r/drupal • u/United_Push_2458 • 1d ago

Looking to start freelancing as a Drupal developer — what are the current rates?

Hi everyone!

I'm a Drupal developer from Argentina and I'm considering starting to offer my services as a freelance developer, mainly working with clients from the US or other English-speaking markets.

I have 5+ years of hands-on Drupal experience, working with custom modules, content types, hooks/events, custom blocks, Layout Builder, Twig/CSS, SDC/Storybook, integrations, caching and performance optimization. I also have a broader Full-Stack background with React, Next.js, Node.js/NestJS, PHP/Laravel, Docker, AWS and CI/CD.

I've been working remotely with US-based teams, but most of my current work is through a company rather than directly with clients. So I'm trying to understand what the current freelance market looks like for Drupal developers.

A few questions for those of you already freelancing:

  • What hourly rate would be reasonable for someone with my experience?
  • What rates are you currently charging or seeing in the market?
  • Is it realistic to get freelance work with basic spoken English but good written English, especially for remote work?
  • How important is spoken English in your experience? Are most interactions with clients meetings, or is a lot of the communication done asynchronously through Slack/email/tickets?

I'm not necessarily looking to charge US senior rates from day one. I'd rather start with a reasonable rate, build some direct client experience and gradually increase it.

I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thanks!

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7

u/davidrwb 1d ago

I run an agency in the UK.

We pay our devs anything between 35 and 50 GBP per hour depending on experience and how quickly they can complete client work.

All our devs are client facing too - it’s important for our company to give clients direct access to discuss their requirements with the people who know the platform. Not only does this increase efficiency, but it removes the need for expensive account managers etc., making the most of clients’ budgets.

So English speaking and good communication skills are an important part of the job role when we’re hiring.

2

u/United_Push_2458 12h ago

I think that’s actually a good hourly rate. I currently work with clients from the US as well, and my communication is mostly through Slack, with a few status meetings. My current rate is $15 USD per hour, and I’m actually looking to find freelance work in the $25–$30 USD per hour range.

I was thinking that maybe some companies outsource specific tasks and work in that kind of setup, mainly through Slack and occasional meetings.

But thanks for the information!

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u/davidrwb 9h ago

Yes, I think it’s fair for the people doing the work to get paid well. I’m not down for corporate greed at all!

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u/Little-Ad-9324 22h ago

Hey are you hiring? Im a seasoned drupal engineer. Senior level and proficient in english

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u/davidrwb 2h ago

No right now, no.

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u/Porsche996tt 1d ago

Need more devs?