HTML5 Developers on Upwork cost $15–$30/hr.

How do you estimate a budget for how much it will cost to hire an HTML5 developer?

First step: Define what you want your developer to do

Before you can set a budget, you’ll need to understand your project requirements. If you already have an existing app, and are looking to add new features, update software, or migrate code to a new platform, chances are you already know what technologies and therefore what type of developers are required to get the job done. With a clearly defined project in hand, it’s time to build your budget—here are some important cost factors you may want to consider when determining the cost of your project.

Cost factor #1: project scope

If you already took the above advice and wrote your job description, good news: You’ve already tackled the first major cost factor by identifying the overall scope of your project. Defining the nature of the work that needs to be done is the first step towards establishing your project scope. There’s a big difference in scope between updating all the semantic elements from an older HTML specification for a small business’s landing page and hiring a full-time HTML5 developer to get your new enterprise app off the ground.

Time is the second piece of the puzzle you’ll have to consider when determining scope. It determines how you’ll handle milestone payments for each phase of development (if you’re dealing with fixed-price contracts), or the overall cost of a project if you’re paying hourly wages. The more accurately your job description describes the scope of your project, the easier it will be for developers to provide accurate cost estimates in their proposals.

Cost factor #2: experience

When it comes to experience, the same is true of HTML5 development as any other trade—you get what you pay for. Choosing the right level of expertise for the job has a lot to do with the scope of your project. Sometimes it can be more cost-effective to hire a less experienced freelancer at a lower rate, particularly if a job is time-consuming yet simple to perform.

It’s important to note that since HTML is not a programming language, most developers won’t necessarily call themselves “HTML5 developers” per say, since the term is kind of a misnomer. What you’re really looking for are Front-end developers who are familiar with the HTML5 specification. Moreover, there are probably other front-end skills you also need to consider when tackling any web project—things like frameworks, libraries, and other technologies that also impact your budget. You might initially set out to update the web presence for your business with a CMS like Joomla, but ultimately realize you need to allocate more funds to create the online enterprise-level service you wish to provide to your customers.

The following table breaks down the rates of the typical types of front-end developers you can find on Upwork.

Typical rates charged by front-end (HTML5) developers*

*Reflects rates charged by freelancers on Upwork in North America with over 1,000 hours and 90% success rate.

Tip: Since most front-end developers will probably list HTML5 as a skill, it is especially important you specifically state why you want an HTML5 developer and not just general front-end help.

Cost factor #3: location

Location plays a major role in the cost of a developer. Factors, such as the logistics of working with a remote team, or the advantages of using local developers who speak the language of a target market, should all factor into your budget.

While it’s true that rates charged vary by location, keep in mind that the expenses for services such as GitHub, or training programs offered by online course providers such as Lynda are uniform around the world. The real advantage to working with HTML5 developers on Upwork, is that you gain access to a talent pool that essentially spans across the globe.

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