20 Best Frontend Engineer
Freelancers
to Hire
in 2023

Frontend development is the process of designing and coding the user interface part of a website or application that users interact with. This involves creating the layout, colors, typography, and other visual elements that users see and interact with using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript markup. Frontend developers are responsible for ensuring that the website or application is visually appealing, easy to use, and works on multiple devices and browsers. They collaborate closely with designers, UI/UX experts, and backend developers to build a cohesive and fully functioning product, so it's important that they have strong soft skills like collaboration and communication, in addition to their hard skills.

A frontend developer is responsible for designing and coding the frontend part of a website or application that users see and interact with. Their role involves converting design elements into functional and well-optimized code using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Here are some of the tasks that a frontend developer typically performs:

• Collaborate with designers, backend developers, and other stakeholders to understand project requirements and translate them into functional code.
• Develop user-friendly and responsive website layouts that work across different devices and screen sizes.
• Use HTML and CSS programming language to implement website designs, ensuring that the code is clean, modifiable, and optimized for search engines.
• Write JavaScript code to implement interactive website features such as dropdown menus, sliders, and responsive design elements.
• Test websites across different browsers and devices to ensure compatibility and responsiveness.
• Use tools such as preprocessors, task runners, and version control systems to streamline the development process and improve productivity.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest web technologies, trends, and best practices in frontend development.

The tasks of a frontend developer may vary depending on the project requirements, the size of the team, and the organization's processes.

Here are some reasons why you should consider hiring a frontend developer:

1. Improve User Experience: With the help of a frontend developer, you can create a website or application that enhances the user experience by increasing its usability and speed. This can lead to higher user engagement and satisfaction, ultimately resulting in better conversion rates.
2. Consistent Design: A frontend developer can ensure that the design of your website or application is consistent across all pages, improving the overall look and feel of the platform. This can help to establish your brand identity and increase brand recognition.
3. Mobile Responsiveness: Frontend developers can develop a mobile-friendly website that performs well on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. This can increase your reach and help you to target a wider audience.
4. Faster Development: A skilled frontend developer can streamline the development process, making it faster and more efficient. This can help to reduce the overall development time and cost, without compromising the quality of the end product.
5. SEO Optimization: Frontend developers can ensure that your website is optimized for search engines, by using best practices in frontend development such as clean HTML code and fast loading times. This can improve your website's ranking in search engine results, increasing your visibility and attracting more traffic to your website.

Overall, hiring a frontend developer can provide significant benefits, making it a valuable investment for any project that requires a strong frontend presence.

Here's a general process for hiring frontend developers:

1. Define your requirements: Determine what specific skills and experience you need, and what kind of project you're working on.
2. Post a job opportunity: Post the job on Contra to find frontend developers that match your requirements.
3. Evaluate candidates: Review the applicants' resumes and portfolios on Contra to assess the quality of their past work. It's also a good idea to conduct initial interviews to assess their communication skills and personality fit.
4. Conduct technical interviews: Use coding challenges or test projects to gauge the candidate's frontend skills or to assess their thought process.
5. Check references: Ask for references and follow up with them to get feedback from previous employers and clients.
6. Make an offer: Once you've found the right candidate, make an offer that includes information on rate and compensation and any other details.

It's also essential to establish clear communication channels with the frontend developer throughout the hiring process and the project. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Frontend developers use a variety of software tools and technologies to create, debug, and test frontend code. Here are some of the most common software tools that frontend developers use:

1. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): IDEs such as Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom provide comprehensive code editing and debugging features, including syntax highlighting, code completion, and debuggers.
2. Version control tools: Version control tools such as Git, SVN, or Mercurial help developers track changes to the codebase, merge changes from different branches, and collaborate efficiently with other team members.
3. Preprocessors: Preprocessors such as SASS, LESS, or Stylus help developers write CSS code that is more maintainable and modular by using features such as variables, mixins, and functions.
4. Task runners: Task runners such as Gulp or Grunt automate repetitive tasks such as compiling code, optimizing images, or minifying files, saving time and reducing errors.
5. Javascript frameworks and libraries: Javascript frameworks such as React, AngularJS, or Vue.js provide a standardized way of building complex frontend applications, while libraries such as jQuery and Lodash help simplify common tasks such as DOM manipulation and API calls.
6. Design tools and frameworks: Design tools such as Sketch, InVision, or Figma help developers create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes that can be shared with the design team, and provide guidance on the layout, color scheme, fonts, and other design elements. Bootstrap is one of the most popular, widely used frontend design frameworks.

The software development tools and technologies used by frontend developers may vary depending on the project requirements, the team's preference, and the organization's processes and standards.

Freelances are paid commission-free on Contra. They may charge per project, per hour, or per milestone. Freelance frontend developers get paid for the work they produce for their clients. Clients must pay a minimum of $250 or $25 an hour to post an opportunity on Contra.

The cost of hiring a frontend developer will depend on several factors, such as their experience level, location, and the complexity and scope of your project.

In the United States, the average hourly rate for a frontend developer ranges from $40-$120 per hour, with senior-level developers charging towards the higher end of the spectrum. Junior developers or those with less experience may charge lower rates.

In other countries, such as India, Ukraine, or the Philippines, the hourly rate for frontend developers is usually lower, ranging from $20-$40 per hour.

It's important to keep in mind that while hiring a frontend developer may seem expensive, it can ultimately save you money in the long run by reducing development time and improving the quality of your frontend code, resulting in a better user experience for your web application.

Ultimately, it's important to establish a budget for your frontend development needs and to be transparent with developers or agencies about your budget constraints. This can help you find the right frontend developer or team for your needs while staying within your budget.

In the United States, the average frontend developer salary ranges from $60,000 to $120,000 per year depending on experience level, with junior frontend developers earning lower and senior developers earning higher salaries.

According to salary data from Payscale, the median salary for frontend developers in the United States is around $74,000 per year. The highest-paid frontend developers usually have several years of experience and advanced skills in frontend frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js.

It's important to keep in mind that salaries can vary widely based on factors such as education level, number of years of experience, specific skills, and the particular industry or company you work for. It is best to research salary data for your specific location and experience level to get a better idea of typical salaries for frontend developers.

Here are some steps to help you get started with working as a frontend developer:

1. Learn the basics: Learn the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, including syntax, data types, and basic concepts like the Document Object Model (DOM), Responsive Web Design and MVVM.
2. Choose a frontend framework: Choose a frontend framework like React, Angular, Bootstrap or Vue.js and learn the basics of its syntax and concepts.
3. Build small projects: Practice your frontend development skills by debugging frontend code or building small projects like a simple landing page, a personal website, or a basic web app. Use online tutorials, books, and documentation to learn new skills and techniques.
4. Build your portfolio: Create a portfolio of your frontend development work on Contra that showcases your skills, projects, and experience. This can help you to demonstrate your expertise to potential employers or clients.
5. Join online communities: Join Contra and participate in other online communities such as Stack Overflow, GitHub, or Reddit to engage with other frontend developers, benefit from their experience, and share your knowledge. Attend local meetups or conferences and network with other frontend developers in your area.
6. Apply for jobs: Once you're comfortable with your frontend development skills, start applying for frontend development jobs on Contra.
7. Never stop learning: Frontend development is a constantly evolving field, so it's important to keep learning and experimenting with new frameworks, languages, and tools. Continuously improve your hard and soft skills by attending webinars, taking online courses, and following online tutorials to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices.

By following these steps, you can start your journey as a frontend developer and build a rewarding career in this field.

The time it takes to become a frontend developer varies depending on your prior experience and the amount of time you can commit to learning and practicing. However, here's a rough estimate of the time it takes to become a frontend developer:

1. Learning the basics: Learning the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on your prior experience.
2. Learning a frontend framework: Learning a frontend framework such as React, Angular, or Vue.js can take a few months to master, depending on the complexity of the framework and your level of expertise.
3. Building small projects: Small projects like building a personal website or a simple web app development project can take several weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the project and your level of comfort with the tools and techniques used.
4. Building a portfolio: Building a portfolio that showcases your frontend and web development skills can take several months to a year, depending on the number and complexity of the projects you undertake.

Overall, it can take anywhere between 6 months to 2 years to become a competent frontend developer, depending on the time and effort you invest in learning, practicing, and building your skillset. The more time and effort you put in, the faster you'll be able to reach your goals.

Yes, frontend development is a good career for those who enjoy creating visually appealing and interactive user interfaces. Here are some reasons why frontend development can be a fulfilling and rewarding career:

1. High demand: With the increasing reliance on digital technologies and online platforms, the demand for frontend developers has grown rapidly in recent years. Many companies and organizations seek skilled frontend developers to create engaging, user-friendly websites and applications.
2. Creative work: Frontend development allows you to express your creativity by designing visually appealing and intuitive interfaces that users can interact with. It allows you to work closely with designers and UX professionals to create a user-centered experience.
3. Rapidly evolving field: The field of frontend development is constantly evolving, with new technologies and frameworks, like MVVM architecture, emerging all the time. This keeps the work interesting and challenging, allowing you to continuously learn and improve your skills.
4. Good salary and benefits: Frontend developers can earn a competitive salary, with the potential to earn more as they gain experience and seniority. Many companies offer benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks.
5. Flexibility: Frontend development can be done remotely, either as a freelancer or as a part of a remote team, providing you with flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere in the world.

Overall, frontend development provides a fantastic opportunity for those who enjoy coding, design, and creating engaging user experiences to build a fulfilling career while working on exciting projects.