WordPress Development Rates Around the World

In the world of web development, a big question is always “what does it cost?”.

If you’re a WordPress developer, knowing the right price to pitch your services at is obviously essential – there’s a delicate balance between remaining competitive and earning enough to survive. And if you’re a business owner looking for a developer, you might be curious about what to expect when it comes to the cost of certain work.

For this reason, the simple answer of “it depends” doesn’t always cut it, but it can be difficult to keep on top of the latest developments and economic changes that impact the answer.

Here, we’ve drawn together sources from across the web to examine the real numbers behind WordPress development prices – looking at factors that affect them including freelance vs. agency pricing, pricing fluctuations around the world, and developer’s experience.

So, whether you’re a developer yourself, or just looking to hire one, our aim is to give you more of an insight into what to expect when it comes to the price of WordPress development in 2024.

Freelance Vs. Agency

There are some clear and obvious differences between hiring a freelance developer and seeking the help of an agency, and these understandably impact the price.

Developers from an established agency will be able to provide ongoing services for a fixed fee. This could include periodical website maintenance, plugin updates, feature additions, content marketing, and SEO.

However, with overheads and office rent to pay, you may find that agencies charge higher rates for this more comprehensive service. Exact figures are hard to find, and of course, rates will depend on the agency’s specific experience as well as location.

Hiring a freelancer can be a cost-effective alternative (and we’ll talk more about potential prices later on), but it may come with some drawbacks.

A developer who works for themselves will likely have a specialism and may only be able to complete work in one specific area, be it back-end maintenance or SEO services. This might mean that those looking for a freelancer will need multiple people to get the job done.

Choosing a freelancer also comes with a certain degree of instability – they may change their working hours unexpectedly, or even find full-time employment, leaving you without the means to complete essential tasks.

Home Vs. Abroad

Rates for WordPress development will also largely depend on where in the world you live. A job in America will cost you a vastly different amount for the same job in India. This is most clearly demonstrated when looking at the disparity in WordPress developer salaries around the world.

At the time of writing, job search website Indeed estimates that the average salary for a WordPress developer in the United States is $61,618 (USD) per year, but even this depends on where in the States you are. A WordPress developer in Newport Beach, for example, could earn $75,000 (USD) per year, 22% more than the national average for the same job.

Across the pond in the United Kingdom, the average salary for WordPress developers is £34,301 (GBP) – which at current exchange rates only equals around $38,000 (USD). This jumps to £45,520 (GBP) for developers in London, but this is still a relatively low figure when compared to the highest paid American counterparts.

Move out of the Western world, and the wage disparity becomes even more clear. In India, the average salary for a WordPress developer is ₹ 22,100 (INR) per month, which converts to just under $3800 (USD) per year.

So Why is This Important to Look At?

Well, in a previous era it perhaps wouldn’t have been – as work was mainly carried out domestically. Nowadays, however, globalisation means that your WordPress work could easily be carried out by anyone, regardless of geographical location.

Dedicated sites helping freelancers to connect with clients are more popular than ever. Websites such as UpWork and People Per Hour allow developers from all over the world to bid on the same jobs, and this means that the differences in wage expectation are hugely important.

Those where salary expectations and cost of living are lower will inevitably offer their services for much less, meaning they’re able to undercut the competition by quite a margin.

For example, when the question “what are the hourly rates paid to offshore developers in India?” was posed recently on the website Quora, the general consensus seems to be anywhere between $11-40 USD. This is in stark contrast to the US, where a freelancer could ask for as much as $41-$160 (USD) per hour.

Though it’s worth noting that $100+ is the very top end of the scale, and unlikely to be charged by your average web developer. Arc, a website dedicated to connecting seasoned developers with clients, estimates that the median hourly rate is between $60-81 (USD).

However, before opting to go with an “offshore” developer to save on costs, it is worth bearing in mind the pros and cons. Of course, you may get your work done right first time for much less, but if you don’t speak the same first language, you might run into language barriers that could slow the process down.

Experience Vs. Ingenuity

Another factor that impacts the price of WordPress development is the experience of the developer. It is perhaps only reasonable that someone who has been working in WordPress development since its inception in 2003 should earn more than someone who only has one or two years of experience in the field.

On the other hand, however, this doesn’t mean that those new to the game have any less to offer. There’s an old saying about looking at things with fresh eyes, and there’s a case to be made that newer, younger talent may actually be able to make moves in WordPress development that seasoned veterans wouldn’t.

Of course, if you’re a freelancer just getting started your prices should start low as you find your footing and start to build a reputation. However, if you’re a developer with a well-known reputation, make sure you’re staying competitive and not charging your customers over the odds for a service they could find elsewhere.

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Conclusion

To cut a long, complex story short, it is truly very difficult to generate a one-size-fits-all pricing solution when it comes to WordPress development. It’s up to individual developers or agencies to find a rate that fits their skillset and experience that satisfies both them and their customers.

If you’re a WordPress developer struggling to determine your hourly rate, try this awesome calculator by finder.com – its in-depth features will help you to figure out what you need to charge to make a profit – and check out our blog post full of tips on pricing and quotes.

 If you’re looking for a developer to take care of your WordPress needs, take the time to shop around and you’ll be sure to find a solution that suits your budget.

Once you have your WordPress site up and running, also check out CreativeMind’s collection of plugins. All plugins are fully optimized to work without overloading your WordPress site, adding unique features and helping to drive traffic.