JavaScript
   • Windows
   • HTML
   • Web Application
   • Provide Technical Assistance
   • Application Development
   • CSS
   • C Net
   • MVC
   • JQuery
   • PL/SQL
   • Computer Programs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a re-design of the company s Intranet using Microsoft SharePoint.
   • Manage and statistically analyze large databases using SAS on both the mainframe and PC environments.
   • Lead the development of build the UI layer for a high traffic call center application.
   • Manage creative/technical/ design of application features and user interactions for innovative GUI system including 3D and 2D graphics API.
   • Manage staffing and direction of Java department responsible for enhancement, maintenance, and troubleshooting of website-base up-sell tool.
   • Develop user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

   More information technology programmer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your information technology programmer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An information technology programmer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, information technology programmers' average salary in hawaii is 52% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level information technology programmers 49% less than senior-level information technology programmers.
   • Certifications. An information technology programmer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an information technology programmer's salary.

   Average information technology programmer salary

   $89,063yearly

   $42.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology programmer salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average information technology programmer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$118,064	$57
   2	Connecticut	$103,010	$50
   3	New York	$96,298	$46
   4	Florida	$89,569	$43
   5	Texas	$87,719	$42
   6	North Carolina	$86,557	$42
   7	Pennsylvania	$86,237	$41
   8	Ohio	$86,023	$41
   9	Virginia	$84,981	$41
   10	Georgia	$84,552	$41
   11	Arizona	$83,938	$40
   12	Michigan	$82,842	$40
   13	Louisiana	$79,476	$38
   14	Illinois	$79,249	$38
   15	Maryland	$78,612	$38
   16	New Jersey	$78,180	$38
   17	Tennessee	$75,795	$36
   18	Colorado	$73,015	$35
   19	Minnesota	$67,716	$33
   20	Missouri	$65,598	$32

   Average information technology programmer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Safeway	$138,856	$66.76
   2	Discovery	$135,767	$65.27
   3	AEA Investors	$129,058	$62.05
   4	Riverbed Holdings, Inc.	$127,329	$61.22	5
   5	Daiwa Capital Markets America Holdings Inc.	$126,393	$60.77
   6	Pacific Gas and Electric	$125,634	$60.40
   7	Infinera	$123,444	$59.35
   8	Crown Castle International	$122,822	$59.05
   9	maurices	$115,849	$55.70
   10	Sony Interactive Entertainment America	$115,769	$55.66
   11	Randstad North America, Inc.	$111,354	$53.54	23
   12	Crossfire	$110,821	$53.28	1
   13	The Chefs' Warehouse	$110,772	$53.26	1
   14	AstraZeneca	$108,102	$51.97
   15	NRG Energy	$107,980	$51.91	3
   16	OTIS POLSKA	$107,260	$51.57
   17	Hitachi Vantara	$107,203	$51.54
   18	Allegiance Group	$106,711	$51.30
   19	Arrow Electronics	$106,430	$51.17	7
   20	HSF Affiliates LLC	$106,344	$51.13

4. Writing an information technology programmer job description

   A job description for an information technology programmer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an information technology programmer job description:

   Information technology programmer job description example

   This developer position will work both independently and in a team with other Programmers with a focus on writing code and developing applications leveraging multiple tools, languages, processes, and technologies. Development will ensure that the technical solutions meet the business needs and are developed and implemented with high quality following agreed upon standards. The ideal candidate will have a passion for learning and be able to adapt to changing tasks quickly. Specifically, the responsibilities of this position include:
   Must Have 2-5 years C# .NET application development experience.
   
   Responsible for design, coding, testing, debugging, documentation, delivery and support of both Web and Client Server Applications.
   Manage the efficient and effective applications and tools consistent with established specifications and business requirements.
   Collaborate with and takes direction from Technical Lead and subject matter experts in the technical assessment of new designs and development work.
   Provides technical support for user issues; troubleshoots problems and takes corrective action on a timely, effective basis.
   Ability to adapt quickly to fast-paced changing environment and priorities.
   Motivation to take ownership of tasks and the determination to drive them to completion.
   
   Required Skills
   
   Knowledge of software engineering practices and methodologies.
   Strong analytical skills and the ability to multi-task.
   Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to understand others and clearly express thoughts.
   Ability to produce high quality work deliverables with high attention to detail.
   Ability to effectively work in a team environment.
   Ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, or activities.
   
   Required Experience
   
   B.S. Degree in Computer Science or related field.
   2-5 years C# .NET application development experience.
   
   CTDI does not accept unsolicited employment agency / recruiter resumes. Please do not forward unsolicited resumes to our website, to our HR Department or to any CTDI employee. CTDI will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm without a signed fee agreement or to any firm who was not issued a search assignment from CTDI's HR Department. CTDI will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of CTDI and will be processed accordingly. Any and all Staffing/Recruiting inquiries must be directed to CTDI's HR department directly.
   
   #ind123

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right information technology programmer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with information technology programmers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit information technology programmers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   To find information technology programmer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit information technology programmers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview information technology programmer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • 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 information technology programmer

   Once you've found the information technology programmer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new information technology programmer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 information technology programmer?