Everyone claims to know React. Here's how to find developers who actually do.
TL;DR — Quick Facts
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Average time to hire | 42 days (SHRM) |
| Senior salary (US) | $150,000 - $200,000 |
| Senior salary (Remote/Global) | $50,000 - $150,000 |
| Top candidates off market in | ~10 days |
| Best source | available.dev, referrals |
Must-Have Skills (2026)
| Skill | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| TypeScript | Non-negotiable. 89% satisfaction rate (State of JS) |
| Hooks | Class components are legacy. Need useState, useEffect, custom hooks |
| State management | React Query, Zustand, or Redux Toolkit |
| Testing | Jest/Vitest + React Testing Library |
Where to Find Them
Free Options
| Source | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| available.dev | Immediate hires | Smaller pool |
| GitHub | Verifying skills | Most aren't job hunting |
| Reactiflux Discord (200k+) | Passive candidates | Takes time |
| Employee referrals | Best ROI (4x more likely to hire) | Limited reach |
Paid Options
| Source | Cost | Response Rate |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Recruiter | $10-15k/year | 10-15% |
| Job boards | $200-500/post | Varies |
Evaluation Process
Step 1: Portfolio Screen (15 min)- •Production React experience?
- •TypeScript mentioned?
- •Live projects you can use?
- •Show messy component, ask them to improve it
- •System design: "How would you build X?"
- •Real work, time-bounded
- •Evaluate code quality, not completion
- •How they handle disagreements
- •Code review experience
- •Communication style
Salary Benchmarks (2026)
United States
| Level | Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (0-2 yrs) | $70k - $100k | $85k |
| Mid (2-5 yrs) | $100k - $150k | $125k |
| Senior (5-8 yrs) | $150k - $200k | $170k |
| Staff (8+ yrs) | $200k - $300k+ | $235k |
Remote (US Companies Hiring Globally)
| Region | Senior Range |
|---|---|
| Western Europe | $100k - $150k |
| Eastern Europe | $60k - $100k |
| Latin America | $50k - $90k |
| South Asia | $40k - $70k |
Common Mistakes
- 1.Over-indexing on years — 3 years at a fast startup often beats 7 years at slow enterprise
- 2.LeetCode interviews — Test React skills, not algorithms
- 3.Ignoring soft skills — Brilliant devs who can't collaborate hurt teams
- 4.Moving too slowly — Top candidates gone in 10 days
FAQ
How long to hire a React developer?
Average is 42 days. Fast companies do it in 2-3 weeks. Using available.dev (pre-qualified available candidates) speeds this up.React developer vs full-stack?
Dedicated React dev if you have a backend team. Full-stack if you need independence. Most startups prefer full-stack for flexibility.React vs React Native?
Different skills. React = web, React Native = mobile. Not interchangeable without ramp-up time.Senior vs junior?
Ideal ratio is 2:1 or 3:1 senior-to-junior. Never hire only juniors—they need mentors.How to verify skills?
See their code: GitHub repos, paid take-home, or pair programming. Don't trust self-reported skill levels.Bottom Line
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Need someone this week | available.dev/skills/react |
| Building pipeline | Referrals + community presence |
| Verifying skills | GitHub + take-home project |
| Competitive market | Move fast, pay market rate |