How to Hire the Best Freelance C Developer

When you are not a programmer, hiring a programmer can seem like a huge undertaking.

In this article, we will look at some of the unique uses and features of the C programming language, and where to find the best talent.

What is C Used For?

C is a general-purpose programming language and has been in popular use since the 1980s. Because C programmers have more control over the core memory and parts of devices, it is still the most popular language in some settings. Here are some common uses of the C programming language.

Embedded Systems

C gives developers complete control over how to manage memory on a device. By design, embedded systems such as digital watches, traffic light controllers, and electronic machinery have a small amount of memory – making C a popular choice for coding in these devices.

Operating Systems

C is highly portable and is used to write scripts that form a major part of many operating systems including Windows, Linux, and UNIX. Like with embedded systems, the control over memory also helps these operating systems run faster when running on C code.

Building Other Programming Languages

C is generally considered to be one of, if not the, fastest programming languages in popular use. Combining this with many other features in the language makes it a popular choice when businesses or organizations want to create new programming languages for specific purposes. This includes Python, PHP, and MATLAB.

3D Movies

Creating 3D movies is very power-intensive, so requires a language that is efficient and fast. C and its expansion, C++, are used for the applications that make 3D movies. The more efficient the code, the quicker the movies can be made, and the cheaper they will ultimately be.

Databases

With complete control over memory, C is used to develop many common database applications including MySQL, MS SQL Server, and Oracle Database.

What to Look for When Hiring a C Developer

When hiring a C programmer, there are a few things you have to consider including experience, rates, and the type of work arrangement. It also depends on the type of project you have and what skills you need to complete it.

C Required Skills

Here are some of the basic skills that a C Developer is expected to have:

• C libraries and algorithms
• Memory management
• Quality and performance metrics
• Data structures such as linked lists and trees

C Experience

C developers should have some experience with the following:

• Debugging tools such as GDB and Valgrind
• Object-oriented programming (OOP)
• Working with a finite amount of memory
• Memory pointers
• Operating system, embedded system, or database developer as an added advantage
• Enterprise, commercial, and open-source projects

How to Write a C Developer Job Description

Writing the perfect C Developer job description is essential to ensure that you can attract the top developers. It's also important to ensure that you set the proper expectations up-front to streamline the vetting process, saving everyone time and money.

C Interview questions

When looking to hire a C developer, consider asking some of the following interview questions:

• What are the differences between C and C++?
• What is the difference between malloc() and calloc() memory allocation?
• What is a static variable?
• Can a program be compiled without the main() function?
• When would you declare a void pointer?
• What are enumerations?
• What similar languages exist to C, and when would you use C?
• Can a float variable be assigned to a long integer variable?
• What is the default value of local and global variables?
• What is typecasting?

Freelance C Developer Rates

The average salary for a C developer is $106,276 per year in the United States. When hiring a C freelancer, you can expect to pay $59.73 on average per hour. C freelancer rates can range from $15-$120 per hour depending on the developer's experience, where they are located, their availability, and other programming languages required.

Check out our detailed pricing guide for more freelance developer rates.

Where to Hire a C Developer – Top Websites

Where to find C developers will ultimately depend on a few factors. Consider product duration, developer experience, cost, and how much time you're willing to put into the hiring process.

Here are our top 2 favorite places to find C developers.

Upstack

Best for the top programming talent

Upstack aims to elevate remote tech teams worldwide through dedicated freelance talent. They look for the best freelance talent by sourcing their developers from all over the world.

They deploy an 8 point hiring process to ensure their site users have access to the best candidates with top-notch developing skills, communication, and personalities. They offer talent in a diverse set of fields including Java, Python, iOS, and PHP.

They’ve worked for big-name brands like Microsoft and Lego. However, Upstack has a diverse talent pool that’s highly scalable depending on the size and scope of your business.

Visit Upstack

Read our Upstack Review.

Fiverr

Best for small projects and gigs

As one of the largest freelancing job boards on the web, Fiverr is a proven platform for connecting with prospective freelancers. The site aims to streamline the process of connecting developers with clients in a way that’s efficient for both sides.

You can contact a developer by selecting their profile if you think you’ve found a good fit. Once the terms for a project has been finalized, clients pay the developer upfront. You have about three days to read over the finished product and decide whether to accept a project submission or reject it to get a refund.

Clients look through the site’s list of freelance developers by using its robust filter tools to find the right fit. You can filter developers based on their price range, body of work, and much more.

Fiverr is great for finding developers with a specific niche, as the site has categories for practically any type of development service. For example, if you click on the mobile application development link, it’ll let you sift through candidates based on even more specific guidelines, such as custom app development or web-to-app conversions.

Visit Fiverr

Read Our Review on Fiverr

If you still want more ideas, here’s a full list of the best freelance websites for developers.

Developer Hiring Guides

If you are looking for other types of technical talent, we’ve put together hiring guides for these technologies as well.

FAQs

Where can I find a C developer?

There are many places where you can find and hire a C developer online. If you're looking for a full-time developer, you can try popular job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn. For the best freelancers, consider using a remote hiring platform focused on placing programmers like Upstack or Toptal. You can also find C developers on general freelancing marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr.

How much does it cost to hire a C developer?

The average salary for a C developer is $106,276 per year in the United States. When hiring a C freelancer, you can expect to pay $59.73 on average per hour. C freelancer rates can range from $15-$120 per hour depending on the developer's experience, where they are located, their availability, and other programming languages required.

What are the most important skills to look for in a C developer?

There are many skills that a C developer needs to know. Most features are related to core features in the language such as how to manage memory, and how to optimize C code for the fastest performance.

What does a C developer do?

To put it as simply as possible, a C developer designs and develops software using the C language. They code and optimize C programs while also testing the code to ensure there are no bugs, and designing the code to meet client requirements.