For Camino Information Services

Projections say that there will be a 27.7 million software developers in the world by 2023. By then, the number of developers in India will exceed the United States.

On the surface, that sounds great. Improving the global economy while taking the strain off development resources in the United States. With so many options, companies should finally have the luxury of price-shopping and building custom software really affordably.

But it's never that simple.

Anyone with experience managing a global workforce with the barriers of time zones and language knows the challenges of finding the best person, team, or company for a job. They also likely know that price shopping doesn't always get you what you expect.

So what should you pay a software developer?

Take the following example, theoretical but based on actual experiences. ABC Company wants to employ digital forms and automate their workflow among other things, so they search for a SharePoint developer to help them as they deploy that platform. They get several quotes for developer consultants ranging anywhere from $100 to $200 per hour. One developer, let’s call him Developer One, offers to work for only $20 an hour. ABC Company can’t believe their good luck and signs the developer on the spot, thinking they just saved thousands of dollars.

Fast forward four weeks. Developer One finally replies to the many unanswered calls and emails and says he is backing out of the contract because he just doesn’t have the time for it. Not only did he fail to provide what he promised, but also his efforts have created a convoluted mess that needs to be fixed by a professional. ABC Company signs a different, experienced developer, Developer Two, with a solid resume and portfolio for $150 per hour. When she finishes, the product is exactly as they originally hoped, but her bill includes 35 hours of extra work spent fixing the mistakes of her predecessor. On top of the nearly $3,200 they already paid Developer One, which their lawyer assures will be nearly impossible to recoup, the cost of remediation adds $5,250. Attempting to save money by hiring a sub-par developer cost ABC Company an additional $8,450 on top of months of lowered productivity and infinite headaches.

Unfortunately, this is a common tale in today’s global business climate.

But that doesn't answer the question. How much should you pay a developer? In short, pay them what they are worth. Do the research. Compare costs. Ask for work samples. Many developers are willing to work for pennies on the dollar, but more often than not the work quality, completion speed, and end product reflect the savings poorly.

A great developer will have a deep understanding of platform capabilities, anticipate problems, suggest relevant solutions, and keep up with all the latest technologies available. They will likely have ready examples of their work product. If your project merits the investment, ask a developer you trust to review the work before making a final hire.

When deciding how much to pay a developer, whether on staff or contracting with a consultant, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is perhaps especially fitting.

About the Author: Sarah McMullin is Marketing Director for Camino Information Services, a custom software development firm headquartered in Spring, Texas.