Finding the best Drupal developers is no easy feat. The top Drupal developers are few and far between. Therefore, you’ll need to leverage trusted developer job posting sites, professional matching services, or freelance marketplaces to find the Drupal developers for hire.
As an open-source CMS framework written in the PHP programming language, it will be key to find a developer who can handle PHP as well.
Professional matching services are the best sites for companies seeking hire high-caliber talent in a short period of time. Premium services like Toptal can be expensive, however, especially for small companies and startups. That being said, services like Toptal, Gigster, and Gun.io are more than worth the investment. Remote Drupal developers found through these platforms are worth the splurge.
If affordability is more important to you, then you may want to investigate freelance marketplaces. People Per Hour, Freelancer, and Upwork and tremendously large freelance networks with members numbering in the millions. While quality and price are variable, great Drupal developers can be found through them. It will just take a great deal of time and patience on your company’s part.
Job boards can be your best friend if your company is especially strapped for cash or if you’re looking to bring on a full-time employee. Use developer boards like GitHub Jobs, Stack Overflow Jobs, and Authentic Jobs to find Drupal developer talent quickly.
Hiring a Freelance Drupal Developer
When you want to hire Drupal developers to create a customized website, you have several options. You can bring a full-time or part-time staff member into your organization. This requires a substantial investment of time and effort. It may also be unnecessary.
Hiring freelance Drupal developers is another solution that brings a lot of value to a business. This allows you to bring on talent for a specific project without committing valuable resources to hiring processes. Freelancers offer flexibility and make it simple to quickly scale a developer team for your project. Additionally, many freelance platforms provide access to global talent pools, allowing you to reach talent unavailable locally.
What Does a Drupal Developer Do?
Drupal developers build, customize, and manage websites using the Drupal framework. Drupal is an open-source content management system used by various entities, including businesses, government offices, and universities. It offers numerous benefits, but you need specialized knowledge to maximize them.
“For each type of organization and its associated website, skilled Drupal consultants can provide top-notch, tailored expertise, ensuring optimal strategy and utilization of Drupal’s many features.”
Drupal consists of a core system to which developers add modules. It is an excellent tool for building robust websites with multiple capabilities. A skilled Drupal developer can use these features to improve your site's performance and reliability. Developers can also take advantage of Drupal’s highly scalable and adaptable nature to create scalable digital solutions.
The best Drupal developers can customize Drupal modules to improve functionality and create scalable websites. They may also automate processes to improve efficiency. This ensures a pleasant user experience, which improves customer satisfaction.
Another key benefit of hiring a Drupal developer is enhanced website security. Experienced developers can integrate security features to reduce the risk of a data breach or similar attack. Examples include conducting regular security audits and applying updates and patches to the system.
To succeed in this role, a developer must be proficient in the Drupal CMS. They should also know PHP, which is the programming language Drupal is written in. Experience working with PHP, JavaScript, and CSS files will help a developer configure modules for customization.
Although many companies choose to hire Drupal developers to build a custom website, others may decide to contract with a developer for ongoing maintenance and updates. Keeping up with these tasks improves UX and security, helping you to maintain high customer satisfaction rates and boosting your brand image.
Why Hire Drupal Developers?
Drupal developers for hire create scalable custom websites for various entities. They have a unique set of skills that can help boost site performance and customer retention. Other developers may not have these skills, or they may be unfamiliar with the intricacies of Drupal modules.
A skilled freelance Drupal developer will work with other stakeholders, including designers, front-end developers, project managers, and SEO specialists, to build secure and customized digital solutions.
How To Hire Drupal Developers?
When exploring how to hire Drupal developers to help you expand your digital presence, you must first establish exactly what you need. This involves developing a solid plan that includes your goals and expectations for the position.
Using your goals, you can determine what skills are necessary to accomplish them. This will help guide you to find the best Drupal developer for your project needs.
There are several other things you must consider early in the hiring process. One of those is a project timeline. If you are looking to launch a new website within a specific timeframe, you must choose a hiring method that accommodates it.
Another key factor is your hiring budget. This will influence what developer you hire on multiple levels. For example, bringing a permanent employee onto your staff will have significantly higher costs than using a freelancer. Your compensation package also affects the level of Drupal developers for hire that you will attract.
Junior Drupal developers may be fresh out of school. They usually have a BS in computer science, software engineering, or a similar field and a good understanding of one or two programming languages. According to Developer Nation, junior developers are a good fit for well-defined tasks and troubleshooting simple issues.
The systems they design may be simpler and slightly less efficient than those of a more senior developer. Additionally, a junior freelance Drupal developer may lack the skills needed to fully optimize a website.
A senior Drupal developer has a more robust skill set, which is typically gained from five or more years of experience in the field. He is proficient in multiple programming languages and can easily craft modules to customize your site and make improve UX.
A major advantage of hiring more senior developers is that they typically work well with minimal oversight. This is crucial if you want a developer team that can quickly bring a website online without straining current resources. It is also a huge benefit when working with remote and distributed teams.
What Skills To Look for When Hiring Drupal Developers
As with any software developer position, Drupal developers for hire must have a robust set of technical skills. This includes a strong working knowledge of the Drupal framework, including its hook system and APIs. Additional skills required for the job include:
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Ability to create consistent styles across platforms
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Comfort with version control using Git or a similar service
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Experience with various languages, including HTML5/XHTML and CSS
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Knowledge of web standards and best practices
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Proficiency in PHP, JavaScript, and jQuery
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Understanding of MySQL and similar databases
According to Upwork, Drupal developers should also have an understanding of the best practices for developing digital assets with Drupal. This includes creating custom modules and integrating security features.
If you plan to hire freelance Drupal developers to perform routine maintenance and updates on your website, you should consider the skills necessary for that role. This includes a strong attention to detail to ensure that all changes function optimally and securely. They must also meet any regulatory requirements of your industry.
You also want to find a developer who fits well within your company culture in addition to having a robust set of Drupal developer skills. This may require soft skills such as the ability to work well individually and in teams and to plan and organize workloads. Project management skills and experience are huge assets in this area.
A skilled developer can communicate clearly with others. Communication is especially important for developers who will work within teams or who must collaborate with other stakeholders.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
|---|---|
| Familiarity with content management systems | Attention to detail |
| Ability to use basic debugging tools | Time management |
| Knowledge of the Software Development Cycle | Communication (written and oral) |
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Drupal Developers?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for web developers was $92,750 per year or $44.59 per hour in 2023. The job site Indeed provides an average base salary of $56.44 per hour for Drupal developers for hire.Factors such as location, experience, and skill level can significantly impact the cost of hiring Drupal developers. For example, developers in Richmond, CA, earn an average salary of $140,229, well above the national average of $111,938 reported by ZipRecruiter.
Tips for Writing a Drupal Developer Job Description
It is important to establish clear expectations when writing a job description to hire a Drupal developer. Lay out the responsibilities for the role, explaining if the project needs a front-end or back-end Drupal developer. This can help ensure you attract the most qualified talent.
Toptal suggests opening a Drupal job description with an overview of your company. This can help ensure candidates understand what you do and fit well within the company culture. From there, describe the position and why you are looking to fill it. Then you can go into the required skills, experience, and education.
You can also take steps toward achieving a diverse workforce beginning with your job description. A LinkedIn Gender Insights report explains that using gender-neutral language, focusing on objectives rather than qualifications, and following insights into who is applying can help attract more female applicants. Carry these and related practices through to your screening processes so they remain fair and unbiased.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Are Looking To Hire a Drupal Developer
The right interview questions can help you uncover the strengths and weaknesses of candidates. It is a good idea to aim for a mix of questions to assess both technical and soft skills.
What are the advantages of using Drupal?
Look for answers that highlight the flexibility, scalability, and customization optison of Drupal. Some developers might highlight the availability of themes and plug-ins.
Can you describe a project you worked on that used Drupal? What was your role?
This speaks directly to a candidate’s experience with the CMS. Look for answers that show an understanding of its features and how to apply them.
How do you ensure security within the Drupal CMS?
Web security is very important, and you want a developer that understands what steps to take and features to use to achieve it. Look for answers that demonstrate knowledge of Drupal security modules and best practices for implementing them.
Can you explain the difference between Drupal 8 and Drupal 9? How would you upgrade to the latter?
Drupal developers for hire should be proficient in the latest version of the CMS. However, knowledge of earlier versions can also be helpful. If you plan to upgrade between versions, you also want a developer who can seamlessly handle that transition.
How To Find Freelance Drupal Developers for Hire
Searching freelance marketplaces and job boards is a good way to find Drupal developers. This allows you to see the qualifications of each candidate before taking further action. Using freelance sites, you can quickly build a team, sometimes in as little as a few days. You also remove a lot of the time involved in traditional employee onboarding. These features make hiring freelance Drupal developers a flexible and affordable option for many companies.
If you prefer to take a more hands-off approach, you might find it helpful to use a recruiting agency or hire a full-service Drupal developer company. However, these options may carry a significant premium.
Some companies rely on professional networks and networking sites such as LinkedIn to find developers. This is a great way to get recommendations and honest opinions about specific professionals. Ultimately, you must choose a hiring strategy that fits your business needs.
Strategic hiring practices allow you to find Drupal developers who fit well with your company and have the skills necessary to support your projects. You can accomplish this by identifying your goals, crafting a compelling job description, conducting effective interviews, and leveraging the benefits of hiring platforms. This allows you to build successful teams that contribute to organizational growth.
Choosing the right site to hire the best Drupal Developers
Job boards, marketplaces, and professional matching services all have their uses. Which site will best serve you will depend on your specific situation.
Ultimately, which sites you employ depends on a multitude of factors, such as:
- How quickly you need to hire a developer (i.e. your timeline)
- How much experience you have hiring developers
- Whether or not you’re equipped to test technical skills
- How many developers you need to bring on
- What level of experience those developers need
- Whether or not you’re open to remote workers
- What your budget constraints are
- How important quality is to your project(s)
Hiring Drupal developers FAQs
- How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Drupal Developer?
The average pay for a Drupal developer in the U.S. is $107,603 per year or $52 per hour. Annual salaries range from $18,000 to $165,500, depending on skill levels, years of experience, and location. You can often save money by hiring a freelancer.
- Why Should You Hire a Drupal Developer?
To remain relevant, today’s businesses and organizations need a digital presence, including a customized website. Drupal is a content management framework for website development with many robust tools and features a large developer community for collaboration.
Many web developers prefer using Drupal because of the available themes, the ability to easily remove or add modules, its ability to handle high traffic, and its overall flexibility and functionality. Drupal developers can:
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Create custom modules
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Automate tests
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Deploy and maintain your website
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Enhance your brand
A skilled Drupal developer can create a reliable, secure, scalable, and customized site to increase your exposure and maximize your profits.
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- Where can I find freelance Drupal developers?
- Some of the best platforms to hire are:
- Toptal
- Drupal Jobs
- Drupal Geeks
- Gigster
- Upwork
See the complete list of sites to hire Drupal developers.
- How Do I Hire Drupal Developers?
If you choose the Drupal framework for your website, hiring an experienced Drupal developer to create, modify, or maintain your site makes sense. You’ll want someone with:
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Experience manipulating Drupal modules
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Fluency with PHP and other common programming languages
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Familiarity with server-side scripts
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Web development concept mastery
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Skills and availability that meet your needs
Depending on the nature and scope of your project, your budget, and your timeline, you may choose to hire one or more part-time, full-time, or freelance Drupal developers. You can find qualified candidates using top freelance marketplaces, developer job boards, or professional matching services.
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- Are Drupal Developers in Demand?
Drupal is one of the most popular content management systems worldwide, powering websites for government agencies, celebrities, educational facilities, and many top brands. Drupal developers expect a 23% growth rate for this high-demand profession by 2031.