Guide on How to Hire PHP Developers in 2024

What is PHP?

PHP is an open-source, server-side programming language. It serves as a versatile tool for various programming tasks and can seamlessly integrate with HTML. One of its primary advantages is its simplicity, making it easy for beginners to learn while also offering robust advanced features that PHP developers can leverage.

Dutch-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf created PHP in 1993, although it’s now developed by the PHP Group. The PHP acronym originally meant Personal Home Page, although it’s now also known by the recursive acronym PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor.

A huge number of household name websites use PHP, including Facebook, WordPress, Etsy, BBC, Ikea, Kaspersky, The Guardian, TinyURL, and Survey Monkey.

What Does a PHP Developer Do?

PHP is a server-side, back-end-focused programming language. A PHP developer makes applications, programs, and websites with the PHP programming language. We can also describe a PHP programmer for hire as a web developer, as the skills involve crossover with other forms of website development.

Role of a PHP developer

The role of a PHP developer varies from company to company, but key tasks include:

• Writing, testing, and troubleshooting code for websites, programs, and applications
• Maintenance of code for the above
• Establishing criteria and problem-solving strategies for implementing future content
• Integrating plugins for frameworks
• Integrating content from front-end developers

Why Hire PHP Developers?

The advantages of using PHP include:

PHP is fast

Software built using PHP loads rapidly due to its ability to operate within its own memory space, facilitating efficient performance.

It is feasible and versatile

PHP can be used for a wide range of software content and is feasible to run on any default server. 

Database connectivity

One of PHP’s greatest strengths is its broad database connectivity. It can connect with multiple database servers, such as the free and open-source MySQL, which is the most common database system used by PHP web programmers.

Cost-effective execution

Under the open-source model, PHP and its associated tools provide businesses with agility and cost efficiency in their operations. This approach enables companies to reduce expenses related to software licensing and customize functionalities to suit their specific needs rather than being constrained by pre-packaged solutions from software vendors.

High-supply

There is a wide and deep pool of highly skilled talent to draw on when you hire PHP programmers.

Object-oriented nature

From release 5.0 onward PHP has supported object-oriented development. Object-oriented development is efficient, making troubleshooting, code reuse, and flexibility easier.

The Main Skills of a PHP Developer

There are two skill sets you need to consider when you hire a PHP programmer: Hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills refer to technical abilities that software developers have, while soft skills refer to a person’s interpersonal skills.

It goes without saying that hard skills need to be considered when looking at PHP developers for hire. However, soft skills are also important. To hire a PHP developer who can get the job done, you need to get an all-rounder who has a handle on both types of skills.

We’ll go over important hard skills and then soft skills to help you hire the best PHP professional for your business needs.

1. A clear understanding of PHP frameworks

PHP frameworks enable you to build programs without excessive amounts of code writing, so understanding them is important to efficiency. For example: Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony, CakePHP, etc.

2. Hands-on experience with SQL/MySQL databases

Experience with MySQL is crucial, as it is widely regarded as a fast and secure database system, commonly used in PHP environments. Familiarity with MySQL enhances the capabilities of PHP professionals.

3. Understanding of HTML and CSS

Understanding HTML and CSS is important for developers as PHP controls the HTML and CSS that’s sent to the browser.

4. Understanding JavaScript

Having knowledge of JavaScript is beneficial for developers, as it allows them to integrate PHP and JavaScript functions to create dynamic web page content, enhancing the overall functionality of web applications.

5. High proficiency in control systems (SVN/Git)

Understanding how to use version control tools such as SVN and Git is integral to software creation.

6. Working knowledge of CMS like Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress

Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress are among the popular content management systems that rely on PHP as their underlying technology, making proficiency in these platforms essential for PHP developers.

Soft skills of a PHP developer

Key skills to look for include:

• The willingness to put the team first
• Fluent English ability
• Effective communication skills
• Excellent time management
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Accountability and the willingness to take on constructive feedback

These and other soft skills can be assessed during the interview process. If you use a vendor to find PHP developers, then they will also be able to vet team members to ensure they have the full suite of required soft skills.

Where to Find PHP Developers

There is a huge talent pool to draw from when you want to find a PHP developer. There are so many choices that it can actually be a bit daunting. Let’s break down the options for finding PHP programmers for hire. We’ll look at how to use each method and consider the pros and cons of each.

The options are:

• Freelance marketplaces
• Job networks
• Talen tech recruiting companies
• IT staff augmentation services

Freelance marketplaces

Freelance marketplaces such as LinkedIn, Upwork, and Fiverr all have substantial amounts of freelance talent on hand.

The advantage of using marketplaces is the wide range of workers and potentially cheaper rates.

However, the disadvantages include a lack of vetting, which can lead to quality control issues, and the time involved with sorting through and assessing the various freelancers that apply.

Furthermore, freelance developers have the flexibility to terminate their involvement in the task at any juncture, leading to the need to find replacements and restart the hiring process.

Job networks

Job networks are sites like Indeed and Monster that act like traditional job boards. The advantage of such sites is the ability to be seen by many people.

However, the disadvantages include having to do the process of vetting and interviewing a large range of candidates and also the fact that many workers on such sites are looking for full-time roles with all the associated benefits.

After all, time is money. If all you want to do is get the right PHP coder for hire and get them on the job quickly, there are more efficient ways to do it.

Talent Tech Recruiting Companies

Talent tech recruiting companies specialize in sourcing and connecting businesses with top-tier PHP developers. These firms leverage advanced technology and industry expertise to streamline the hiring process, ensuring that you have access to the best talent pool available. By partnering with a reputable tech recruiting company, you can gain a competitive edge in securing skilled PHP developers for your business needs.

Tech recruiting companies possess extensive networks of skilled professionals, including seasoned PHP developers, enabling businesses to access top-tier talent that might be challenging to find through alternative channels.

By leveraging recruitment processes handled by experts, businesses conserve time and resources that would otherwise be allocated to sourcing, screening, and vetting candidates.

However, engaging with talent through tech recruiting companies often incurs fees or commissions, thereby increasing the overall recruitment costs for businesses.

IT Staff Augmentation Services

IT staff augmentation services offer businesses a strategic approach to enhancing their teams with PHP developers.

These services provide businesses with access to a wide range of skilled PHP developers with diverse expertise and experience levels.

One of the key advantages is the flexibility they offer in scaling your team according to business demands. Whether you need additional developers for short-term or long-term engagements, these services can accommodate your staffing needs with ease.

Engaging PHP developers can often be more cost-effective than traditional hiring methods. Businesses can avoid overhead costs associated with full-time employment, such as salaries, benefits, and training expenses, while still accessing top-tier talent.

However, it’s essential to consider some potential challenges as managing remote PHP developers can present communication and coordination challenges, especially if they are located in different time zones or cultural backgrounds.

Moreover, ensuring the quality and reliability of PHP developers hired through IT staff augmentation services requires robust screening and vetting processes. Businesses must partner with reputable service providers that prioritize quality assurance and performance monitoring.

PHP developers salary: How much does it cost to hire a PHP developer?

The cost to hire a PHP coder varies according to skill set, hiring method, and location. Below, you can see the cost of hiring a PHP coder. The cost of hiring a PHP coder varies according to skill set, the method of hiring, and location. Below you can see the cost to hire a PHP developer as a freelancer in North America as reported by Upwork.

ZipRecruiter reports that the national average cost of hiring a PHP developer on salary in the United States is $52 an hour. The company also reports that the annual income for a PHP coder ranges from $29,500 to $147,000. Thus, we can see an average PHP coder in a salaried position earning almost as much as a full-stack specialist in a freelancing position.

Engaging PHP coders from northeastern Europe can lead to cost savings in your talent acquisition efforts. For example, Lithuanian PHP programmers offer hourly rates ranging from $39 to $49.

10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a PHP Developer

Here are ten questions and answers that you can ask when filling PHP developer jobs. These questions can help ensure you’re getting the right person.

1. What are Traits?

Traits are a powerful feature that enables you to make reusable code in PHP and other languages that do not support multiple inheritance.

2. What are the three main error types for PHP?

The three main error types for PHP are Notices, Warnings, and Fatal. Notices are non-critical errors, warnings are more severe but enable the script to continue to run, while Fatal terminates the script.

3. What are getters and setters and why do they matter?

Getters and setters are ways to obtain or declare value variables. They matter because they enable a central location to deal with data before returning it to the developer or declaring it.

4. What experience do you have with LAMP?

LAMP is a combination of software programs that work together to provide a platform for hosting web-based applications. It stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Asking about a candidate’s experience with LAMP can help you understand their proficiency in building and maintaining web applications.

5. How do PHP and HTML interact?

PHP can generate HTML, and information can be transferred from HTML to PHP.

6. How are PHP and JavaScript able to interact?

PHP can exchange variables with JavaScript as the former can generate JavaScript code to be executed in the browser.

7. What is PEAR?

PEAR stands for PHP Extension and Application Repository. It’s a framework for reusable components.

8. How do static and dynamic websites differ?

In a static website, content can’t be altered once the script has run. In a dynamic website script content can be altered at the runtime.

9. How do sessions and cookies differ?

Sessions store a value on a server, while cookies store a value in the user’s browser.

10. Is PHP case-sensitive?

PHP is partially case-sensitive. The names of variables are case-sensitive, but function names are not.

What Should You Know Before Hiring a PHP Developer?

There are four key things to remember when you want to fill a PHP developer job. They are:

• The developer’s role is crucial
• The hiring model should be predetermined
• Communication is vital
• Adaptability = better outcomes

The developer’s role is crucial

There are several steps to go through when you hire PHP web app developers. Once you’ve evaluated the hard and soft skills of a developer, the next key step is to assess the developer’s past experience. Their portfolio will give you insight as to how well the developer’s skill set translates into concrete results.

The hiring model should be predetermined

Choose a hiring model that aligns with your business’s needs and budget. Options include full-time employment, part-time engagement, freelance contracts, or utilizing IT staff augmentation services. Each model has its pros and cons, so it’s crucial to assess which option best suits your business requirements.

Communication is vital

To foster smooth communication, ensure the following:

• There is a means for seamless communication with your developers
• Your requirements are clearly communicated
• There is a clear feedback cycle for the work being done

Adaptability = better outcomes

It’s important to engage developers who are adaptable to unexpected circumstances. You may need to implement new features or change your approach during the project, and you’ll want a developer who can roll with this and approach the problems creatively.