How to hire a java developer

How to hire a java developer, step by step

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

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

What does a java developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a java developer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A java developer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, java 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 presents java developer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Java Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   Java Developer	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$32-54
   Java Programmer	Java programmers design and develop programs with the goal of not taking up too much data and less to almost no latency that can be useful to their users every day. They aim to write testable, well designed, and efficient computer codes... Show more	$29-49
   Web Application Developer	A web application developer is responsible for designing website and system applications following clients' specifications and business' needs. Web application developers utilize their expertise in programming languages and system codes, ensuring the efficiency and smooth navigation of the website... Show more	$31-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Spring Boot
   • Database
   • Web Application
   • HTML
   • CSS
   • Web Services
   • MVC
   • Maven
   • Junit
   • XML
   • API
   • Spring Framework
   • Eclipse

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Involve in creating an ant task to automate the above process.
   • Manage connectivity using JDBC for querying/inserting & data management including triggers and store procedures.
   • Manage maven environment by setting up local, remote and central repositories with require configuration in maven configuration files.
   • Develop UI using JavaScript, JSP, HTML and CSS for interactive cross browser functionality and complex user interface.
   • Experience in Java coding for JSON access in the eclipse IDE and saving the data in the database.
   • Design UI using JSP and HTML and validate with JavaScript for providing the user interface and communication between client and server.

   More java developer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the java developer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A java 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 a java developer in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level java developer. Additionally, a java developer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average java developer salary

   $88,475yearly

   $42.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level java developer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average java developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,146	$50
   2	Washington	$99,306	$48
   3	New York	$94,084	$45
   4	District of Columbia	$93,779	$45
   5	New Jersey	$93,473	$45
   6	Maryland	$92,095	$44
   7	Virginia	$92,073	$44
   8	Delaware	$91,519	$44
   9	North Carolina	$89,782	$43
   10	Pennsylvania	$89,407	$43
   11	Texas	$88,906	$43
   12	Massachusetts	$86,245	$41
   13	Ohio	$86,064	$41
   14	Arizona	$85,116	$41
   15	Minnesota	$84,941	$41
   16	Georgia	$84,250	$41
   17	Utah	$84,065	$40
   18	Michigan	$83,740	$40
   19	Illinois	$83,323	$40
   20	Missouri	$83,033	$40

   Average java developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$127,656	$61.37	2,405
   2	PayPal	$124,436	$59.83	3
   3	Fortinet	$120,877	$58.11	5
   4	BGC Partners	$120,245	$57.81
   5	Barclays	$119,991	$57.69	2
   6	Costco Wholesale	$119,754	$57.57	7
   7	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$119,557	$57.48	4
   8	Bank of the West	$119,258	$57.34
   9	Open Systems Technologies	$117,933	$56.70	5
   10	Apple	$117,752	$56.61	195
   11	First Republic Bank	$117,287	$56.39
   12	Vonage	$116,909	$56.21
   13	Texas Capital Bank	$116,817	$56.16
   14	Extreme Networks	$116,413	$55.97	2
   15	HireLevel	$114,197	$54.90
   16	Qumu	$113,567	$54.60
   17	Infinity Staffing Solutions	$112,819	$54.24
   18	Infinera	$112,568	$54.12
   19	Kelly Services	$112,514	$54.09	3
   20	Bed Bath & Beyond	$112,509	$54.09

4. Writing a java developer job description

   A good java developer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a java developer job description:

   Java developer job description example

   • Java development experience with enterprise level applications
   • Experience in Agile Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodology
   • Experience in developing interface applications (Selenium, RESTful, SOAP)
   • Experience in developing/maintaining microservices
   • 5+ years of developer experience
   • 5+ years working with teams in an Agile development environment
   • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science related field
   • Must have good communication skills and the ability to work with all levels of management and technical personnel.

   Contract Requirements:

   • Contract Requires US Citizenship
   • Must be able to obtain and maintain an Agency specific Public Trust clearance

   Scheduled Weekly Hours:

   40

   Travel Required:

   Less than 10%

   Telecommuting Options:

   Hybrid

   Work Location:

   USA DC Washington

   Additional Work Locations:

   COVID-19 Vaccination: GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on the status of the federal contractor mandate and customer site requirements.We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right java developer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your java developer job on Zippia to find and recruit java developer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit java developers, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with java developer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you 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 java developer

   Once you've found the java developer 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.

   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 java 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 a java developer?