How to hire a web specialist

How to hire a web specialist, step by step

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

What does a web specialist do?

Post a web specialist job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your web specialist 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 web specialist 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 web specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, web specialists 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 web specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Web Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Web Specialist	Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site... Show more	$26-50
   Content Developer	A content developer is responsible for creating digital content, designing technical deliverables, and developing content strategies by analyzing current market trends to attract clients, driving more revenues, and increasing the company's profitability. Content developers also manage the distribution of the contents, following the clients' specifications or the business requirements... Show more	$24-48
   Web Design Internship	Web design internships involve student trainees who assist in managing the website of a company by creating content and implementing changes in the layout. These interns are required to collaborate with both graphic designers and developers in redesigning the corporate website... Show more	$14-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Marketing
   • WordPress
   • Google Analytics
   • JavaScript
   • Html Css
   • A/B
   • HTML
   • CSS
   • B Testing
   • Web Content
   • User Experience
   • Project Management
   • Web Analytics
   • Web Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a local Linux file server.
   • Design, maintain, and manage all company websites (HTML, JavaScript, CSS, PHP).
   • Manage YouTube channel using content generate from online promotions and contests.
   • Develop, manage and maintain multiple websites including fund-raising events and online registrations for intranet and Internet sites.
   • Implement page layouts, visual content, and graphical elements using CSS, JavaScript, HTML, and PHP.
   • Design, build and maintain websites, using PHP, JavaScript, HTML, content creation tools, management tools.

   More web specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, web specialists' average salary in georgia is 40% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level web specialists 47% less than senior-level web specialists.
   • Certifications. A web 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 web specialist's salary.

   Average web specialist salary

   $76,240yearly

   $36.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level web specialist salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average web specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$111,850	$54
   2	Idaho	$99,489	$48
   3	Washington	$93,885	$45
   4	New Jersey	$88,607	$43
   5	Oregon	$87,337	$42
   6	Maryland	$84,702	$41
   7	Massachusetts	$83,414	$40
   8	Ohio	$81,222	$39
   9	District of Columbia	$79,190	$38
   10	New York	$78,343	$38
   11	Wisconsin	$77,481	$37
   12	Alabama	$74,968	$36
   13	Kansas	$74,872	$36
   14	Arizona	$74,572	$36
   15	Pennsylvania	$74,411	$36
   16	Michigan	$72,813	$35
   17	Oklahoma	$72,480	$35
   18	North Carolina	$72,455	$35
   19	Illinois	$70,453	$34
   20	Texas	$68,883	$33

   Average web specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PlayStation	$122,874	$59.07
   2	Vista Equity Partners	$121,128	$58.23
   3	Adobe	$119,402	$57.40	2
   4	NetApp	$115,789	$55.67
   5	Cambium Learning Group	$112,976	$54.32
   6	Keysight Technologies	$110,253	$53.01
   7	Fisher Investments	$108,580	$52.20
   8	Advent Software	$105,742	$50.84
   9	Intralinks	$104,991	$50.48
   10	Motorola Solutions	$102,621	$49.34
   11	Jhpiego	$100,141	$48.14
   12	Accenture	$97,390	$46.82	8
   13	IBM	$95,574	$45.95	9
   14	B&H Photo Video	$91,554	$44.02	1
   15	Intergraph	$89,518	$43.04
   16	Airgas	$89,363	$42.96
   17	L3Harris	$88,238	$42.42	18
   18	The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Inc.	$85,794	$41.25
   19	KPIT Technologies	$83,984	$40.38
   20	Finsoft	$83,082	$39.94

4. Writing a web specialist job description

   A good web specialist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a web specialist job description:

   Web specialist job description example

   • 2+ years experience working with enterprise-class Content Management Systems (Sitecore preferred)
   • Comfortable working with cross-functional groups, including technical development teams (using Agile methodologies)
   • Experience with HTML/CSS for purposes of manipulating visual presentations and styles plus basic understanding JavaScript
   • Familiarity with workflow management tools such as JIRA
   • Familiarity with Bootstrap
   • Familiarity with design and mock up editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/XD or Figma

   Why Fisher Investments:

   At Fisher Investments, we work for a bigger purpose: bettering the investment universe. From unmatched service to unique perspectives on investing, it's the people that make the Fisher purpose possible. And we invest in them by offering exceptional benefits like:

   • 100% paid medical, dental and vision premiums for you and your qualifying dependents
   • A 50% 401(k) match, up to the IRS maximum
   • 20 days of PTO*, plus 9 paid holidays
   • 8 weeks paid Primary Caregiver Parental Leave
   • Back-up Child Care Program available, offering up to 10 days annually
   • A cumulative learning and development framework customized for every employee
   • An award-winning work environment - we're Great Place to Work Certified, and Top Workplace winners from The Oregonian

   We take great pride in our inclusive culture. We value the different perspectives and unique skills you bring to the team - it makes us all better. Success at Fisher Investments is motivated by results, a collaborative mindset and a commitment to accomplishing great things - so if you are ready to do that, we are ready for you! Apply today to be a part of a team environment where you make a difference in the lives of people by bettering the investment universe.

   *California employees accrue up to 17 days of PTO and 3 days of sick time per year.

   FISHER INVESTMENTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find web specialists 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 web specialist job on Zippia to find and attract quality web specialist candidates.
   • Use niche 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 web specialists, 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.

   If your interviews with web specialist 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 web specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect web 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new web specialist. 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 web specialist?