A 360-Degree Guide to Cost of Hiring Remote Node.js Developers

Hiring a remote Node.js developer will cost you anywhere between $12,000 to $150,000 per annum. And the hourly breakdown of hiring remote Node.js developers is in the range of $20 to $90.

Node.js is fast, lightweight, performant, can be hosted anywhere, and built upon JavaScript.

This explains why Node.js is wildly popular among developers as well as business owners. Since it’s fast and performant, it enables businesses to roll out applications and digital products that excel. Moreover, developers find Node.js appealing because of its event-driven architecture and use of JavaScript throughout.

No wonder you want to have expert Node.js developers working at the backend of your digital product. But the huge demand and rising wages don’t make it easy to source the best talent. It’s why hiring remote Node.js developers is the best strategy to move forward. You get to tap into a much broader and richer talent pool while not having to break the bank at the same time.

This article will share the various factors that affect the cost of hiring remote Node.js developers. As a result, you’ll be able to develop a better understanding of the reasons behind such considerable fluctuations in rates for developers. And most importantly, you’ll know where and how to find and hire the best remote Node.js developers by the end.

There are plenty of variables involved in a custom software development project. Each project comes with a unique set of characteristics and requirements. For instance, the scope and scale of making a payment integration API will be vastly different from developing a chatbot. You’ll have to find developers with relevant experience creating secure applications for the payment API, while a ‘generalist’ might suffice for the chatbot.

Consequently, the varying requirements affect the cost of hiring developers. So, let’s have a quick look at some such parameters of your Node.js that can impact the cost of hiring developers.

1. Scale of the project

This one makes the most sense, right? The scale of the project determines the number of developers and the expertise needed to get the job done. The number of lines of code, entities in the ER diagram, number of processes in the flow diagram, function points, etc., are all directly proportional to the scale of the project. If you have access to any of these metrics before the start of the project, you can easily predict the project’s scale.

And as these measures go up, you need more resources to get the job completed in time. Let’s have a quick look at various types of Node.js applications at multiple scales.

• Small-scale applications: While Node.js is deemed suitable for building scalable applications, it works equally for small-scale applications. A real-time chat application or even a chatbot is an excellent example of such an application. If it’s a fundamental application you wish to create, you can do away even with a single developer.
• Medium-scale applications: IoT apps and complex single-page applications are examples of typical medium-scale Node.js applications. The framework’s ability to handle multiple concurrent requests and asynchronous processing make it suitable for such applications. However, there’ll be more lines of code at the backend of such applications leading to higher developer costs.
• Enterprise-level applications: Node.js offers speed as well as scalability because of its inherent properties. It’s why global enterprises such as PayPal, NASA, LinkedIn, Netflix, etc., use Node.js to power their backend. However, enterprise-level projects need teams of skilled developers to get the job done. Consequently, the developer costs go up because of the higher number of developers and the higher expertise required.

2. Complexity of the project

It’s natural that as the complexity of the project increases, the developer costs would go up. However, if your project requirements consist of the basic features and a simple setup, even the less experienced developers can fit the bill.

On the other hand, if you want the product to have specialized features and complex functionalities, you’ll have to take the help of seasoned coders. Let’s consider application security, for instance. It’s a critical aspect of any business application. So you’ll require not just an experienced Node.js developer but someone with proven experience of working on application security. And since such developers don’t come by so easily, expect to pay higher charges for their services.

You should also keep in mind that complex features often take longer to execute. Therefore, irrespective of the payment model, you’ll have to compensate developers for the increased number of hours for the job.

An MVP or a static web application are a few examples of what can account for a simple project. Here, you only require the essential features, and such projects can be pocket-friendly. On the other hand, an eCommerce application with all its bells and whistles is an example of a complex task. Based on the nature of the products, there’ll be a lot of customization. On top of that, payment integrations, security, delivery integration, etc., instill further complexity to the project.

3. Required development skills

You might already have the list of skills you want the Node.js developer to possess to be the perfect match for your requirements. However, the varying skill sets naturally have an impact on the cost of hiring remote Node.js developers.

• Years of experience: Node.js has been around since 2009. If you account for the time it took to gain popularity, anyone with 4-5 years of Node.js experience can be considered a seasoned developer. This metric alone does an excellent job of filtering candidates. Also, someone with good experience is highly likely to have multiple projects under their belt and ample expertise.
• Knowledge of frontend: Even though Node.js is used primarily for backend development, someone with good knowledge of frontend is always a valuable addition. Such developers can better understand design views and keep up with how the software will appear from outside.
• Proficiency in API communications and database management: A skilled Node.js developer should be able to leverage APIs to integrate systems for more straightforward development. Additionally, they must know how to manage multiple databases and even integrate several of those into one.
• Knowledge of Node.js frameworks: Frameworks are the key to making the most out of Node.js frameworks. Developers with an understanding of various Node.js frameworks such as Express, Koa.js, Hapi, Total.js, etc., are often the most sought-after resources.

Apart from these specific skills, error handling, ability to write efficient codes, effective timeline management, etc., will impact the cost of hiring Node.js developers.

4. Engagement model

The engagement model refers to the hourly, monthly, or project basis arrangement you have for compensating the development. But, wait! Shouldn’t all these have the same value for a project? In an ideal world, yes. But not so much on the field.

One of the woes associated with hourly and monthly payments is that they often remain untabbed. As a result, it’s very easy for developers to fall into the trap of taking unnecessarily long to wrap up a project to make those extra bucks. On the other hand, efficient and fast developers tend to feel penalized for completing a job well within deadlines under the hourly arrangement.

A project-basis arrangement is a genuinely win-win settlement for developers as well as project owners. A fixed amount for the project saves you from inefficiencies on the developer’s side, while provisions for unseen roadblocks and modified project requirements enable Node.js devs to get fairly compensated.

The project-based engagement model is usually the norm for remote Node.js teams such as Simform. First, we create the roadmap for your project’s entire development life cycle and break it down into major milestones. Then, with compensations fixed around these milestones, the project owners remain in control while remote developers get their hard work’s worth.

So far, we have discussed how various factors will affect the cost of hiring remote Node.js developers. And while these parameters affect the overall developer cost, the developers themselves are the most significant variables in determining the remote Node.js developer variable cost.

Remote Node.js developers come with varied experiences from various regions and even with varying team dynamics. And all these factors dictate the cost of hiring developers. Let’s see how.

1. The rate varies with experience

You’ll always be willing to pay extra to an experienced Node.js developer because of what they bring to the table, especially when you need their specific skill sets. If you’ve already done the necessary homework, you’ll know all about the kind of expertise you need right from the beginning.

Remote Node.js developers can be broadly classified into three categories based on their experience and skill levels.

• Beginner: These Node.js developers have the basic knowledge of the framework and can take care of primary Node.js development responsibilities. You can expect them to set up a web server or hook up a frontend feature with a backend API.
  However, these developers don’t have much experience under their belt and can’t be expected to tackle tricky development scenarios. You can find them listing their services in the range of $20 to $30 per hour on freelance marketplaces.
• Intermediate: Next come the developers with considerable experience working on Node.js projects and significantly better development skills. You’ll find them familiar with the JavaScript ecosystem and rely on them for slightly intricate development projects. These developers also showcase expertise in working with technology stacks such as MEAN, MERN, MEVN, etc. If you are looking forward to building a large-scale Node.js application, such developers will be invaluable assets for the team. Intermediate Node.js developers charge anywhere from $30 to $60 per hour for their services.
• Experts: These are the superheroes of your Node.js project development lifecycle and bring in a lot of value to the entire build. They have the experience of working with various backend technologies and can set up NPM packages from scratch. The experts also deliver value by taking beginner and intermediate developers under their wing and elevating the quality of their output. However, all this value comes at a price, and you can expect them to charge around $60 to $90 per hour.

2. The salaries vary with the location

All the factors we’ve discussed so far are related to project parameters and developers’ skillsets. And it makes complete sense for these factors to affect the cost of hiring. However, one aspect has nothing to do with your project or developer requirements, yet it has the most significant impact on costs. It’s the developer’s location.

Skilled Node.js developers are available all across the globe. From North America to Asia, each region can provide you with Node.js developers of desired capabilities. However, you’ll have to pay nearly ten times as much to a Node.js developer in the United States compared to a Node.js developer in India. While developers and agencies cite various reasons ranging from development skills to communication capabilities to justify varying development costs across North America, Europe, and Asia, it primarily boils down to the cost of living in those regions.

Everything varies at the same rate as the developer prices in these regions, from broadband tariffs to rents. In fact, the developer prices vary even within countries based on how expensive some states are to live in. Here’s a quick breakdown of Node.js developer salaries across various regions and countries.

3. The price varies from freelance agents to tech agencies

When you hire remote Node.js developers, they can be either freelance agents or from a tech agency. And before you ask, let me tell you there is no obvious choice between the two. Instead, it all depends on the specific requirements and capabilities of the agency or the developers.

If the development project is such that it requires only a single developer, getting a seasoned developer for the job is a good idea. Again, direct communication will benefit the project, and you can get a reasonable deal for yourself.

However, if the project is such that several Node.js developers need to contribute, going with an agency is always smarter. As the number of developers increases, collaboration can quickly become a headache for you. But if these developers come from the same agency, communication is rarely an issue. The agency would take care of quality and deadlines during production, and you’ll be able to focus on other business aspects.

Additionally, an agency can pivot as per the needs of the project at an instant. Growing too fast? They’ll get you more developers overnight. Need more expertise? They’ll assign a project manager to your project. These capabilities are a boon as they encourage seamless growth and scaling.

Consequently, hiring a remote development agency can be a tad bit costlier than hiring individual freelance agents. But an agency brings you a lot of additional perks that justify the bump in pricing entirely. For example, they’ll take care of everything from recruitment to timely delivery and even maintenance of the software product.
Platforms such as GoodFirms and Clutch are beneficial in locating the best agencies from around the globe. However, the hourly rate to such agencies varies from $25 per hour to $300 per hour.

Now you are aware of all the variables associated with hiring remote Node.js developers. And while hiring remote developers is the best way to move forward, taking care of all these variables can be exhaustive. But what if someone can do all the legwork of hiring remote Node.js developers for you and even ensure adherence to deadlines?

Simform is a software development company with more than a decade of experience under the belt. We provide on-demand development teams to organizations from startups to enterprises. We’ve helped Fortune companies build unique digital products from scratch and can help you too.

We have a team of talented and seasoned Node.js developers who can care for all your project requirements. We can be by your side when you are at the drawing board or come in and add excellent new features to your already existing digital product. So, feel free to reach out for a virtual coffee and know how we can assist you in your next Node.js development project.