Complete PHP developer salary data
PHP is a general-purpose programming language that has been the cornerstone of the web for a long time. In fact, “PHP is used by 79.0% of all the websites whose server-side programming language we know”. Such a high number of sites running on PHP means that the demand for PHP developers should remain high as well, especially since it seems to be attracting new developers faster than many other programming languages.
Even though there are rumors that PHP has lost some of its popularity over the years, it keeps changing. It is one of the most common full stack skills, frequently tested with front end technologies like JavaScript. The changes include usability and speed improvements that have come with its 7.x releases. As a result, it is now the second most popular language for web development and the fifth most popular language overall, with 5.9 million developers across the globe.
Yet, hiring the most experienced and skilled developers greatly depends on starting salary, location, and the competition on the market. For that reason, it’s essential to know what the average PHP developer salary is to remain competitive. Here’s an overview of different PHP developer salary levels across the US.
In this post, we will be addressing the following topics:
- Average PHP developer salary
- Entry-level PHP developer salary
- Junior PHP developer salary
- Senior PHP developer salary
Average PHP developer salary in the US
PHP developers are responsible for writing server-side web application logic. They usually develop back-end components, connect the software with other services, and support front-end developers by integrating their work into the applications.
PHP is not the easiest language to learn, though. It puts a lot of pressure on the developer to ensure that each application is stable and well-performing. This might affect expectations when it comes to PHP developer salary, along with the level of experience, knowledge, and skills. Here’s what the average PHP developer salary in the US is, and what factors influence it.
As reported by PayScale, the average PHP developer salary in the United States equals $63,625 per year.
However, the average salary presented by ZipRecruiter is much higher: $85,730/year.
The upward trend continues. According to Glassdoor, the average PHP salary is even higher: $93,987 per year.
Surprisingly, even though the highest salaries can usually be found on Indeed.com, this time the average annual pay for a PHP developer in the US amounts to $83,157.
The differences between the average salaries reported by various sources are clearly visible. But where do they stem from?
Experience
It comes as no surprise that the average PHP salary changes with the level of experience. For example, according to PayScale:
- An average entry-level PHP developer salary, for developers who have less than 1 year of experience, stands at $49,379 – including bonuses, and overtime pay,
- A junior PHP developer salary (meaning 1-4 years of working experience) is $59,426 on average,
- A mid-career PHP developer with 5-9 years of experience, on the other hand, can count on an average total compensation of $71,048,
- Whereas an average senior PHP developer salary starts from $75,773 a year.
Location: PHP developer salary in NYC, San Diego, and Chicago
Location is also an important factor when it comes to PHP developer salaries across the US. As reported by PayScale, San Francisco offers a 27.9% above-average pay rate for PHP developers. PHP developers can also be offered higher salaries in New York (22.8% more) and San Diego (11.2%). The lowest salaries, on the other hand, can be found in Houston (10.9% less) and Chicago (7.0%).
The average PHP salary by location are quite similar at Indeed.com. The highest salaries can be found in New York and San Diego (with average salaries above $90,000 per year), whereas PHP developers in Chicago are paid “only” $69,465 a year on average.
Other factors increasing pay
Location and level of experience are not the only factors that count. Knowledge and skills also influence the average PHP salary across the US.
Popular skills
As presented by PayScale, knowledge of MySQL, JavaScript, HTML5 or jQuery (aside from PHP) is quite popular among PHP developers.
Useful additional skills
Other skills that might affect the salary of a PHP developer are as follows:
- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
- Understanding fundamental design principles
- Familiarity with SQL/NoSQL databases
- Integration of multiple data sources and databases
- Proficient understanding of code versioning tools, such as Git
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Soft skills, such as effective communication, ability to work independently, and excellent time management
Conclusion
The demand for PHP developers is likely to continue to grow. In order to land the top talent though, recruiters can’t just create and promote attractive job ads but have to be prepared to offer competitive salaries. There are a few factors that can influence the budget of hiring a PHP developer, and it might be worth it to get familiar with them before you start recruiting and screening candidates.
Before you go
We also have other great resources devoted to a software developer salary, such as:
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