Quick answer: when hiring a WordPress developer, look for real live websites they built, clear communication, a fixed quote with a written scope, and a plan for what happens after launch. Expect to pay roughly $25 to $100 per hour for a freelancer, or $500 to $2,500 for a typical small business site.
I have been on both sides of this. I am a WordPress developer, and I have also been hired to rescue projects where the first developer disappeared halfway through. Most of those situations could have been avoided with a few good questions at the start. So here is what I would look for if I were hiring someone like me.
What a WordPress developer actually does
“WordPress developer” covers a lot of ground. Depending on your project, you may need someone who can:
- Build a site from a design, either with a custom theme or a page builder like Elementor
- Set up and customise plugins for bookings, memberships, forms or online payments
- Build a WooCommerce store with shipping and tax rules
- Fix errors, broken layouts or a site that got hacked
- Speed up a slow site and clean up technical SEO problems
- Move a site to a new host, or from Wix or Squarespace to WordPress
Some developers only code. Some only use page builders. Some, like me, also design. Know which of these you need before you start looking.
Freelancer or agency?
A freelance WordPress developer is usually the better fit for small and medium projects. You talk directly to the person doing the work, changes happen faster, and you are not paying for layers of management. An agency makes sense when you need a large team, strict deadlines across many people, or a very big budget project.
If you go freelance, make sure they have a backup plan for support. Ask what happens if something breaks while they are on holiday.
Seven questions to ask before you hire
- Can I see three live sites you built? Not screenshots. Live sites. Open them on your phone.
- Will I be able to edit the site myself? The right answer includes a walkthrough or video guide.
- Which theme or builder will you use, and why? A good developer explains the trade-off instead of using the same stack for everyone.
- Who owns the site and the logins? You should. The domain, hosting and admin account should be in your name.
- What exactly is included in the price? Pages, revisions, content upload, SEO basics, support after launch.
- How do you handle speed and security? Listen for caching, image optimisation, backups and updates.
- What happens after launch? One month of support is common. Ongoing maintenance should be optional, not forced.
Red flags
- They cannot show live work, only mockups
- They want the domain or hosting registered in their name
- No written scope, just “we will figure it out as we go”
- They install 40 plugins to do what 8 would do
- They go quiet for days during the sales conversation. It will not get better after you pay.
Fair prices for WordPress work
Hourly rates for WordPress developers vary a lot by experience and location. As a rough guide, many experienced freelancers charge between $25 and $100 per hour, and US-based agencies more. For small business websites I prefer fixed prices, because you know the total upfront and I carry the risk if something takes longer. You can see my fixed website prices here, and I wrote a separate guide on how much a website costs in general.
How to write a brief that gets good quotes
A good brief saves both of you time. Include:
- A two sentence description of your business and your customers
- The main goal of the site: calls, bookings, sales or credibility
- A list of pages and features
- Websites you like and what you like about them
- Your budget range and deadline
Developers take a clear brief more seriously, and the quotes you get back will be much easier to compare.
Hiring through Fiverr or Upwork
Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are a reasonable way to hire, especially the first time. Payments are held safely, milestones are clear and reviews are verified. I work there too, and many of my long term clients first hired me through one of them. Just apply the same questions above, because a high rating alone does not tell you whether someone is right for your project.
My honest advice
Hire the person who asks you the most questions about your business, not the one with the lowest price or the flashiest portfolio. The best WordPress sites are built by people who understand what the site is supposed to do for you.
If you would like to talk it through, send me a message with a short description of your project. You will get an honest answer, even if that answer is that you do not need a developer yet.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a WordPress developer?
Freelance WordPress developers usually charge $25 to $100 per hour depending on experience and location. Fixed price projects for a small business site commonly land between $500 and $2,500.
What does a WordPress developer do?
A WordPress developer builds and customises themes, installs and configures plugins, connects payments and forms, fixes errors, speeds up sites and keeps them secure and updated.
Where can I find a reliable WordPress developer?
Referrals are best, followed by platforms like Upwork and Fiverr where you can read verified reviews. Always ask to see live sites they built and speak to them before paying anything.
