How to hire an senior php developer

How to hire an senior php developer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior php developer hiring guide:

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

What does an senior php developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior php developer 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 an senior php developer 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

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

   Type of Senior PHP Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior PHP Developer	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$39-68
   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
   Lead Software Developer	A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface... Show more	$41-72

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • JavaScript
   • CSS
   • GIT
   • Front-End
   • WordPress
   • JQuery
   • Html Css
   • Python
   • Lamp
   • Laravel
   • Linux
   • AWS
   • JSON
   • Object Oriented Programming

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage deployment of the project in Linux base active-active load balance cluster server.
   • Manage multiple web and database servers in multiple locations to ensure constant availability, functionality, synchronization and security.
   • Develop user interface using HTML, XHTML, CSS, JSON and JavaScript to simplify the complexities of the application.
   • Create UI prototype with website structure, layouts, modules using CSS3, HTML for client acceptance.
   • Implement git base version control for migration.
   • Design and develop a framework that auto-generates CSS3 and HTML5 page.

   More senior php developer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior php developer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An senior php developer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior php developers' average salary in louisiana is 36% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior php developers earn 42% less than senior-level senior php developers.
   • Certifications. An senior php developer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an senior php developer's salary.

   Average senior php developer salary

   $109,614yearly

   $52.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior php developer salary

   $83,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average senior php developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$144,300	$69
   2	Washington	$134,255	$65
   3	New Jersey	$121,166	$58
   4	New York	$120,035	$58
   5	Maryland	$113,711	$55
   6	District of Columbia	$113,013	$54
   7	Pennsylvania	$111,602	$54
   8	Texas	$108,176	$52
   9	Virginia	$107,640	$52
   10	Colorado	$103,478	$50
   11	Georgia	$102,577	$49
   12	North Carolina	$100,779	$48
   13	Florida	$100,241	$48
   14	South Carolina	$99,584	$48
   15	Illinois	$98,831	$48
   16	Tennessee	$98,720	$47
   17	Oklahoma	$97,958	$47
   18	Massachusetts	$96,203	$46

   Average senior php developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chegg	$134,387	$64.61
   2	Solera	$119,381	$57.39	8
   3	Barchart	$118,225	$56.84
   4	KIXEYE	$115,717	$55.63
   5	Strategic Employment Partners	$113,214	$54.43	7
   6	The Motley Fool	$111,331	$53.52
   7	CyberCoders	$111,006	$53.37
   8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$110,164	$52.96	65
   9	TechDigital	$109,210	$52.50
   10	Multiview	$108,290	$52.06
   11	Kforce	$107,471	$51.67	111
   12	Infoway software	$107,258	$51.57	2
   13	The Blackstone	$106,914	$51.40	8
   14	Motion Recruitment	$106,860	$51.38	24
   15	Quadratec	$106,411	$51.16
   16	Camden Kelly	$105,621	$50.78
   17	CPS	$105,256	$50.60
   18	Omega Realty	$105,256	$50.60
   19	Material Bank	$105,252	$50.60
   20	Gazillion Entertainment	$104,905	$50.44

4. Writing an senior php developer job description

   A job description for an senior php 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 an senior php developer job description:

   Senior php developer job description example

   We an excellent opportunity for a Senior Drupal/PHP Developer who must be good in Drupal 8, PHP 7, C#, Acquia cloud Site or AWS, HTML 5 . The candidate must have been working on custom modules, Configurations, Deployment, and maintenance of large public Drupal sites.

   Preferred on-site in Austin, Dallas, TX; Open for Remote 100%

   Duration:0-12 month(s)

   10 years in comparable position

   Description

   Will participate in the design and implementation of web applications using cutting-edge web technologies and will also participate in various software engineering projects using advanced development patterns and component-based architecture.

   Will actively collaborate with the team in ongoing product development, including design, development, review, integration, test, and deployment activities.

   Must have the ability to be self-directed and able to work with an extended, remote team to deliver products in a timely manner.

   Must be comfortable in a fast-paced development environment that continually embraces the latest technologies and techniques.

   Familiarity with C#, .NET framework, ASP.NET development, jQuery, JavaScript and JavaScript libraries is required.

   Knowledge of Agile/Scrum development, experience with a software development IDE such as Visual Studio is preferred but not required.

   Must have strong interpersonal, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.

   Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.

   Experience and demonstrate proficiency in web-based development.

   Advanced proficiency in Drupal 8/PHP development, including experience working on custom modules, Configurations, Deployment, and maintenance of large public Drupal sites .

   Proficiency in PHP7, C#, HTML5/CSS3, JavaScript

   Familiarity with enterprise-scale Web Content Management Systems (CMS).

   Familiarity with Acquia Cloud Site Factory (ACSF) and AWS cloud platforms.

   Experience working on Docker and DevOps tools like Git, Bitbucket, Jenkins, SonarQube etc.

   Experience working on Application Security and Static code analysis tools like Veracode.

   Experience on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools and techniques.

   Familiarity with web services technologies (esp. JSON, REST, XML, etc.)

   You are self-directed and interact with technology and business partners at all levels.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior php developers 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 senior php developer job on Zippia to find and recruit senior php 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

   During your first interview to recruit senior php 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with an senior php developer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and 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 senior php developer

   Once you've selected the best senior php 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new senior php developer. 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 an senior php developer?