Why are billion-dollar companies like Meta and Airbnb ditching other frameworks for React.js?
It’s simple—React has become the go-to tool in front-end web development and is changing how we build dynamic web apps. These companies aren’t just following a trend. They’re benefitting from a framework that’s easy to test and supported by a vibrant community.
So, you’re probably ready to hire a React developer, right? But first, you need the answer to an important question.
How much does it actually cost to bring a React expert on board?
The price tag isn’t set in stone. You could be looking at anywhere between $25 to $180 per hour. This cost depends on the developer's expertise, location, and the type of project you need them for.
Nowadays, geographical boundaries don’t limit your ability to hire top React talent. That’s why it’s crucial to understand how average hourly rates differ globally.
In this section, you’ll find the hourly rates of React developers from various regions. All figures have been converted into US dollars for easy comparison.
In the U.S., tech jobs are booming, but there's a huge talent gap—around 2.5 million positions are still up for grabs. This makes hiring top developers from there pretty expensive.
Glassdoor says a React developer in the States usually pulls in about $105,000 annually.
Here’s a quick look at the average hourly rate for React developers in the U.S.
Canada’s in a similar boat regarding tech talent—plenty of demand but not enough local talent to go around. They’re always on the lookout for skilled immigrants and have several government programs to help bring in offshore talent.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for an in-house React developer in Canada is around $95K. Not too shabby, right?
Here’s a breakdown of the hourly React developer's rate in Canada.
Latin America, led by countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, has quickly become a hotspot for IT outsourcing.
Even though the tech industry is still growing in these regions, they’re already home to talented React developers. Their rates are a lot more budget-friendly than what you'd find in the U.S. or Canada.
In Brazil for example, a React developer can earn around $25-30K a year. With the lower cost of living there, hiring engineers from places like Brazil can drastically reduce costs.
Here is a breakdown of the hourly React developer rates in Latin America:
Western Europe is a hub of tech innovation, with countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Austria leading the charge. But the high cost of living in these countries means that hiring React.js developers here can be pretty pricey.
The UK and France often have higher hourly rates for tech talent than even the USA. So, if you’re looking to hire from these regions, be prepared for a potentially bigger hit to your budget.
Here’s a breakdown of what Western European React developers might cost you.
Want to hire React developers without blowing your budget? Eastern Europe is where you should be looking. Countries like Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, and Estonia are packed with top-notch software engineering talent.
Developers in this region are more affordable with a strong level of expertise. This perfect blend of quality and cost-effectiveness makes Eastern Europe an ideal choice for hiring.
Here’s a breakdown of their hourly rates.
Asia is home to some of the best software engineers you could find. India and China even rank among the world’s top five countries for IT outsourcing.
With over 30 years of growth, India’s tech industry is one of the most mature and innovative markets out there. The winning mix of quality, affordability, and a vast talent pool has made India a top choice for outsourcing.
Let’s look at hourly rates in this region:
China doesn’t have the same long track record in software outsourcing as India. But it’s catching up fast! With a huge pool of tech talent at super affordable rates, China has really found its spot in the tech world and is becoming a go-to choice for outsourcing.
The African tech scene is still growing, but it’s got plenty of potential. Due to the lower cost of living, you’ll find developer rates that are pretty budget-friendly. Just keep in mind that finding experienced pros might take a little more effort since the market is still maturing.
That’s where a developer-matching agency like ReactSquad can be a real time-saver.
Australia and New Zealand also come with higher price tags for tech talent, like the USA and Canada. Hiring React.js developers in these regions can get pretty pricey, thanks to the higher cost of living.
To find the right React developer for your project first decide a few things:
But you might be wondering how these factors actually impact the cost of hiring a dev.
Time to find out.
Every project is different in size and scale, which plays a big role in what you’ll need.
You wouldn’t want to hand a huge project to a beginner React developer, right? The bigger the project, the more experience you’ll need on your team.
And let’s not forget—bigger projects usually come with more steps to get things done.
So, the size of your project doesn’t just impact the cost. It also shapes how you approach hiring. It helps you figure out the expertise you need, how much time to set aside, and even your product roadmap.
Features are your app's core, and your choice can affect how much you’ll spend on development.
You don't need a superstar developer for simple features like logging in, chatting, basic search, push notifications, or wish lists. These are pretty standard features, and most developers can handle them with ease.
When you get into more complex features, things get a bit trickier. Think real-time collaboration tools, AI-driven recommendations, or integrating with multiple third-party APIs. For instance, if your idea is a real-time stock trading platform, you'll need a solid team of developers. They should be experts in real-time data processing, security protocols, and complex algorithms.
So, generally, as your feature list gets more complex, the cost of hiring remote React developers could increase.
Every project has unique needs, and hiring React developers is no exception. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look for:
The dev should be comfortable with open-source libraries like Lodash, Moment.js, or Axios., and similar tools.
They should also have practical experience with React tools like Babel, ESLint, and Enzyme.
If you're aiming higher, seek out a full-stack developer with experience in containerization and orchestration tools. A big advantage is familiarity with technologies like Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, and Terraform.
You'll also want them to be skilled in working with various databases—consider SQLite, Cassandra, MariaDB, and Firebase. If they’re knowledgeable in other JavaScript frameworks like Vue.js and Express.js, all the better.
Your team's skill level, expertise, and size can really affect how much you’ll spend on hiring React JS developers. As your project gets more complex, you might need a larger team, which can bump up the overall cost.
The cost of hiring a React developer can depend on the length of your project. If you’re working with a tight deadline or a longer project, expenses can rise because more hours are needed to get the job done. Since costs are usually based on an hourly rate, the more hours worked, the higher the overall cost.
While the traditional in-house hiring model is still common, it has its drawbacks—like high costs, a long recruitment process, and limited flexibility to scale teams up or down as needed.
Luckily, there are alternative hiring models out there that offer more flexibility, lower costs, and faster hiring, plus access to global talent.
Let’s take a look at these alternatives and weigh their pros and cons.
You have four main options for hiring React developers: in-house developers, freelancers, staff augmentation, and outsourcing. The best choice depends on your project’s needs, budget, and goals.
In-house hiring is the traditional way to grow your team. With a full-time, in-house React Native developer, you can have a dedicated professional on your team. However, this approach comes with higher costs, including salaries, benefits, and other employee-related expenses.
Freelancers are cost-effective for short-term projects. They’re paid per project and can be found on platforms like ReactSquad, Revelo, and Upwork. If you’re interested in how these platforms compare, there are some great articles that break it down.
While freelancing can save you money, it’s not without its risks. Some startups experience frustrating delays or cancellations. This option works well for smaller tasks, but if you’re looking for a long-term partnership and strong team management, it might not be the best fit.
Staff augmentation is a temporary hiring model that blends the advantages of freelancing with in-house employment.
CTOs can bring dedicated engineers onto their project teams without losing sleep over delays, cancellations, or employee benefits. It’s more reliable than freelancing and more budget-friendly than traditional in-house hiring.
We provide top-notch React engineers who can start delivering results within a week. Check us out at ReactSquad. Our straightforward rate of $75/hr and 7-day risk-free trial make it easy to get started.
Outsourcing is a solid choice for businesses that want to stay hands-off during the development process.
When you partner with an outsourcing company, you can access a team of experts, from product managers and front-end developers to DevOps specialists and QA testers.
This setup allows you to tailor your team to fit the project’s needs, whether you're developing a web app, a mobile app, or a complex multi-platform solution.
Imagine you’re on the hunt for the perfect programmer to build your next big React app. Depending on location, you have three exciting options: go local, nearshore, or offshore.
This is the traditional in-house route. You can find your programming superstar through platforms like Indeed, hackathons, and tech conferences. Your HR team can also help you discover hidden gems.
This is a more budget-friendly option for local hires, especially for companies based in countries with higher average salaries. It’s a smart way to tap into global talent without breaking the bank.
Imagine you’re a small startup trying to build an all-star team of engineers, but you’re up against big players like Amazon and Apple, who can offer sky-high salaries.
It’s like trying to win a race against a sports car while driving a bike. But if you widen your search to regions like India or Brazil, suddenly, you’re on a more level playing field. You can access the same quality talent with less competition and lower costs.
React engineers should bring these key skill sets to the table:
Successful React developers have more than just technical skills. Here are the 6 soft skills you should look for when hiring React developers:
It’s important to understand that the cost will vary based on the developer's skill level and your project’s needs.
Here’s a breakdown of the skills you can expect at different experience levels:
P.S: If you have the budget, invest in a senior React JS developer. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and leadership to your project, helping it run more efficiently.
Finding the right React developer doesn’t have to be a gamble, especially with a limited budget. Luckily there’s an easier way to connect with skilled React developers: ReactSquad
We’ve got you covered with our vetted talent pool of React specialists.
Skip endless interview hours and tests. We’ve done the hard work for you. Our developers are vetted through six months of internal projects before they even get to you.
All you need to do is let us know how many developers you need. Within 24 hours, we’ll connect you with the best matches from our pool.
You can hire developers for both short and long-term projects at $75/hr. Flexible, month-to-month payment options available.
The best part? We act as your Employer of Record so you don’t have to worry about payroll and other admin tasks.
Interested? Schedule a call to learn more.
According to Glassdoor, hiring a React JS developer in the US typically costs between $102,500 and $151,125 per year. Globally, the average salary ranges from $82,000 to $121,000.
Most startups hire remote React devs to tap into global talent. Another reason to hire remotely is if you’re on a tight HR budget and can’t employ full-time.
Start by looking for a specialized vendor like ReactSquad. We handle all the details and find the perfect React developer for your project within 7 days.
Check their portfolio for the volume, type and complexity of projects. Also vet their communication and technical skills. Checking for cultural fit is also important if you want the right fit for your team.
The cost of a React web app can range from $10,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on the complexity:
