Did you know, according to a report by Statista, React.js emerged as the most popular web framework in 2024, with 40.41% of software developers globally reporting that they utilise it for developing web applications?

Hiring a React developer in 2024 can be a significant investment. React developer salaries vary based on several factors like location, experience level, and technical skills. And this begs the question of what is the cost of hiring a skilled React developer. Well, ZipRecruiter tells us that it is roughly around $40,000 to $158,000 + a year which is not very cheap.

React has quickly become one of the most popular JavaScript libraries for building interactive user interfaces. With its declarative, component-based architecture, React helps developers build complex web and mobile applications that perform highly, are scalable, and are easy to maintain. As more companies adopt React, the demand for expert React developers will be seen growing.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how much you should budget to hire a React developer. Let’s start with the basics.

What is React.js and why is it the preferred framework?

React.js is an open-source JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building user interfaces. 

Here are some key things to know about React:

• React lets programmers build reusable chunks of code called components. These components are like building blocks you can put together to make complex sites.
• React uses a programming style called declarative. This means programmers just need to say what they want each component to show on the page and React handles provide the components efficiently.
• React keeps a virtual copy of the Document Object Model or DOM. This is like a blueprint of the actual website DOM. When data changes, React compares the virtual DOM to figure out the best way to update the real DOM.
• Components in React can be nested together and combined to make advanced user interfaces. The component architecture makes it easy to reuse the code.
• React can be used to build the front-end of websites and mobile apps using React Native. Even huge websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Airbnb use React.
• React has a large ecosystem of open-source libraries and tools like Redux, React Router, React Native, Create React App, Next.js, etc. that extend its capabilities.

In summary, React is an extremely popular and versatile tool for building modern web and mobile apps. It uses components and declarative programming to make development faster and websites more responsive. That's why many top companies use React today.

Why does the demand for React developers keep rising?

Since Facebook created React in 2013, it has become one of the most popular tools for building websites and mobile apps. In 2021, over half of the developers claimed that they use React according to Stack Overflow. On job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, the number of job postings looking for React developers has skyrocketed over the past few years. Many companies need to hire React developers for their teams.

The reason is that more and more companies are using React to build their websites and mobile apps. Here are some of the industries using React:

1. E-commerce companies 

Amazon and eBay use React for their online shopping sites. They use it to build the frontend shopping carts and product pages as it is easier and faster to create with React.

2. Banks and financial tech companies

They use React to build their web and mobile banking apps. React makes it smooth to manage money transfers and trading accounts.

3. Media sites 

Netflix and The New York Times use React to create fast, interactive pages people love browsing.

4. Hotels and airlines

React is used to allow booking flights or rooms easily. Travel apps built with React provide a great experience.

5. Healthcare companies 

These companies need React developers to build apps for managing patient records or showing test results. The interfaces are complex and React handles that easily.

As more companies go online, they want to build websites and apps that are fast, slick, and bug-free. This is why they are choosing React because it makes development much easier and faster. Also, there simply aren't enough experienced React developers to fill all these new roles. That's why React skills are so sought-after and pay well right now.

Looking for a skilled React developer? Let us help!

What are the factors that influence React developer salaries?

When it comes to React developer salaries, many elements come into play. In this piece, we will explore each of the key factors in depth to understand how they influence React developer salaries.

Location

Geography plays a major role in compensation for React developers. Those based in prominent technology hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area or Seattle see the highest salaries. This is because the abundance of tech companies competing for talent drives up wages.

For example, the typical mid-level React developer in a core Bay Area city like San Francisco or Palo Alto earns around $135,000 per year whereas in outer suburbs it's closer to $125,000.

Other major cities with thriving tech scenes also pay well such as, 

Experience level

Salaries directly correlate with the years of experience a React developer has. Those just starting out earn quite a bit less than seasoned professionals.

Entry-level React developers usually have under 2 years of experience, with many starting right after college graduation. They will need training and mentorship to learn industry best practices. You can hire junior-level developers as to cost-effective way to add React skills to your team.

Mid-level developers have proven experience designing, building, testing, and deploying React apps. They can work independently with minimal guidance. At this level, developers also mentor junior team members.

Senior React developers have 5+ years of working with React and related web technologies. They are experts in best practices and patterns, code quality, performance optimisation, and leading projects & teams. Senior developers can quickly adapt to new technologies and methodologies as well.

Company size

The size and type of company also influence React developer salaries.

The massive budgets of these iconic tech giants allow them to hire the best talents available in the market.

Full-time vs. Contract Model

Companies looking to add React capabilities have a decision between hiring full-time employees or contractors.

Full-time React developers are a long-term investment who become integral parts of your team. They get paid salaries and benefits and often get equity-like stock options.

Contract or freelance React developers are usually hired for specific projects over a set timeframe. They are paid hourly or daily rates with minimal benefits. Contracting provides more flexibility but less stability.

On average, the hourly rate is 30-50% higher than the equivalent full-time salary. The fees can be as high as $150-200/hour.

The best option depends on the scope of work and timeframe as well as your budget. For long-term strategic projects, full-time developers make more sense. For short-term needs, contract developers may be a better, more affordable choice.

Specialisation

Developers who specialise exclusively in front-end React skills often earn slightly less than those with full-stack capabilities.

Front-end React developers specifically have expertise in React concepts like managing state, debugging rendering issues, optimisation best practices, etc. They work mainly on the client-side UI code whereas full-stack developers have back-end skills as well like APIs, databases, servers, etc.

Currently, the salary range for both front-end focused and full-stack React developers is fairly comparable if their experience levels are equivalent. What matters is the subject matter expertise, but full-stack skills are still in high demand by most companies.

However, developers with combined frontend React and backend Node.js experience tend to have the most lucrative earning potential based on demand.

Additional skills

Besides React itself, other complementary skills also boost compensation potential:

Having expertise across the full JavaScript stack (frontend and backend) and experience with popular auxiliary technologies like React Native, Node.js, GraphQL, TypeScript, and Next.js maximises the value and compensation.

What is the average salary of a React developer in the USA?

Historically React developer salaries have been rising at an above-average rate each year. Given the exponentially growing demand, we expect that trend to continue through 2024 and beyond. 

For example, the average salary for mid-level React developers has risen nearly 30% in the past 3 years. Senior React developers have seen 20%+ salary growth in that same timeframe. However, here is a broader look:

Pay also scales higher for full-stack expertise (frontend and backend skills) which allows working across the entire application stack. Highly specialised skills like React Native mobile development, GraphQL APIs, Next.js web frameworks, and TypeScript coding also boost senior engineer salaries. 

So while compensation varies based on individual situations, overall React developers earn very competitive tech industry salaries which rise rapidly with more experience. Top performers can make over $250,000 per year at high-paying firms in top metropolitan regions.

Let’s connect and find you the top React developers.

Other costs to consider

When estimating the total costs of hiring a React developer, it's important to look beyond just salary. Benefits like 401k, health insurance, and PTO typically add 15-30% to the total compensation package. Equity in the form of stock options can be highly valuable, especially in startups and tech companies.

• The recruiting process itself costs a lot of money. You have to advertise job posts, review many resumes, do phone screens and interviews, make offers, and negotiate. All that requires staff time and resources. You always have an option to outsource.
• Once you hire someone, expect around 2-3 months before they are fully up to speed. You may need to pay for training to get new developers productive. Budget for any laptops, software, tools, or cloud services they need.
• Overall, it's smart to add 10-20% on top of the developer's salary to cover these extra costs that come with hiring.
  

But a talented React developer makes it worth it in the end. They pay for themselves many times over by building awesome products faster and better than anyone else could. So the investment is worth it even if it's large.

How we can help you find the top react talent?

Finding exceptional React developers is critical for building high-performing web and mobile applications. We help you recruit elite engineering talent.

As a leading SAAS development agency in the USA, we have established an extensive network for sourcing skilled React and JavaScript engineers across the country. Our dedicated tech recruiters employ customised strategies to identify candidates that are an ideal culture and technical fit. Once potential React developers are discovered, we conduct rigorous screening including technical assessments, code reviews, and personality evaluations. We only present the best applicants for further interviews. Our interview process is designed to thoroughly evaluate strengths and weaknesses.

We also provide key analytics like compensation benchmarks to help clients offer competitive salaries and equity packages necessary to attract senior talent. We handle salary and benefits negotiations to secure candidates.

We make hiring vetted React talent easy and get matched with the perfect fit for your React developer, let’s connect over a free 30-minute consultation call.