Introduction
Nowadays, having a good online presence is necessary for non-profit organizations for reaching their audience, creating awareness, and securing donors. Creating a website that is easy to navigate that also accurately describes a non-profit’s purpose, influence, and integrity can be a very effective marketing strategy for the organization. However, developing and sustaining such a website has its difficulties too, like grasping the expenses associated with non-profit website building.
The question that often comes up in this regard is: “How much does a seasoned devote of non-profit web building earn?” Within this article, I am going to try to highlight the aspects that define pay for non-profit website developers, the current market trends, and what you could be expecting whether you want to hire a non-profit web developer for your organization or you want to pursue a career in building websites for such organizations.
What is Non-Profit Website Development?
Web Development for non-profits is the creation and upkeep of websites that support community organizations as opposed to profit-based ones. Such sites generally include tools that let NGOs to:
- Share information about their mission and work
- Engage with their audience
- Facilitate donations
- Provide resources to those in need
Any non-profit organization is in great need of a website that is easy to use, has great design, and is efficient. These three pointers make it easy for visitors to browse through, donate, and find the information that they are looking for regarding the organization and its services.
Factors Affecting Non-Profit Website Development Salary
The salary of a web developer for non-profit organizations can depend on various factors. It includes the location of the job, the specialization of the developer, and the project that is being offered. The following pointers are important to consider regarding the salary:
1. Experience Level
Just like any other job, the experience of a developer in the field will greatly influence the salary that they will receive. The categorization of the salaries according to the experience is as follows:
- Developers who are New in the Field (0 to 2 Years of Experience): As a starting web developer in a non-profit organization, one can expect an average salary of $40,000 to $55,000 annually. As a beginner, they are given simple tasks such as web development which includes coding, testing, and providing assistance to senior developers.
- Mid-Level Developers (3 to 5 years): A considerable amount of years of experience with tasks such as website building and user experience (UX) designing will earn a position with an annual salary ranging between $55,000 to $75,000. Typically these mid-level developers take care of project planning and execution along with front and back-end development and CMS integration.
- Senior Developers (5+ years): Having knowledge in both spheres of handling large projects and managing large teams, senior developers are being hired. They mostly work on multi-layered scalable systems, web performance, security, and even more complex elements such as donation systems or membership portals. A senior developer’s pay in the domain of the non-profit sector tends to be between $75,000 – $100,000 or more depending on the level of the project and its location.
2. Job Type: Freelance vs. Full-Time
Some non-profit organizations might only require full-time employees, however, mid to long-term websites can also be provided by freelance developers on a contractual basis for such organizations.
- Freelance Developers: Freelance developers working in non-profit web projects usually offer hourly or project-based prices. The professional average for a freelancer working in a non-profit website setting goes from $30 to $75 per hour depending on the freelancer’s skills, reputation, and the extent of the project. Setting a fixed price for a project could vary anywhere between $2,000-10,000 depending on features and timelines.
- Full-Time: Salaries of full-time non-profit developers are around the same mark as salary of private sector developers, although non-profits tend to offer smaller salaries because of lower budgets. Conversely, non-profit full-time developers usually have higher salaries but, even when working full-time, developers receive work benefits including medical insurance, retirement, and vacations.
3. The Difficulty of The Undertaking
The features, as well as the characteristics, of the website go a long way in deciding what the salary of the developer will be. A basic business website can cost less than one that has everything from e-commerce to donation and volunteer portals.
- Basic Website Development: A basic business, informational, or stationary website could cost somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000, and the project can be handled by a junior developer or a freelancer.
- Complex Website: If the aim is to build an interactive non-profit website with multi-language support, secure payment gateways, and a members area, then the estimated development cost will range from $10,000 to $30,000. Most of the time such undertakings are done by senior developers or specialized agencies.
4. Suburb or Urban Area
The area in which the developer is based also adds to their estimated salary pace. Cities with a high cost of living such as New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles usually have bigger paying clients, which makes a web developer’s salary higher when compared to smaller towns and suburbs.
- United States: In large metropolitan areas, non-profit website developers receive much larger salaries than in the less expensive cities. In the case of a developer working out of New York City, their wage could be 20 to 30 percent higher than someone working in a less populated area.
- International Locations: The website development fee can also change because a non-profit organization decided to hire an offshore developer. For instance, developers located in India or the Philippines are cheaper than those based in America or Europe, however, the level of service should take priority over the price.
5. Skills and Expertise
A developer’s pay scale could also differ based on their particular skill set. Developers who have in-depth knowledge about particular niches are usually paid more.
- WordPress Development: WordPress is one of the most used CMS site builders that non-profit organizations would use. Developers capable of working on WordPress sites will have a reasonable wage, usually around $50,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience and the associated difficulty of the task.
- Front-End and Back-End Development: Programmers with high levels of knowledge in coding languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript (React, Angular, or Vue.js) and in server-side languages such as PHP, Python, or Ruby will earn higher. This is particularly true when a project requires its deck to be custom built and coded.
- UX/UI Design: Non-profit organizations also utilize great user experience and user interface design templates. UX/UI designers have the highest potential and in some cases earn around $90,000 per annum.
Estimated Salaries According to Job Position
- Junior Web Developer: $40k – $55k
- Mid-Level Web Developer: $55k – $75k
- Senior Web Developer: $75k – $100k
- Freelance Web Developer (Per Hour): $30 – $75/hour
- Freelance Web Developer (Per Project): $2,000 – $10,000/project
- Full-Time Contractor Web Developer (Non-Profit): $50,000 – $70,000
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Non-profit organization website construction, how much does it cost?
The cost of developing a non-profit website varies based on the features, complexity, and scope of the project. On average, a simple non-profit website can cost between $2,000 and $5,000, while a more complex site with advanced features can cost between $10,000 and $30,000 or more.
2. Do non-profit organizations receive any special rate for web design and development services?
Yes, many developers or design agencies offer discounted rates or pro bono services to non-profit organizations due to their charitable nature. Some developers may even offer free or highly discounted services, especially for smaller or local non-profits with a limited budget.
Conclusion
The salary for non-profit website developers depends on factors such as experience, skills, the complexity of the project, and geographic location. While salaries for developers in the non-profit sector might not be as high as those in the for-profit sector, many developers find working with non-profits rewarding due to the impact they make. Whether you are a developer, hiring a developer, or just curious about the industry, understanding the different factors at play can help guide expectations and decisions in this space.