Ruby Developers & Programmers on Upwork Cost $18–$40/hr.

The first step to determining the cost to hire a Ruby developer will be to define your needs. Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

Cost factor #1: project scope

Before you can even start the hiring process, you’ll need to define your project scope—what are you building, and how long is it going to take? Are you looking for a developer to set up the Rails back end of a shiny new SPA? Or do you require a full-fledged Ruby programmer to build your own DSL for a desktop graphical user interface (GUI)? Asking questions like these can help you identify the skills and level of experience you’ll want to look for in a potential developer.

Tip: The more accurately your job description describes the scope of your project, the easier it will be for talent to give you accurate cost estimates and proposals.

Cost factor #2: Ruby developer experience

Choosing the right level of expertise for the job is closely tied to how well you determined the scope of your project. You wouldn’t need an advanced Ruby developer to set up a simple website for your business. On the other hand, you’ll want to invest in a skilled Ruby programmer if your project involves developing embedded systems and firmware.

Beyond experience level, you need to consider the type of experience the talent possesses. The following table breaks down the rates of the typical types of Ruby developer you can find on Upwork.

Rates charged by Ruby developers on Upwork

Cost factor #3: location

Location is another variable that can impact a Ruby developer’s cost. It’s no secret that you can leverage differences in purchasing power between countries to gain savings on talent. But it’s also important to factor in hidden costs such as language barriers, time zones, and the logistics of managing a remote team. The real advantage to sourcing talent remotely on Upwork is the ability to scan a global talent pool for the best possible person for the job. Location is no longer an obstacle.

Cost factor #4: independent contractor vs. agency

The final variable regarding talent cost is hiring an independent contractor vs. an agency. An agency is often a “one size fits all” model, so you’ll often have access to a designer, a project manager, an engineer, and more. When hiring individuals you have total autonomy regarding who is responsible for which part of the project, but you’ll need to source each of those skills separately.

The trade-off between hiring individuals vs. hiring an agency is the level of administrative overhead you incur personally in coordinating tasks among all members of the team. Project scope and personal preference will determine which style is a better fit for your needs.