How to hire a junior java developer

How to hire a junior java developer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step junior 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 junior java developer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new junior java developer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a junior java developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a junior 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a junior java developer 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 a junior java developer that fits the bill.

   This list presents junior java developer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Junior Java Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Java Developer	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$29-50
   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
   Software Developer Internship	A software developer intern is responsible for assisting the software engineers with the design implementation and shadowing their duties to understand the processes more efficiently. Software developer interns use their classroom knowledge on practical applications, suggesting recommendations on how to make the project successful... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • JavaScript
   • Spring Boot
   • CSS
   • HTML
   • Web Application
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • Web Services
   • Eclipse
   • Html Css
   • JSP
   • Junit
   • XML
   • Spring Framework

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage connectivity using JDBC for querying/inserting & data management including triggers and store procedures.
   • Design and develop UI with AJAX, HTML, XHTML, DHTML and java script for more interactive web pages.
   • Create user-friendly GUI interface and dynamic web pages using HTML, CSS and JSP for user access management service application.
   • Design and develop UI screens with JSP, JSTL, CSS in struts framework to provide interactive screens to display data.
   • Develop GUI for various screens using JSP, JSTL, and HTML code for various actions on the user.
   • Develop custom tags for JSP for maximum re-usability of user interface components.

   More junior java developer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your junior java developer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A junior java developer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, junior java developers' average salary in alaska is 34% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level junior java developers 41% less than senior-level junior java developers.
   • Certifications. A junior java developer 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 a junior java developer's salary.

   Average junior java developer salary

   $80,548yearly

   $38.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior java developer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average junior java developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$94,856	$46
   2	New Jersey	$93,924	$45
   3	California	$93,864	$45
   4	Virginia	$93,495	$45
   5	Washington	$92,794	$45
   6	Minnesota	$89,262	$43
   7	Maryland	$84,766	$41
   8	Texas	$84,599	$41
   9	Massachusetts	$83,480	$40
   10	Alabama	$81,180	$39
   11	Pennsylvania	$80,899	$39
   12	District of Columbia	$80,250	$39
   13	North Carolina	$79,737	$38
   14	Nevada	$78,495	$38
   15	Georgia	$77,825	$37
   16	Delaware	$77,651	$37
   17	Illinois	$77,472	$37
   18	Florida	$76,867	$37
   19	Utah	$76,560	$37
   20	Ohio	$75,357	$36

   Average junior java developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Barclays	$119,300	$57.36	2
   2	Tradeweb	$108,899	$52.36	3
   3	Open Systems Technologies	$108,224	$52.03	6
   4	Ci&t	$107,845	$51.85
   5	TEKsystems	$106,701	$51.30	31
   6	Deutsche Bank	$106,601	$51.25	7
   7	TracFone Wireless	$105,515	$50.73
   8	Virtusa	$100,116	$48.13	99
   9	QuinStreet	$99,853	$48.01	3
   10	Seneca Resources	$99,601	$47.89	4
   11	CyberCoders	$98,592	$47.40
   12	Randstad North America, Inc.	$98,146	$47.19	60
   13	Populus Group	$97,981	$47.11
   14	Silver Peak	$97,770	$47.00
   15	Integrated Resources	$97,318	$46.79	138
   16	Ernst & Young	$97,209	$46.74	128
   17	Conduent	$94,762	$45.56	3
   18	Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$94,682	$45.52
   19	Information International Associates	$93,866	$45.13
   20	The Judge Group	$93,698	$45.05	2

4. Writing a junior java developer job description

   A job description for a junior java developer 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 a junior java developer job description:

   Junior java developer job description example

   The Enlyte Family of Businesses
   
   Mitchell | Genex | Coventry
   
   Enlyte is the parent brand of Mitchell, Genex and Coventry, an organization unlike any other in the Property & Casualty industry, bringing together three great businesses with a shared vision of using technology innovation, clinical services and network solutions to help our customers and the people they serve. Our suite of products and services enable our employees to help people recover from challenging life events, while providing opportunities for meaningful impact and career growth.
   
   Job Description
   
   Must be willing to work in PST time zone for at least 9 AM to 4 PM
   
   Enlyte is the parent brand of Mitchell, Genex and Coventry, an organization unlike any other in the Property & Casualty industry, bringing together three great businesses with a shared vision of using technology innovation, clinical services and network solutions to help our customers and the people they serve. Our suite of products and services enable our employees to help people recover from challenging life events, while providing opportunities for meaningful impact and career growth.
   
   Job Description
   Develop, debug, test, and document to satisfy large, complex business requirements. Work as part of a Scrum team to deliver technology solutions in an Agile fashion, including but not limited to sprint planning, standup calls, and sprint retrospectives. Participate in design and implement features using various. Deliver solutions on Java, J2EE, Spring Boot, SQL, and Cloud based technologies. Use test-driven development and scaled agile methods to deliver products to client requirements. Write technical specifications and test plans as necessary; conduct and assist in the unit, load, performance, and integration testing. Assist in third-level support of applications once delivered into Production.
   Qualifications
   
   BS in Computer Science or related field required. 2-4 years working experience in Java environment and spring technologies. Strong skills in Java, J2EE, REST, and SQL Exposure to React/Redux/AngularJS, and .NET is a plus Experience on building micro-services using spring-boot or other technologies. Strong advocate of a process-driven software development lifecycle. Exposure to CICD / Dev ops Process. Familiar working in an agile environment. Learns to use professional concepts. Use Test Driven Development and Experience in scaled agile methods. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
   Benefits
   
   We're committed to supporting your ultimate well-being through our total compensation package offerings that support your health, wealth and self. These offerings include Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Accounts / Flexible Spending Accounts, Life and AD&D Insurance, 401(k), Tuition Reimbursement, and an array of resources that encourage a lifetime of healthier living. The Company is an equal opportunity employer, values the diversity of our workforce and the knowledge of our people. The Company does not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. #LI-FP1 #LI-Remote #MIT

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find junior java 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 junior java developers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level junior java 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 junior java developer job on Zippia to find and recruit junior java developer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with junior java developer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 junior java developer 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 junior java developer

   Once you've decided on a perfect junior java 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.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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