Toptal is a marketplace for top jQuery developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and startups choose Toptal jQuery freelancers for their mission-critical software projects.
Adam is a full-stack developer who is comfortable with everything from back-end databases to front-end web interfaces. He has extensive experience as a software engineer in various industries including aerospace and printers. For the last nine years, Adam has focused on web development with Ruby on Rails.
Jelena has been actively working as a front-end developer for about eight years. Her job includes daily usage of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular/Vue, jQuery, Laravel, and Git. She loves creating beautiful web pages that are optimized and working smoothly on all devices. Besides programming, she has also overseen the organization of work for some projects, which she loves doing. Communication between colleagues is key to building good applications.
Loren is a full-stack web development leader with 20 years of experience, including a background in graphic design. They have extensive experience in WordPress, including custom themes, WP API, and custom plugins. Loren is fluent in PHP, vanilla JavaScript, React, jQuery, SQL, HTML, SASS/CSS, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Animate.
Yau is a senior web application developer with over ten years of experience specialized in front-end development, user interface, design as well as back-end service at companies like Oracle and Cogizant. He has a diverse set of skills ranging from HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, React, Angular, and Java.
João is a full-stack web developer with more than eight years of work experience as a freelancer, developing a wide range of websites and web applications. He works primarily with WordPress or Laravel on the back end and jQuery, Vue, or React on the front end, depending on the project's requirements and the customer's needs.
Boyan is a full-stack developer, an agile team player, and a clean code advocate with 20+ years of experience, including 15+ years as a freelance developer. He enjoys working on both the back and front ends of a good stack. After focusing on Java in his early career, he expanded into web technology with PHP and MySQL; then added Perl, PostgreSQL, Visual Basic, and JSP; and, most recently, shifted toward JavaScript, jQuery, and TypeScript with frameworks like React, Backbone.js, and Vue.js.
David is a highly skilled software developer with a broad skill set for web and desktop application development. For over two decades, he has been developing software and deploying solutions. Within this period, he has worked on the entire lifecycle of software development, from inception to implementation, release, and maintenance. Davit has led and supervised software development teams, but he considers himself a developer at heart.
Rafik has been working as a web developer for 11 years and has improved his skills with every project. He strives to bring the best quality to his clients. For him, keeping everything organized and clean while working on a project is crucial. Rafik looks forward to the excitement of new challenges that come from working with Toptal's clients.
Yasitha, a staff engineer at Dropsuite, boasts over a decade of software development experience. With a keen focus on API integrations, back-end development, and solid front-end skills, he excels in catering to the needs of startups and small businesses, ensuring robust web application development.
Bach can both code and design pixel-perfect, responsive, robust, and reusable React applications, UI component libraries, headless websites, and landing pages. He was endorsed with this 2-in-1-skillset by many senior full-stack developers from NASDAQ-listed and ASX-listed companies. He has helped developers and UX designers speed the delivery of impeccable, automatically-tested, consistent, fast, and maintainable front-end applications and libraries with his complementary blend of skills.
Artem is a Zend Certified PHP developer with over 20 years of experience in web development. Besides being a technical authority, he is very good at communicating complicated issues in a simple way. Artem believes that actions speak louder than words.
Ensuring cross-browser compatibility had been challenging—until developers started using the still-popular jQuery framework. This jQuery hiring guide includes best practices, interview questions and tips, and advice on finding candidates who can transition from jQuery in new projects.
... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.
Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.
Our clients
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of Tripcents as any in-house team member of Tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a startup, they are our secret weapon.
Brantley Pace
CEO & Co-Founder
I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.
Paul Fenley
Director
The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.
Ryan Rockefeller
CEO
Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.
Jason Kulik
Co-founder
As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.
Stuart Pocknee
Principal
How to Hire jQuery Developers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Client Advisors
A Toptal client advisor will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right jQuery developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new jQuery developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
The cost associated with hiring a jQuery developer depends on various factors, including preferred talent location, complexity and size of the project you’re hiring for, seniority, engagement commitment (hourly, part-time, or full-time), and more. In the US, for example, Glassdoor’s reported average total annual pay for jQuery developers is $77,717 as of October 10, 2023. With Toptal, you can speak with an expert talent matcher who will help you understand the cost of talent with the right skills and seniority level for your needs. To get started, schedule a call with us — it’s free, and there’s no obligation to hire with Toptal.
How do I hire a jQuery developer?
To hire the right jQuery developer, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect jQuery developers for your project.
How in demand are jQuery developers?
JQuery is used on 94% of websites that use a JavaScript framework. Although newer frameworks have emerged and are more appropriate when starting a new project, jQuery development remains in high demand. Front-end development changes quickly, with new frameworks emerging constantly, yet jQuery usage remains stable. If you have a site that uses jQuery, there’s a very good business case to be made for staying the course.
How quickly can you hire with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a jQuery developer with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your jQuery developer, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
How are Toptal jQuery developers different?
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our jQuery developers to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.
In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.
When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched jQuery developers ready to help you achieve your goals.
Can you hire jQuery developers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?
You can hire jQuery developers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our jQuery developers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal jQuery developers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your jQuery developer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
Scott is a full-stack developer with 12 years of experience. He is an expert in writing jQuery plugins and specializes in third-party API integrations, including Mailchimp, Cloudflare, and Shopify. He has led a technology team at Bootstrap and has presented at the Google campus in Seattle and at WordCamp Portland.
Why Demand for jQuery Developers Remains Strong Despite Headwinds
Cross-browser compatibility was the most nefarious problem in the history of front-end development—until jQuery solved it. JQuery is an exceptionally good framework and one of the most successful open-source software projects of all time, with upward of 280,000 repositories on GitHub and usage on more than 77% of all websites as of June 2023. If you have a legacy website that requires maintenance, it’s extremely likely that you will need to hire a jQuery developer. WordPress remains highly popular and drives jQuery’s popularity and longevity, and developers in charge of maintaining jQuery believe the transition to alternative technologies will be gradual.
JQuery’s motto is “Write less, do more.” That’s a nod to jQuery’s razor-sharp syntax and the fact that it is cross-browser compatible. But it can also be read as a wisecrack on the role of jQuery in the modern web stack: Although it’s perfectly reasonable to continue using jQuery on sites that rely on it, virtually all new projects should use it less, not more. Even if a user relies on a multitude of browsers, all modern browsers are more competent than those of the 2010s, and new frameworks like React and Vue have emerged to fit modern front-end development. If you are building a new project, you might not need to hire a jQuery developer.
This leaves hiring managers in a difficult position: They may have a genuine need for jQuery talent, but they must hire appropriately to avoid encumbering a codebase with the wrong framework, thereby necessitating the need for jQuery developers for years to come. This jQuery hiring guide aims to inform hiring managers and other stakeholders about the technical aspects of jQuery, its strengths and weaknesses, long-term industry trends, and what prerequisites to look for in candidates at every step of the hiring process.
What attributes distinguish quality jQuery Developers from others?
Regardless of a project’s scope or the size of the team, there are some attributes that a senior jQuery developer should possess that set them apart from mid-level or junior jQuery engineers:
Scale
A junior jQuery developer can sprinkle in a bit of jQuery here and there to power small interactions and features, such as a dropdown menu.
A senior jQuery developer can deliver larger components like data visualization, faceted search, and off-canvas menus that offer a clean UX despite their complexity.
Performance
A junior jQuery developer delivers JavaScript UI elements.
A senior jQuery developer delivers JavaScript UI elements with a sharp eye on performance tools such as Google’s Lighthouse or desktop apps like Activity Monitor, which ships with Mac products.
Accessibility
A junior jQuery developer writes code that works—for them.
A senior jQuery developer writes code that works with accessibility in mind and serves users like people who cannot see the display or use a mouse or keyboard.
Discretion
Any jQuery developer can use jQuery for every JavaScript feature on their project.
A senior jQuery specialist will think critically about whether a framework is necessary and, if so, if jQuery is the optimal choice. To wit, there are two situations where jQuery makes sense: existing projects that use it already or (to a lesser degree) any project that uses a CMS that is likely to bundle jQuery for the long haul. Within those scenarios, the expert will find opportunities to replace jQuery with pure JavaScript. Outside those scenarios, an expert jQuery engineer will have the hands-on experience and judgment necessary to guide the project to an adjacent technology.
Organization
A junior jQuery developer will write code to solve a problem.
A senior jQuery engineer will bundle jQuery code in an organized fashion, such as a jQuery plugin or a class; they can deliver highly robust user-facing modules.
While the shift to alternative technologies—modern JavaScript frameworks or plain JavaScript— is gradual and will likely take years, hiring managers should consider the implications now. Selecting candidates from a large talent pool, narrowing the selection, interviewing the most promising individuals, and onboarding new hires is no small feat. The process involves management and senior engineers, i.e., individuals whose time is valuable and should be used as efficiently as possible. Therefore, candidates with broad skill sets have an advantage when it comes to long-term positions. As jQuery projects wind down, candidates with proven track records of upskilling and adaptability will remain valuable.
The ideal candidate will likely need an array of front-end programming skills—unless a client is hiring a jQuery specialist for a one-off project.
How can you identify the ideal jQuery Developer for you?
How you search for an ideal jQuery engineer will vary depending on the type and scale of the project, whether or not you need to hire a single jQuery developer or team, the amount of legacy code involved, and other factors. Hiring remote jQuery developers may require the consideration of additional factors, such as working across time zones and communicating in multiple languages.
However, a hiring manager will not have to weigh whether to hire a junior or a senior jQuery developer. Because jQuery is a legacy framework—and has stopped adding new features—it makes sense to only hire someone with many years of jQuery experience and strong knowledge of the framework. Developers who are early in their careers are trending toward more modern frameworks such as React, Vue, or Angular. A “junior jQuery developer” is likely to be someone who, in actuality, doesn’t want to work with jQuery but needs to know its basics, even though they focus on modern frameworks.
To identify jQuery experts, start with a problem statement. Describe the problem that needs to be solved in a way that will make sense to someone with no context for your business requirements and limited knowledge of your industry. What is the status of your project or feature now? What would you like it to be?
Be clear about whether or not your project uses jQuery. Explain the larger tech stack around your project: Is it on a popular CMS like WordPress? Does it use any plugins on the front end that include jQuery? Is the codebase organized in a certain way, with crucial front-end modules, and does its structure promote reusable code? These factors tip the scale in favor of using jQuery and will help front-end developers decide if their skill sets are a good fit for your project.
When ubiquitous technology becomes outdated, caveats and gray areas appear. For example, what if a small company launches a spinoff of an existing project built using jQuery? Ten years ago, the new project would repurpose as much existing code as possible with jQuery in tow. However, that approach wouldn’t be a good long-term choice today.
Perhaps management will decide to build the new project from the ground up and use that knowledge to update their core project. Alternatively, they can enlist freelance jQuery developers and work on both projects in parallel. Expert input from seasoned jQuery engineers can be of great value in such scenarios.
Complementary Skills for jQuery Developers
JQuery, as a JavaScript framework, exists as part of the trinity of front-end web development programming languages: JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. Consider these technical skills when hiring a jQuery developer:
JavaScript – A good jQuery developer should have a deep and continuing education in “vanilla” JavaScript, i.e., JavaScript that does not use any framework. As JavaScript becomes ever more powerful, the role of jQuery shrinks. Your developer should not think of jQuery as their only hammer and your project as yet another nail. Other popular JS frameworks such as React, Vue, and Angular should be considered as well.
CSS – A jQuery developer will likely be responsible for styling newly created components, which will require writing CSS. Here’s a good litmus test: Does the candidate have an opinion—some sort of well-formed, perhaps passionate opinion—on the emerging debate between “semantic class names” versus utility-first CSS, perhaps through a framework like TailwindCSS? There’s no one right answer, but it’s helpful to understand if the candidate takes his craft seriously and has a stake in where it’s going.
HTML5 – A jQuery developer should take seriously the decision of which HTML element to choose for a particular situation because it can have big implications that are not obvious at first. For example, suppose a developer uses a link for a menu show/hide button instead of the HTML button element. This may create a confusing experience for users who navigate with a screen reader.
How to Write a jQuery Developer Job Description for Your Project
A jQuery job description must be clear about whether or not your project relies heavily on jQuery.
Also, note any special concerns around front-end performance tests like Google’s Core Web Vitals, as jQuery can impact those tests. This detail should attract jQuery engineers with extensive experience who’ve optimized and updated sites and know what challenges and pitfalls to expect.
Finally, include some context about the tech stack your project uses. Is it on WordPress? Does it rely on plugins that use jQuery? Are you considering changing the stack in the long run? If so, how?
What are the most important jQuery Developer interview questions?
Because interviewers and candidates typically spend a lot of time preparing for job interviews, creating truly original interview questions is a good practice. Don’t rely on common questions that are just a Google search away. Prepare open-ended questions and be ready to expand on them with follow-ups. Don’t shy away from curveballs. Here is a selection of interview questions to ask when hiring for jQuery development services:
Is jQuery a good fit for every project? Why or why not?
The candidate should recognize that jQuery is inappropriate for new web projects but assert that it’s the best choice when a project already relies on jQuery and a full rewrite is out of scope. Additionally, they should understand that jQuery can have a minor negative impact on performance tests like Google’s Core Web Vitals, so if there’s little margin for error there, jQuery will be a hindrance.
What are some performance concerns related to jQuery? How might you mitigate them?
The candidate should explain that there are two general categories of performance issues:
Loading the jQuery library itself, which should be done as late in the page load as possible so as to not block other assets.
In-browser performance of jQuery, which can be optimized by caching selectors. For example, if developers use jQuery to take a few different actions on every link on the page, select the entire collection of links once, and then re-use that selection for each action. Novice jQuery developers will sometimes repeat the selection process multiple times.
Explain what a jQuery plugin is and whether or not you might write one for this project.
The candidate should explain that a jQuery plugin is a standard way of delivering a jQuery feature so it will be recognizable to other skilled developers. It gives a convenient syntax for applying a given feature to a specific page element while allowing multiple elements on the same page to re-use the same feature (if warranted).
How do you test your work beyond making sure that a given feature seems to work?
The candidate should be accustomed to using Google’s Lighthouse tool to audit for common front-end issues around performance, a11y, and SEO. They deserve bonus points if they mention using a desktop application like Mac’s Activity Monitor to see if they’ve written something that’s taxing the CPU.
What can you tell me about the jQuery UI library?
The candidate should explain that jQuery UI is a collection of helpful user interface elements written in jQuery and maintained by largely the same community as jQuery itself. Many of its implementations, like autosuggests, accordions, and datepickers, are de facto standards.
Why do companies hire jQuery Developers?
Companies hire jQuery developers because jQuery is immensely popular and easy to work with. It’s used on a staggering 77% of websites, and it’s a staple of WordPress development, since it’s used by countless third-party WordPress plugins. Unless a full rewrite is in scope, most modern businesses will find that the continued use of jQuery is a perfectly viable and economical way to keep a successful project on track.
A jQuery engineer can help maintain and improve existing sites, especially in terms of performance, a key SEO metric. In addition, jQuery experts can help future-proof sites to a certain degree, as well as help clients plan ahead, i.e., help them lessen their reliance on jQuery in favor of plain JavaScript and other technologies.
What are the most popular jQuery use cases?
JQuery enables faster development of pages that provide the user with a rich visual experience. Classic examples include a slider, an autosuggest search, and an accordion menu.
Many of these are bundled as well-known jQuery plugins through the excellent jQuery UI library.
Additionally, when a site needs to make an HTTP call to the server (also known as AJAX), jQuery has fantastic syntax.
How can hiring an experienced jQuery developer contribute to the success of a project?
JQuery is very good at Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation and AJAX capabilities. If you have a site or a feature with many moving elements that may require interaction with third-party APIs and websites, jQuery has excellent built-in methods, including those for DOM tree traversal.
An experienced jQuery developer will take a step back from the feature at hand and contribute to a conversation about whether jQuery is appropriate for a project. The best jQuery development process today weans sites off of jQuery and onto vanilla JavaScript.
A jQuery expert will be able to fulfill immediate business needs through the use of jQuery while taking opportunities to migrate away from it when appropriate.
