How to hire a junior software engineer

How to hire a junior software engineer, step by step

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

What does a junior software engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a junior software engineer, 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 junior software engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, junior software engineers 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of junior software engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Junior Software Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Software Engineer	Software 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	$28-48
   Software Analyst	A software analyst is responsible for creating and designing software programs and applications, as well as modifying existing ones for optimization according to business requirements. Software analysts work with the technical team to draw system codes, analyze programming languages, and ensure the stability and efficiency of software navigation by running multiple quality checks to the system... Show more	$29-47
   Software Programmer	A software programmer is an information technology expert who specializes in programming software and generating codes, ensuring quality and efficiency. In a company setting, they typically perform research and analysis to understand and identify the projects' needs, develop and implement test structures, troubleshoot and resolve issues, write technical instructions, and provide technical support to staff as needed... Show more	$26-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • C++
   • Python
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • CSS
   • GIT
   • Linux
   • C Net
   • Scrum
   • PHP
   • HTML
   • Html Css
   • Jira
   • Jenkins

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used the controls and components from the AJAX control toolkit to achieve rich user experience.
   • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
   • Used HTML, JavaScript, AJAX and JSP to create the UI development for web application.
   • Extract data in UI for different clients using JSON format.
   • Automate build processes to allow developers to build for multiple Linux distributions with each code commit using Jenkins.
   • Contract as a subject matter expert on Node.js, cloud computing, and big data base on Hadoop.

   More junior software engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your junior software engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A junior software engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a junior software engineer in Mississippi may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level junior software engineer usually earns less than a senior-level junior software engineer. Additionally, a junior software engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average junior software engineer salary

   $77,904yearly

   $37.45 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior software engineer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average junior software engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,473	$47
   2	Connecticut	$92,686	$45
   3	Washington	$89,623	$43
   4	Delaware	$88,446	$43
   5	District of Columbia	$86,370	$42
   6	New York	$84,617	$41
   7	Massachusetts	$78,665	$38
   8	Virginia	$78,502	$38
   9	Pennsylvania	$77,571	$37
   10	Maryland	$75,962	$37
   11	Texas	$75,084	$36
   12	North Carolina	$72,470	$35
   13	Illinois	$71,019	$34
   14	Georgia	$70,257	$34
   15	Colorado	$68,200	$33
   16	Alabama	$67,180	$32
   17	Ohio	$66,966	$32
   18	Nebraska	$65,673	$32

   Average junior software engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$122,756	$59.02	503
   2	Airbnb	$122,128	$58.72	5
   3	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$114,217	$54.91	1,125
   4	Square	$113,480	$54.56	4
   5	RichRelevance	$107,912	$51.88
   6	Sephora	$102,251	$49.16	1
   7	State Street	$99,796	$47.98	18
   8	Daysmart	$98,516	$47.36
   9	Sony Interactive Entertainment America	$97,725	$46.98
   10	Grubhub	$96,164	$46.23	5
   11	General Motors	$95,874	$46.09	774
   12	Z Capital Group	$93,847	$45.12
   13	OpenEye - The Cloud Video Platform	$92,519	$44.48	2
   14	Zscaler	$91,603	$44.04	22
   15	Über	$90,770	$43.64	155
   16	Grandbridge Real Estate Capital	$90,467	$43.49	140
   17	Rubicon Project	$89,063	$42.82
   18	Agility	$88,371	$42.49	23
   19	Yellowpages	$88,243	$42.42
   20	Medicomp	$88,173	$42.39

4. Writing a junior software engineer job description

   A junior software engineer 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a junior software engineer job description:

   Junior software engineer job description example

   Vectrus strives to bring high performance, operational excellence, and customer focus to every aspect of our business. In a rapidly changing and complex world, we continue to push to be a top innovator and achiever in the software development field and are proud to serve in our country's defense. We're seeking dedicated innovators and achievers to help us expand on our mission to provide high quality software solutions in the areas of RF modeling/simulation, spectrum sharing, and interference deconfliction applications. As a Junior Software Engineer at Vectrus, you will provide support to multiple DoD Program Offices as well as our commercial customers. You will perform as a member or our software development team to develop full software applications, RF modeling applications, quick-response custom tailored software applications, and many other related software engineering tasks.
   Responsibilities
   
   This position description is subject to change at any time as needed to meet the requirements of the program or company.
   
   Major Job Activities:
   
   • Work as part of an agile software development team to implement multi-user database-driven RF spectrum deconfliction and related software applications for our customers. • Provide quick-response tailored software to evolving customer requirements. • Design/develop/modify software anywhere in the stack from the web front end to the back end. • Work with our team to help identify root cause of complex software issues. • Profile tools and improve performance as required. • Write and review software documentation. • Coordinate with team members to ensure problem resolution, appropriate risk reduction, and user satisfaction. Work with our team to conduct software engineering best practices, such as code reviews, unit testing, and software static analysis. Be able to implement new software development process metrics as required by our customers.
   
   Material & Equipment Directly Used:
   
   Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers (RSA), Signal Generators, servers, and basic computers.
   
   Working Environment:
   
   Work will be performed in an office environment approximately 90% of the time. Some laboratory work may be required. Local travel is required with the possibility of regional and international travel roughly 5 to 10% of the time.
   
   Qualifications
   
   Minimum Qualifications :
   
   Education/Experience/Certifications:
   
   Bachelor's (4 year) degree from an accredited College or University in a related Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Programming, or related field with:
   
   • One (1) year experience in software development/software engineering. • One (1) year experience implementing engineering criteria and developing software and tools to operate in real-world environments. • One (1) year experience preparing technical documents, which include software test plans/reports and analytical evaluation of software performance in realistic operational environments and scenarios and in conducting software testing at multiple levels (unit, integration, system), performing analyses • Ability to obtain a SECRET Security Clearance. • Must be a U.S Citizen.
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   • Proficient in Full Stack Software development to include web development frameworks (i.e. Angular or React) and Back-End Technologies (RDBMS, C++/C#/Java, Docker). • Ability to do multi-user and multi-threaded application development, test-driven development (TDD), and agile development methodologies such as SCRUM. • Previous experience performing RF modeling and simulation. • Active SECRET Security Clearance.
   
   We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and supports the contributions of each individual. This commitment along with our common Vision and Values of Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility, allows us to leverage differences, encourage innovation and expand our success in the global marketplace. Vectrus is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability. EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find junior software engineers 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 software engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level junior software engineers 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 software engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality junior software engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit junior software engineers, 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 junior software engineer 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 software engineer

   Once you've found the junior software engineer 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 junior software engineer. 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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