How to hire a junior web developer

How to hire a junior web developer, step by step

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

What does a junior web developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The junior web developer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A junior web developer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, junior web 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.

   Here's a comparison of junior web developer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Junior Web Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Web Developer	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$23-42
   Mobile Applications Developer	A mobile application developer is responsible for designing programming applications for mobile devices according to clients' specifications and business demands. Mobile application developers must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as computer system commands to develop efficient scripts and smooth navigation of operating systems... Show more	$36-62
   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:

   • JavaScript
   • Html Css
   • HTML
   • CSS
   • JQuery
   • Web Forms
   • WordPress
   • PHP
   • Web Development
   • GIT
   • Database
   • Java
   • UI
   • HTML5

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with XML for the lead process and work with dealerships to validate they have received the leads.
   • Customize HTML product database to manage inventory.
   • Design layouts on the front-end using JavaScript, CSS3 and HTML5.
   • Update API endpoints and JSON responses to support mobile and Facebook applications.
   • Transform static web pages into dynamic web views by integrating PHP server code and MySQL databases.
   • Used Ajax to update a portion of a web page by reducing bandwidth usage and load time in web pages.

   More junior web developer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average junior web developer salary

   $65,771yearly

   $31.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior web developer salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average junior web developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$96,926	$47
   2	Washington	$85,959	$41
   3	Oregon	$79,332	$38
   4	Connecticut	$75,809	$36
   5	Massachusetts	$75,585	$36
   6	Virginia	$74,974	$36
   7	District of Columbia	$71,408	$34
   8	Maryland	$67,922	$33
   9	Texas	$67,891	$33
   10	New York	$66,724	$32
   11	Rhode Island	$65,781	$32
   12	North Carolina	$65,746	$32
   13	Missouri	$65,112	$31
   14	Pennsylvania	$64,404	$31
   15	Georgia	$63,155	$30
   16	Michigan	$60,723	$29
   17	Florida	$59,792	$29

   Average junior web developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Square Enix	$101,973	$49.03
   2	Plan International USA	$98,329	$47.27
   3	Mouser Electronics	$89,684	$43.12
   4	University of California	$87,661	$42.14	1
   5	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$82,554	$39.69
   6	Pionear Recruiting	$80,883	$38.89
   7	Jacobs Engineering Group	$79,039	$38.00
   8	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$76,621	$36.84	5
   9	Men's Wearhouse	$74,248	$35.70
   10	Tetra Tech	$74,178	$35.66	4
   11	The Hartford	$73,652	$35.41	6
   12	The ACI Group	$72,425	$34.82
   13	Modis	$72,067	$34.65	15
   14	Information Management Group	$71,794	$34.52	1
   15	Planned Systems International	$71,046	$34.16	9
   16	Collette	$70,219	$33.76
   17	IHRDC	$69,984	$33.65
   18	General Dynamics	$69,743	$33.53	108
   19	HZ	$69,369	$33.35
   20	ERG	$69,078	$33.21

4. Writing a junior web developer job description

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

   Junior web developer job description example

   Stratum Networks is a rapidly growing information assurance and cybersecurity solutions company that provides high-end network and security consulting to Department of Defense and Intelligence Community clients. We are looking for a talented and passionate Web Developer who would support one of our clients located in the Annapolis Junction, MD area.
   CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ACTIVE TS/SCI WITH POLYGRAPH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION. Job Description:
   Work in an environment where you can design the architecture and develop solutions to meet the organization’s needs while enhancing your skillset and advancing your career. Looking for an innovative, and motivated individual to join a small, talented, and hardworking development team creating enterprise level web base services. This team designs, creates, maintains, and troubleshoots multiple web based applications that are deployed in both cloud and local on premise environments.
   
   Required skills:
   Proficient with one or more of the following: (Proficiency expected: Junior Level 0-5years, Mid Level 5-10, Senior 10+)
   o Java
   o PHP
   o .Net C#
   o HTML
   o CSS
   o JavaScript
   o jQuery
   • Experience with MariaDB, MS SQL, MySQL, or Oracle
   • Excellent troubleshooting skills
   • Self-motivated and willing to learn new technologies
   • Strong desire to learn and grow
   
   Desired skills:
   • Experience with AWS or Azure cloud environments
   • Experience with Mapping and Geocoding APIs
   • Experience with scripting languages such as PowerShell, Perl, and Python
   • Experience working in an Agile development environment
   DoD 8570 Compliance with IAM level 1 is required. Qualifications: No demonstrated experience is required. Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Five (5) years of system administration experience may be substituted for a bachelors degree. STRATUM NETWORKS OVERVIEW: Stratum Networks is a rapidly growing information assurance and cybersecurity solutions company with expert knowledge of implementing secure infrastructure, providing security integration, development, assessment and training solutions. Our high-end network and security consulting to Department of Defense and Intelligence Community clients create robust, secure network infrastructure, policies, and procedures for local and global, terrestrial and satellite networks. As leading experts in their fields, our certified and highly experienced network, software development, IT support and security professionals are able to provide the necessary design, implementation, and consulting services to meet the demanding requirements of mission-critical networks. To learn more, visit www.stratumnet.com. Stratum Networks, Inc is an equal opportunity employer, who participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, or any other classification as required by applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right junior web 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.

   To find junior web developer 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 dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit junior web 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.

   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 web 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 web developer

   Once you've selected the best junior web developer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   To prepare for the new junior web developer 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 a junior web developer?