How to Hire the Best Freelance D3.js Developer

Over the past 20 years, my business partners and I have run software development companies and hired hundreds of different types of programmers. Our experience means we know a lot about hiring the top D3 developers.

In this article, we will share our tips on what to look for in a D3 developer and where to find the best talent.

What is D3 Used For?

D3 (also known as D3.js) is a JavaScript library for producing dynamic and interactive data visualizations in web browsers. Here are some common uses of the D3 library.

Reusable Charts

The D3 library is most commonly used for creating reusable charts or graphs. This is important when a single chart is going to be frequently updated with new data, as this reduces the amount of effort to produce stunning visualizations. D3.js can be combined with other frameworks such as React to add your charts to web pages and apps.

Internal Reports

Internal reports such as monthly revenue statistics or web analytics data can be shown off using D3. Multiple related charts can be combined together on a single webpage on your business’s intranet, making these reports accessible to anyone in your organization. By combining D3 with JavaScript code, the internal reports can be made to update at regular intervals.

What to Look for When Hiring a D3 Developer

When hiring a D3 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.

D3 Required Skills

Here are some of the basic skills that a D3 Developer is expected to have:

• JavaScript programming with the standard library
• Using the D3.js library within JavaScript
• Data analysis, with a focus on data visualization
• Automated testing and version control

D3 Experience

D3 developers should have some experience with the following:

• Working with large volumes of uncleaned data
• Producing easy-to-read graphs and charts
• Statistical analysis of data
• Communicating compelling data stories to stakeholders
• Data representation through JSON and XML
• Understanding of web markup, including HTML and CSS code
• Testing and debugging JavaScript and D3 code
• Page inspection and web browser developer console
• Enterprise, commercial, and open-source project

How to Write a D3 Developer Job Description

Writing the perfect D3 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.

D3 Interview questions

When looking to hire a D3 developer, consider asking some of the following interview questions:

• What is an SVG?
• What scales exist in D3.js?
• What is the difference between D3.js and jQuery?
• How do you create an axis in D3?
• How does data binding work in D3?
• What is the difference between Canvas and SVG in D3.js?
• What is the role of the “Path Data Generator” in D3?
• When might you want to create a pie chart?
• How can multiple classes be applied at once in D3.js?
• When might you want to create a stacked bar chart?
• What is the undefined property in JavaScript?
• What is event bubbling in JavaScript?
• What is the difference between the == and === operators?
• What is the benefit of using modules?

Freelance D3.js Developer Rates

The average salary for a D3 developer is comparable to that of a JavaScript developer, which is $109,661 per year in the United States. When hiring a D3 freelancer, you can expect to pay $55.29 on average per hour. D3 freelancer rates can range from $30-$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 website developer rates.

Where to Hire a D3.js Developer – Top Websites

Where to find D3.js 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 D3.js 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 D3 developer?

There are many places where you can find and hire a D3 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 D3 developers on general freelancing marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr.

How much does it cost to hire a D3 developer?

The average salary for a D3 developer is comparable to that of a JavaScript developer, which is $109,661 per year in the United States. When hiring a D3 freelancer, you can expect to pay $55.29 on average per hour. D3 freelancer rates can range from $30-$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 D3 developer?

There are many skills that a D3 developer needs to know. They must have data analysis and visualization skills, as well as the ability to competently program in the JavaScript programming language. They should also have experience with other technologies such as XML and JSON.

What does a D3 developer do?

In general, a D3.js developer will use the D3.js library and JavaScript programming language to produce visually appealing graphs and charts. They will need to use these graphs to persuade stakeholders to take certain decisions. D3.js developer will also need to fix bugs in JavaScript code.