How to hire a programmer

How to hire a programmer, step by step

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

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

What does a programmer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your programmer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a programmer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A programmer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, programmers 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 programmer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Programmer	Description	Hourly rate
   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.	$25-47
   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
   Applications Developer	An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs... Show more	$32-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • JavaScript
   • CSS
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • Python
   • Data Entry
   • HTML
   • Web Application
   • PL/SQL
   • API
   • C
   • C++
   • XML
   • Microsoft SQL Server

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create windows form application to manage flight and passenger information.
   • Utilize Jenkins to automate the building and deploying of these software units.
   • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
   • Create and automate ETL package to import monthly utility data from several electric utilities using Perl, PHP, and PL/SQL.
   • Convert PowerBuilder payroll applications into Java applications emphasizing user interface and customer requirements.
   • Work directly with the project manager to implement advance HTML and JavaScript solutions design to accurately capture survey data.

   More programmer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, programmers' average salary in florida is 42% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level programmers 45% less than senior-level programmers.
   • Certifications. A 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 a programmer's salary.

   Average programmer salary

   $73,007yearly

   $35.10 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level programmer salary

   $54,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average programmer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$91,793	$44
   2	California	$87,196	$42
   3	District of Columbia	$77,405	$37
   4	New York	$74,778	$36
   5	Maryland	$74,527	$36
   6	Connecticut	$74,477	$36
   7	Arizona	$74,426	$36
   8	Massachusetts	$74,424	$36
   9	Pennsylvania	$74,422	$36
   10	Minnesota	$73,702	$35
   11	Illinois	$73,690	$35
   12	Georgia	$73,418	$35
   13	Virginia	$73,308	$35
   14	North Carolina	$73,227	$35
   15	Texas	$70,022	$34
   16	Indiana	$69,919	$34
   17	New Jersey	$69,811	$34
   18	Ohio	$68,602	$33
   19	Missouri	$68,333	$33
   20	Michigan	$67,566	$32

   Average programmer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mayo Clinic	$137,378	$66.05	21
   2	NVIDIA	$129,877	$62.44	205
   3	Apple	$129,606	$62.31	474
   4	Amazon	$111,837	$53.77	783
   5	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$110,850	$53.29	25
   6	ByteDance	$108,460	$52.14	218
   7	AllianceBernstein	$108,418	$52.12	5
   8	Barclays	$108,355	$52.09	4
   9	AstraZeneca	$108,322	$52.08	2
   10	Stanford University	$107,646	$51.75	9
   11	Fortinet	$107,108	$51.49	41
   12	Obsidian Entertainment	$105,390	$50.67	1
   13	Pfizer	$104,700	$50.34	13
   14	VanEck	$104,511	$50.25
   15	Trimark Associates	$104,342	$50.16
   16	Merck	$104,163	$50.08	2
   17	Marist School	$103,692	$49.85
   18	University of California	$103,548	$49.78	3
   19	Oaktree Capital Management	$103,193	$49.61
   20	AIG	$103,138	$49.59	3

4. Writing a programmer job description

   A programmer 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 programmer job description:

   Programmer job description example

   PURPOSE OF POSITION
   The machine programmer is responsible for creating machine programs utilizing machine programming software in a fast pace sheet metal manufacturing plant. Individual needs to be reliable, self-motivated and able to work independently and in a team environment.
   
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
   Use SolidWorks and AutoCAD files to produce CNC machine programs
   Optimize machine programs and nest for optimal time and material usage
   Assist in manufacturing process engineering projects for continuous improvement
   Adhere to programming schedule to support plant floor production and customer delivery dates
   Develop a firm understanding of various machine tools and processes including but not limited to lasers, plasmas, punch presses, press brakes, turret press, CNC machines,
   
   Additional Required Skills:
   Minimum 1 year of experience in a Production Machine Programming or related field
   Minimum 1 year of on-the-job experience using AutoCAD a plus
   Minimum 1 year of on-the-job experience using SolidWorks a plus
   Knowledge of various machine tools and manufacturing processes
   Ability to Read blueprints/drawings
   Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
   Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office
   Knowledge of and experience with lean manufacturing concepts
   Sheet Metal shop floor experience a plus
   Bilingual in Spanish a Plus
   
   Work Environment Physical Demands:
   While performing duties of this job, would occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel, talk and hear, and use fingers and hands to feel objects, tools, or controls.
   Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds * Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus
   Overtime may be necessary as workloads dictate.
   Job will generally be performed in an office environment, but shop floor training exposure to various equipment may be required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find programmers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with programmer 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.

   If your interviews with programmer 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 programmer

   Once you've found the 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new programmer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 programmer?