Overview
The Hidden Brains blog titled “Cost To Hire PHP Developer: What You Should Know” provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the factors influencing the cost of hiring PHP developers in 2025. It outlines average hourly rates, ranging from $20 to $50+, and delves into variables such as developer expertise, project complexity, and geographic location that impact pricing. The article also highlights the advantages of PHP for web development, including its open-source nature and extensive community support. Additionally, it offers insights into effective hiring strategies and how Hidden Brains can assist businesses in finding the right PHP development talent.
How much does it cost to hire a PHP developer for a web development project?
As you have landed on this blog, that means you have already decided what exactly you want and have sorted out your business requirements.
If we estimate the average cost to hire a PHP developer, then the hourly cost will fall between $20* to $35* whereas in the US, Canada, or Europe the hourly cost will be around $50* to $100*.
Let’s watch the quick video to know “How Much Does It Cost to Hire a PHP Developer?”
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a PHP Developer?
Wondering why there is a huge gap between the pricing and why there is a surging demand for PHP developers globally?
Well a matter of fact PHP is a widely used and preferred programming language for enterprises and organizations for web app development solutions. According to the W3techs, 76.6% of websites using server-side languages have chosen PHP as their programming language.
If you are also looking to build a web app solution with PHP, then you need to hire a web developer.
With a huge market worldwide and catchy clickbait tricks, it could be overwhelming to find the best one. However, the best talent always wins. And we have solved all the queries related to PHP developers in this blog.
Let’s get started with the central question how much does it cost to hire PHP developers for web development?
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How Much Does It Cost To Hire a PHP Developer?
The cost of hiring PHP developers can vary significantly. Usually, the leading software development companies may vary between $20* – $50* for their web app development services. However, the hourly cost may differ from company to company and their expertise in handling PHP projects.
Moreover, as every business has different web development requirements, there is no standard application that fits all. In the same way, there is no fixed hourly cost for a PHP developer to handle all levels of app development requirements. Depending upon the project complexity, the hourly cost to hire PHP developer may go beyond $35* to $75*/hr.
While estimating the PHP developer’s cost, it’s important to note that these figures are not universal and can fluctuate based on factors such as the developer’s experience, expertise, and the specific requirements of the project.

- The PHP developers with high experience and extensive knowledge are expensive to hire.
- Web development projects with extensive customization and high complexity may be higher in cost.
- Software development companies working with enterprise-level projects may quote expensive hourly costs due to their higher-company standards.
Keep in mind that these are general estimates, and actual costs may vary based on the specific circumstances of your project and negotiations with the developers or development firms.
So, when you hire app developers, what parameters do you need to consider when calculating the actual cost of an app developer?
Let’s get into it!
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Hire a PHP developer and see the difference!Important Parameters That Affect The Hourly Cost Of PHP Developers
There are a number of guides that may trap you into their marketing scheme and the hourly cost of a PHP developer starts from $10* to $15*. However, let me tell you that calculating the PHP web development cost is not rocket science. When you know what exactly influences the hourly cost of app developers and what exactly your requirements are, then you can easily calculate the accurate cost of project development.
So let’s jump straight on the factors that majorly impact the hourly cost of the developers. By the end of this section, we will reveal a magic mantra of calculating the cost of app development.
Expertise in Technology
Hiring PHP developers with expertise in specific PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony or CMS like WordPress may ask for higher hourly prices. On the other hand, the entry-level PHP developer with basic knowledge of PHP coding may cost between $12* to $18*/hr.
Industry Experience
PHP programming language is widely used to develop various industry solutions. So if you are choosing to hire web developer with experience in developing web applications for ecommerce, healthcare, and financial services may charge a higher cost.
Geolocation of the Developer
The developer’s location can impact hourly rates. Developers in regions with a higher cost of living may charge more. However, there are certain countries that offer expertise at economical pricing too.

Contract Terms and Durations
The length and terms of the contract can influence the hourly rate. Short-term contracts or projects with uncertain timelines may result in a higher hourly rate.
Project Management Skills
Developers who possess strong project management skills and can take on additional responsibilities, such as coordinating with other team members, may charge higher rates. However, hiring an app developer with excellent management skills will be a worthy decision as they can overall able to maintain the quality of the project and make the entire process seamless.
Responsiveness and Availability
Developers who can provide quick responses, meet tight deadlines, and are available for urgent issues may charge higher hourly rates.
Coding Standards and Best Practices
Developers who adhere to coding standards, follow best practices, and write maintainable code may charge more for their attention to quality.
Once you closely evaluate each factor, simply you need to implement the below formula to calculate the overall PHP web development cost.

Image Source: successive.tech
Why Do Entrepreneurs Prefer Using PHP For Web Development?
Entrepreneurs and startups opt for PHP web development due to a combination of reasons. It’s a win-win for business and developers, from high scalability and flexibility to cross-platform compatibility, PHP is the go-to choice for many.
Let’s dig more and know the reasons why PHP is still alive and has dominance in the market.
- Open Source and Cost-effective:
PHP is freely available for use which makes it an attractive option, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Wide Community Support
PHP has a vast and active community of developers. According to Statista, 18.58% of developers are using PHP which is approx 6.1 million developers in 2023.

Image Source: zippier
- Rich Feature Set and Functionality
Being one of the mature programming languages, PHP offers a rich set of features and functionalities, making it suitable for a wide range of web development tasks. Hence, this is why enterprises love to opt for PHP.
- Compatibility with Front-end Technologies
PHP can seamlessly integrate with various front-end technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This allows businesses to create dynamic and interactive user interfaces.
- Widespread Industry Adoption
Many leading applications and websites have been built using PHP. From WordPress to Facebook, Wikipedia to Slack, various tech giants have put trust in PHP.
So these are the major reasons why PHP still deserves to be in high demand. But the big question that arises here is why enterprises should hire PHP programmers.
| PHP Project Type | Engagement Model | Quality & Skills Needed | How to Hire (Platform/Company)n |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Scale Web Apps | Dedicated Team, Full-Time | Senior PHP devs, code reviews, CI/CD, security, scalable architecture | PHP-focused software companies, premium talent networks, managed teams |
| API Development | Project-Based, Full-Time | REST/GraphQL, documentation, testing, integration experience | API-specialized agencies, Laravel/Symfony experts, Toptal, Arc.dev |
| Maintenance & Support | Part-Time, Full-Time | Debugging, patching, upgrades, monitoring, legacy PHP familiarity | Freelance platforms (Upwork, Freelancer), maintenance-focused agencies |
| Legacy System Modernization | Project-Based, Full-Time | Migration, refactoring, testing, experience with older PHP versions | Agencies with legacy PHP expertise, specialized consultants, |
| Legacy System Modernization | Project-Based, Full-Time | Migration, refactoring, testing, experience with older PHP versions | Agencies with legacy PHP expertise, specialized consultants, |
| E-commerce Platforms | Dedicated Team, Full-Time | Payment integration, security, performance, UX, PHP frameworks like Magento, Laravel | E-commerce PHP agencies, managed teams, full-time hires |
| SaaS Platforms | Dedicated Team, Full-Time | Multi-tenancy, scalability, API, ongoing support, DevOps | SaaS-specialized companies, vetted networks |
| CRUD/Backoffice Apps | Project-Based, Part-Time | Rapid delivery, modular code, and maintainability | Freelancers, small agencies, Upwork, Freelancer |
| Microservices | Project-Based, Full-Time | Lightweight frameworks (Lumen, Slim), containerization, API design | Microservices agencies, Laravel/Slim experts |
| Custom CMS/Blog | Project-Based, Part-Time | Extensible code, SEO, security, and plugin development | Software development agencies |
| Ongoing Feature Development | Full-Time, Dedicated Team | Agile, regular releases, code reviews | Long-term contracts with agencies, direct full-time hires, and managed teams |
| Testing/QA Automation | Part-Time, Project-Based | PHPUnit, CI/CD, test coverage, automation | QA-focused agencies, a Software development company |
| DevOps/Deployment | Project-Based, Full-Time | CI/CD, Docker, cloud deployment, server management | DevOps agencies, part-time dev, DevOps engineers |
- Part-time: Ideal for ongoing maintenance, updates, or small feature additions.
- Full-time: Best for continuous development, complex integrations, or when you need consistent availability.
- Project-based: Suited for well-defined tasks (e.g., a new API, migration, or a specific feature).
- Dedicated Team: Recommended for high-scale, long-term, or mission-critical projects where you need a cohesive, managed group of developers.
Part-time developer – Hire part part-time developer for ongoing maintenance, updates, or small feature additions.
Full-time developer – Full-time work is best when you are looking for continuous development, complex integration, or need a dev at your side.
Project-based – This model is well-suited for pre-defined projects or tasks. For example, a new API, migration, or addition of a specific feature.
Dedicated Team – It’s recommended for complex projects, high-scale development, and mission-critical apps where you need a collective approach and a group of developers.
Which are the Preferred Options to Hire PHP Developers?
There are multiple options available throughout the market. From freelancers to hourly basis to wages, you can hire PHP developers as per your choice and goals. Enterprises having highly complex project goals prefer full-time, while small-scale ups go for part-time.
Let’s decode and understand which is a perfect-fit model for you.
How To Hire The Best PHP Developers?
To make the right choice of hiring a PHP developer, you need to make a list of parameters that enable you to narrow down your options.
Here are the few most important parameters that you need to consider while hiring PHP developers:
- Experience in PHP coding and handling industry-specific projects.
- Knowledge and expertise in leading PHP frameworks.
- A diverse portfolio of app developers.
- Evaluate the balance between project quality and hourly pricing.
- Capability of handling project complexities.
- Consider the track record of project delivery and client satisfaction.
- Singing NDA and other security measures to protect intellectual property.
- Strong communication skills and proficiency in the English language.
- Flexibility to work at different time zones.
- Availability of team and reporting project progress status.
With the help of these parameters, you can easily shortlist the best PHP coders for your web development project.
FAQs
What factors influence the cost of hiring PHP developers?
The major factors that influence the hourly cost of hiring a PHP developer include:
– The level of expertise and experience of the PHP developer.
– The complexity and scale of the web development project.
– Geographic location of the PHP developer, as rates vary globally.
– The specific skill set required for the project.
What is the average hourly rate for PHP developers?
The average hourly rate for PHP developers can range from $20* to $50*+, depending on factors like location, experience, and project requirements.
What are the common engagement models for hiring PHP developers?
When you hire a PHP developer, leading software development companies like Hidden Brains can offer flexibility to hire PHP developers at hourly rates, fixed-price contracts, and dedicated teams. The choice depends on the project’s complexity, scope, and your preferred work.
How can I ensure the quality of work when hiring PHP developers?
Here are a few tips to achieve quality of work from a PHP developer:
– Check the developer’s portfolio and previous work.
– Conduct technical interviews to assess their skills.
– Ask for references and client testimonials.
– Start with a small project to evaluate their performance.
Conclusion
Hopefully, with this blog guide, you have gained insights into the average cost of hiring a PHP developer. With these price calculations and estimations, you can get an idea of how much exactly it will cost you to hire web developers.
However, before you take these estimations as a final figure, it is worth understanding that every business is unique, so their requirements are. So whether you are starting a web development project from scratch or need to upgrade it to the latest version of PHP, it is worth hiring a developer.
Hidden Brains is one such leading software development company that thrives to deliver unmatched quality solutions to all sizes of clients. Instead of just picking a one-fit-to-all app development strategy, they conduct a discussion with clients, evaluate their requirements, build a plan, and then appoint the team.
If you are all set to kickstart your PHP web development project and have more queries, then contact us now!



































































































