How to hire a programming specialist

How to hire a programming specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step programming specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a programming specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a programming specialist, 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 programming specialist 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 programming specialist that fits the bill.

   This list presents programming specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Programming Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Programming Specialist	Training and development specialists plan, conduct, and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.	$16-41
   Development Coordinator	A development coordinator is responsible for planning various programs and events for an organization or company. They primarily focus on securing funding by holding fundraising events, devising programs to increase brand awareness, and even coming up with various campaigns supporting a cause... Show more	$17-35
   Regional Coordinator	A regional coordinator is a professional who is in charge of managing administrative tasks on the regional level. Regional coordinators manage the development and implementation of work procedures and processes and strategic problem solution... Show more	$15-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Customer Service
   • Veterans
   • Technical Assistance
   • Patients
   • Mental Health
   • PowerPoint
   • Community Resources
   • CPR
   • Data Collection
   • Rehabilitation
   • Professional Development
   • Program Policies
   • Autism

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop SQL queries and tools and use internally provide interface as see fit to accomplish a variety of form customizing tasks.
   • Recruit, manage and motivate volunteers in public education, professional education, service and rehabilitation and tobacco control programs.
   • Assist at CYS marketing table.
   • Train in youth restraints and de-escalation.
   • Certify CPR, certify to give CPR.
   • Perform as a backup to the Sr.

   More programming specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, programming specialists' average salary in alaska is 65% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level programming specialists 59% less than senior-level programming specialists.
   • Certifications. A programming specialist 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 programming specialist's salary.

   Average programming specialist salary

   $55,521yearly

   $26.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level programming specialist salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average programming specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$83,272	$40
   2	District of Columbia	$74,485	$36
   3	Maryland	$67,775	$33
   4	New York	$65,654	$32
   5	Virginia	$58,493	$28
   6	Massachusetts	$57,155	$27
   7	Illinois	$56,431	$27
   8	Washington	$56,191	$27
   9	Georgia	$55,167	$27
   10	Minnesota	$53,335	$26
   11	Pennsylvania	$52,543	$25
   12	Colorado	$52,267	$25
   13	Hawaii	$51,533	$25
   14	Texas	$50,959	$25
   15	Louisiana	$49,606	$24
   16	Ohio	$48,647	$23
   17	Missouri	$48,407	$23
   18	Arizona	$48,278	$23
   19	Oregon	$47,536	$23
   20	North Carolina	$46,682	$22

   Average programming specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$126,595	$60.86	4
   2	Google	$125,642	$60.40	6
   3	Apple	$124,375	$59.80	12
   4	Uber Technologies	$111,912	$53.80
   5	Atlassian	$111,198	$53.46
   6	Avid	$110,255	$53.01
   7	Novartis	$105,391	$50.67	13
   8	Cisco	$104,431	$50.21
   9	Amazon	$103,684	$49.85	55
   10	Tableau	$103,029	$49.53
   11	AARP	$101,851	$48.97
   12	Bloomberg	$100,011	$48.08
   13	Corning Incorporated	$99,609	$47.89	2
   14	Adobe	$99,447	$47.81
   15	Wabtec Corporation	$99,367	$47.77
   16	Keysight Technologies	$98,962	$47.58
   17	San Diego Gas & Electric	$98,135	$47.18
   18	NuVasive	$97,554	$46.90	1
   19	Lyft	$94,138	$45.26
   20	Autodesk	$93,921	$45.15	3

4. Writing a programming specialist job description

   A programming specialist 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 programming specialist job description:

   Programming specialist job description example

   Working with KinderCare Learning Companies means using your outstanding talents to help set the foundation for lifelong learners, where you can collaborate with colleagues, grow and learn, and positively impact the families we serve.
   
   With over 50 years of experience, 30,000 employees, and more than 2,000 early learning center programs, we are the most accredited leaders in early childhood education. Together, we create environments where kids grow and thrive. As one of only four companies to receive the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award six times, we're confident that you can grow and thrive here, too. We can't wait to meet you.
   
   If you're passionate about delivering high-quality educational programs to teachers, the Program Specialist role might be for you! Program Specialists play a special role in bringing our unique curriculum to life in our centers. As a Program Specialist, you'll develop and lead programs from implementation in our classrooms to ongoing enhancements meant to go above and beyond.
   When you join our team as a Program Specialist you will:
   Ensure our world-class curriculum is presented as intended and that teachers can speak to the curriculum and what children are learning Spend 75% of your time in the classroom, educating children and mentoring and modeling for teachers Partner with parents with a shared desire to provide the best care and education for their children Train, motivate and lead staff and assist center management with interviewing and hiring of teachers Support your center's success by partnering with center staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and operational objectives Qualifications
   
   Required Skills and Experience:
   Ability to build relationships with families and coworkers and create a dynamic environment where play and discovery go hand-in-hand Outstanding customer service skills Approved State Trainer (preferred) NAEYC/NAC, and state licensing knowledge (preferred) Meet state specific guidelines for the role Physically able to use a computer with basic proficiency, lift a minimum of 40 pounds, and work indoors or outdoors. Able to assume postures in low levels to allow physical and visual contact with children, see and hear well enough to keep children safe, and engage in physical activity with children. Read, write, understand, and speak English to communicate with children and their parents in English Our benefits meet you where you are. We're here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:
   Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits. Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!). Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs. Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones. ... and much more. When you work at a KinderCare Learning Center, each new day is an adventure. You will have the opportunity to directly impact our students and families, encouraging them to become lifelong learners and experiencing all the happiness that comes with it. You will deliver our high-quality proprietary curriculum and apply our time-tested educational techniques, while exploring new, forward-thinking ideas.
   
   As the first national early childcare education provider to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating from the International WELL Building Institute, we continue to follow the latest science-backed and evidence-based strategies for maintaining a safe and worry-free workplace.
   
   Our highest priority has always been to keep our employees, children, families, and communities as safe and healthy as possible. KinderCare highly encourages its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves and their communities. We are proud to provide paid time off for employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We are also subject to state law, local ordinances, and Health Department requirements for employees working in child care, school facilities, and corporate work spaces.
   
   We truly believe that everyone belongs in our circle, and everyone deserves to be celebrated for who they are. By partnering with underrepresented groups and experts in DEI, we are identifying areas to improve and forging a path forward through accountability, compassion, accessibility, and inclusion.
   
   KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right programming specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with programming specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit programming specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting programming specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 programming specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect programming specialist 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.

   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.

   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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How much does it cost to hire a programming specialist?