What Is the Salary of a WordPress Website Developer in India?

If you're thinking about becoming a WordPress developer in India, or hiring one, the first question that comes up is: how much do they actually earn? The answer isn't simple - it depends on experience, location, whether you're freelance or employed, and the complexity of the projects you handle. But here’s the real picture, based on current data from 2026.

Entry-Level WordPress Developers (0-2 Years)

At the start of their career, most WordPress developers in India earn between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹4.5 lakh per year. That’s about ₹21,000 to ₹38,000 per month. These developers usually work on basic websites - installing themes, tweaking plugins, fixing layout issues, and doing minor customizations. Many of them learned WordPress through YouTube tutorials or free online courses and landed their first job at a small agency or as a remote intern.

One developer in Pune told me he started at ₹28,000/month building simple brochure sites for local dentists and salons. After six months, he was handling WooCommerce stores and got a 30% raise. That’s typical. The jump from basic to intermediate happens fast if you learn PHP, HTML/CSS deeply, and start understanding how WordPress hooks work.

Mid-Level WordPress Developers (3-5 Years)

After three to five years, developers who’ve built 15-30 websites - including custom themes, plugin integrations, and performance optimizations - earn ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh annually. That’s ₹50,000 to ₹85,000 per month. These are the people companies hire to lead small teams or manage client projects end-to-end.

They don’t just use Elementor anymore. They write custom PHP functions, optimize database queries, set up caching with Redis, and handle security patches. Many work for digital agencies in Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Delhi, or as full-time remote employees for international clients. One developer in Jaipur told me he earns ₹75,000/month working for a U.S.-based SaaS company, managing five WordPress sites with 500K+ monthly visitors. He doesn’t work weekends. His salary is higher because he speaks fluent English and understands American client expectations.

Senior WordPress Developers (6+ Years)

At the senior level, salaries jump to ₹12 lakh to ₹25 lakh per year. These are the developers who architect complex WordPress ecosystems - multisite networks, headless WordPress setups with React frontends, custom REST APIs, and integrations with CRM systems like HubSpot or Salesforce. Some even build their own plugins and sell them on CodeCanyon or their own sites.

A senior developer in Mumbai told me his team built a custom membership portal for an Indian edtech startup. The project took six months. He got paid ₹22 lakh for the entire project, plus ongoing maintenance. That’s not a monthly salary - it’s project-based income. Many seniors switch to freelancing or consulting because they can earn more than fixed salaries.

Freelance vs. Full-Time: The Big Difference

Freelancers in India often make more than salaried developers - but it’s riskier. A freelancer who charges ₹1,500/hour and works 20 hours a week can pull in ₹1.2 lakh/month before taxes. That’s ₹14.4 lakh/year. But that’s only if they have steady clients. Most freelancers go through dry spells.

On the flip side, full-time employees get benefits: health insurance, paid leave, bonuses, and sometimes stock options. They also get training and mentorship. Many juniors choose employment first to build a portfolio and learn industry standards before going solo.

Where the Money Is: Cities That Pay Best

Not all cities pay the same. Here’s how salaries break down by location in 2026:

• Bangalore: Highest pay - ₹7-12 lakh/year for mid-level, due to high demand from startups and global clients.
• Hyderabad: Strong growth - ₹6-9 lakh/year, especially for developers working with U.S. agencies.
• Delhi-NCR: ₹5-8 lakh/year - lots of agencies, but also more competition.
• Pune and Chennai: ₹5-7 lakh/year - solid markets with lower cost of living.
• Smaller cities (Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore): ₹3-5 lakh/year - fewer clients, but lower expenses mean you can still live well.

Remote work has changed the game. A developer in Bhopal can now earn Bangalore-level pay working for a company in Toronto or London. All you need is a good portfolio and reliable internet.

What Skills Push Salaries Higher?

Just knowing how to install a theme won’t cut it anymore. Here’s what actually gets you paid more:

• Custom theme development - writing clean, secure, lightweight themes from scratch using Underscores or Sage.
• WooCommerce expertise - setting up product variations, payment gateways, tax rules, and shipping zones.
• Performance optimization - reducing load time under 1.5 seconds using LiteSpeed, WP Rocket, and image compression.
• Security hardening - setting up firewalls, two-factor auth, and regular malware scans.
• Headless WordPress - using WordPress as a backend with React or Vue.js on the frontend.
• API integrations - connecting WordPress to CRMs, email tools, or ERP systems.

Developers who can do even two of these well earn 40-60% more than those who only use page builders.

How to Get Started in 2026

If you’re new to this, here’s a realistic path:

1. Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics - free resources like freeCodeCamp work fine.
2. Master WordPress admin: install themes, plugins, manage users, set up backups.
3. Build 5-10 real websites - even for friends or local businesses. Don’t wait for perfection.
4. Learn how to use Elementor or Divi, then move to custom coding.
5. Create a simple portfolio site showing your work. Include before/after load speed stats if you can.
6. Join Facebook groups like "WordPress Developers India" or Reddit’s r/WordPress.
7. Apply for junior roles on LinkedIn, Upwork, or Internshala. Start with ₹20-25k/month gigs.

Most developers I’ve talked to say their first year was tough. They worked long hours for low pay. But by year two, they had enough skills to double their income.

Common Mistakes That Hold Developers Back

Here’s what stops people from earning more:

• Sticking only to page builders - you’ll never be hired for complex projects.
• Not learning PHP - WordPress is built on it. You can’t go far without it.
• Ignoring security - clients lose trust fast if your site gets hacked.
• Undercharging - beginners often charge ₹5,000 for a full website. That’s not sustainable.
• Not asking for testimonials - your reputation is your biggest asset.

One developer in Lucknow charged ₹3,000 for a site. A client came back six months later and asked for a redo because the site was slow and insecure. He ended up charging ₹45,000 for the fix - and now he quotes a minimum of ₹25,000 per project.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

Yes - if you’re willing to learn beyond the surface. WordPress isn’t dying. In fact, it powers over 43% of all websites globally, and India has the third-largest WordPress developer community after the U.S. and the U.K. The demand isn’t going away. Companies need people who can build fast, secure, scalable sites - not just drag-and-drop builders.

The salary range is wide because the skill range is wide. If you treat WordPress as a tool, you’ll earn like a technician. If you treat it as a platform for solving business problems, you’ll earn like a professional.

Start small. Build something real. Learn one new thing every week. In two years, you’ll be making more than you thought possible.