Hiring guide · Technology
How to Hire a Software Developer
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring software developers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $135,980), recruit through community college IT programs and bootcamps, verify AWS Certified Developer – Associate where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for software developers
There are about 1,717,800 software developers employed in the U.S., with roughly 95,300 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +10.2% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $82,460–$105,210 | $39.64–$50.58 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $135,980 | $65.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,980 | $82.68 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $214,670 | $103.21 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript or Java
- Problem solving
Nice-to-haves
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
- Oracle Certified Professional: Java
- Experience with code editors such as VS Code or IntelliJ
Where to find software developers
- Community college IT programs and bootcamps
- Certification communities (CompTIA, Cisco, cloud providers)
- Portfolio and GitHub reviews
- Help desk promotion paths and IT apprenticeships
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Software Engineer, Application Developer, Programmer, Full-Stack Developer
Screening checklist
- A hands-on troubleshooting or technical exercise
- Certification verification (CompTIA, Cisco, cloud)
- Portfolio or code review
- Background check for roles with privileged access
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Walk me through a project you built.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain the problem, design and your role.
2. “How do you debug a problem?”
What a strong answer includes: Describe a systematic approach.
3. “Explain a data structure you use often.”
What a strong answer includes: Give a clear example.
4. “How do you handle code review feedback?”
What a strong answer includes: Show openness.
5. “How do you keep learning?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention projects, courses and reading.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Fix a Bug Systematically (see the steps)
- Open a Good Pull Request (see the steps)
- Write a Unit Test (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Source code, Git, Pull request
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Software Developer 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Software Developer training. Show them the path forward: Junior Developer → Software Developer → Senior Developer or Tech Lead → Architect or Engineering Manager.
Hiring software developers: FAQ
How much should I pay a software developer?
The U.S. median wage for software developers is $135,980 per year ($65.38/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($105,210), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($171,980). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a software developer have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for AWS Certified Developer – Associate and Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate where relevant, plus skills such as programming languages such as python, javascript or java, data structures and algorithms, and version control with git.
How long does it take to train a new software developer?
Becoming qualified typically takes 4 years or bootcamp plus portfolio. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”