How much does a PHP developer cost?
Senior PHP developers in the U.S. typically bill $110 to $225 per hour as freelancers and $135 to $275 per hour through agencies. A small PHP project (one to three months) commonly lands between $20,000 and $90,000 fixed-price after a written specification. PHP modernization engagements run higher per hour than greenfield Laravel work because the discovery shape is harder to bound. The honest answer requires an audit before any fixed-price quote.
The longer answer
PHP developer pricing splits into the same three categories as Laravel pricing (hourly, fixed-price, retainer) but the rate band is slightly lower at the same seniority level because the PHP-without-Laravel discipline has a broader supply pool. Modern PHP work using Laravel is priced as Laravel work; this answer covers the rest — framework-less PHP, Symfony, legacy PHP modernization, WordPress / Drupal customization at scale.
Hourly
Senior U.S. PHP freelancers bill $110-$225/hour in 2026. The lower end covers developers with substantive PHP experience but limited senior-engineer maturity around production posture, modernization risk, and written specifications. The upper end covers principals with 15+ years who scope, build, and support engagements end-to-end. Agencies bill $135-$275/hour because the rate has to cover account management, project management, and firm overhead.
Fixed-price
A small PHP build — a custom internal tool, a Symfony API, a customer portal — commonly lands $20,000-$90,000 fixed-price after a written specification. The variance depends mostly on the data-model complexity and the depth of integration with existing systems. Fixed-price requires a paid specification first ($3,000-$10,000 deliverable) that produces the basis for the quote.
Modernization specifically
PHP modernization engagements (taking a 10-20-year-old codebase forward to current PHP) are typically priced higher per hour because the discovery shape is harder to bound. Hourly: $175-$300 for the senior modernization specialist. Project: $30,000-$250,000 depending on codebase size, existing test coverage, and the size of the version jump (PHP 7 to 8 is small; PHP 5 to 8 with no tests is large).
The cost-of-inaction note
Running unsupported PHP (5.x, early 7.x) accumulates security and compliance risk that almost always exceeds the modernization engagement cost over 18-36 months. The right framing for the budget conversation is rarely "what does this cost?" and almost always "what does NOT doing this cost over the next 24 months?"
Offshore
Offshore PHP rates run $20-$55/hour with the same operational-friction considerations as Laravel. PHP has a longer global supply pool than Laravel specifically, so the rate floor is slightly lower; quality variance is wider.
Common follow-up questions
Why is PHP cheaper per hour than Laravel?
Slightly cheaper on average because the PHP-without-Laravel discipline has a broader supply pool. At the principal-senior level, the rates converge — senior modernization specialists often bill higher than equivalent Laravel principals.
Should I hire offshore for PHP work?
For well-bounded build work with a senior buyer on the client side, the math often works. For modernization (which requires senior-engineering judgment) or for greenfield work that needs specification rigor, U.S.-based principals usually win.
How much should the specification cost?
A PHP project specification is typically $3,000-$10,000 fixed-price — covers 1-3 weeks of senior-engineering time to produce a written specification with acceptance criteria, identified risks, and a phased delivery plan.
If this answer is useful and you have a real engagement in mind, the contact form routes directly to the principal — James Henderson is the single engineer who scopes, writes, and supports every engagement end-to-end.