Recent Job Trends: Demand for Craft CMS Developers in 2025

This shift represents more than just numbers on a job board. It signals a fundamental change in how businesses approach their web development needs, moving away from one-size-fits-all platforms toward more flexible, customized systems that give them complete control over their digital presence.

Background Context: What Led to This Boom

Craft CMS started gaining serious traction around 2020 when version 3 introduced features that caught the attention of agencies and development teams. The platform's PHP foundation and Twig templating engine appealed to developers who wanted clean, maintainable code without the bloat often found in other content management systems.

The release of Craft CMS 5 in 2024 accelerated this growth. New features focused on API-first development, improved multi-site capabilities, and better performance tools made it particularly attractive for companies building headless implementations and complex content architectures. Currently powering over 43,000 live websites globally, Craft has moved from a niche player to a serious contender in the CMS space.

Several factors contributed to this rapid adoption. First, security concerns with plugin-heavy platforms pushed companies toward systems with fewer third-party dependencies. Second, the rise of composable architecture meant businesses needed CMSs that could integrate smoothly with their existing tech stacks. Third, developer satisfaction scores for Craft consistently ranked higher than competing platforms, leading to stronger advocacy within technical teams.

Key Details: Breaking Down the Current Market

The numbers tell a compelling story about Craft CMS developer opportunities in 2025. Beyond the impressive average salary of $152,323, freelance developers command rates between $65 and $120 per hour, depending on project complexity and their experience level. These rates rival or exceed those of developers specializing in other popular platforms.

Geographic distribution reveals interesting patterns. Chicago leads in job postings, followed by Los Angeles, Mesa, Oklahoma City, and Lewisville. California, Illinois, and Michigan top the state rankings, though remote opportunities account for 21% of all positions. The remaining jobs split between in-person requirements (72%) and hybrid arrangements (7%).

Technical Requirements Most in Demand:

• PHP proficiency (mentioned in 95% of job postings)
• Twig templating expertise
• JavaScript frameworks knowledge (React, Vue, or Next.js)
• API development skills (REST and GraphQL)
• Plugin development experience
• Git version control
• Database management (MySQL or MariaDB)

Companies hiring Craft developers span multiple industries, with digital agencies leading the charge, followed by e-commerce businesses, educational institutions, and healthcare companies. Notable recent hires include positions at agencies working with AT&T, McDonald's, and Dell, indicating that Fortune 500 companies increasingly rely on Craft for their web properties.

The plugin ecosystem plays a crucial role in these hiring decisions. Popular plugins like Feed Me for data migration, SEOmatic for search improvements, and Commerce for e-commerce functionality appear regularly in job requirements. Developers familiar with these tools command premium rates.

Impact Analysis: What This Means for Different Audiences

For Developers Currently Using Other Platforms:

The financial incentive to learn Craft CMS has never been stronger. With salaries exceeding those of many WordPress and Drupal positions by 15-25%, investing time in Craft skills offers tangible returns. The learning curve from other PHP-based systems remains manageable, typically requiring 2-3 months to reach proficiency.

For Agencies and Development Teams:

Finding qualified Craft developers presents both challenges and opportunities. While the talent pool remains smaller than for WordPress or Drupal, the quality tends to be higher. We've noticed that developers who choose to specialize in Craft often bring stronger overall technical skills and a deeper understanding of content architecture principles.

For Marketing Managers and Project Managers:

Understanding Craft's capabilities helps in project planning and budgeting. The higher developer rates reflect the platform's ability to deliver more customized, maintainable projects with fewer long-term issues. Initial development costs might exceed those of template-based systems, but total cost of ownership often proves lower due to reduced maintenance needs and better performance.

For Businesses Evaluating CMS Options:

The growing developer community means better long-term support for Craft projects. Unlike niche systems that might struggle to maintain momentum, Craft's trajectory suggests it will remain viable and well-supported for years to come. The involvement of major brands validates this as a safe choice for critical business systems.

Professional Perspective: Industry Insights and Recommendations

The shift toward Craft CMS reflects broader trends in web development. Businesses increasingly recognize that their websites need to do more than display content – they need to integrate with CRMs, support multiple languages and regions, deliver content to mobile apps, and provide personalized experiences. Generic templates and rigid structures no longer meet these requirements.

Our experience shows that companies switching to Craft typically cite three main motivations: frustration with plugin conflicts in their current CMS, need for better content modeling capabilities, and desire for improved developer productivity. The last point proves particularly important as developer retention becomes increasingly challenging.

Several patterns emerge when examining successful Craft implementations. Companies that invest in proper training for their development teams see faster project delivery and fewer bugs. Those that engage Craft specialists during the planning phase avoid common architectural mistakes that can limit future flexibility. Building with a headless approach from the start, even if not immediately needed, provides valuable options as business needs evolve.

The certification landscape for Craft remains less formal than for platforms like Drupal or Adobe Experience Manager. This creates both opportunity and challenge. Developers can demonstrate expertise through portfolio work rather than expensive certifications, but employers must evaluate skills more carefully during hiring.

Looking at compensation trends, we see interesting variations. Developers with both Craft and modern JavaScript framework experience command the highest rates. Those who can handle full-stack responsibilities, from server configuration to frontend implementation, prove especially valuable. Specialization in e-commerce implementations using Craft Commerce also commands premium rates.

Next Steps for Readers

For Developers Ready to Enter the Craft CMS Market:

Start with the official Craft CMS 5 documentation and build at least two complete projects before applying for positions. Focus on understanding the matrix field system, element queries, and plugin architecture. Join the Craft Discord community where many job opportunities get posted before appearing on job boards.

Create a GitHub repository showcasing custom plugin development. Even simple plugins demonstrate understanding of Craft's architecture. Document your code thoroughly – employers value developers who write maintainable, well-documented solutions.

Consider contributing to existing open-source Craft plugins. This provides real-world experience and visibility within the community. Many developers land positions through connections made while contributing to popular plugins.

For Teams Looking to Hire Craft Developers:

Post positions on Craft-specific channels like the official Discord and Stack Exchange. Generic job boards often yield fewer qualified candidates. Be specific about your technical stack beyond Craft – mention your deployment process, hosting environment, and other tools in your ecosystem.

Consider offering training for strong PHP developers who lack Craft experience. Teams we work with report that experienced developers can become productive with Craft in 4-6 weeks with proper support. This expands your candidate pool significantly.

Evaluate candidates through practical exercises rather than abstract coding challenges. Ask them to extend an existing Craft project or debug a specific issue. This reveals real-world problem-solving abilities more effectively than algorithm questions.

For Businesses Considering Craft CMS:

Assess your content management needs honestly. If you require complex content relationships, multi-site management, or extensive customization, Craft offers compelling advantages. If you need a simple blog or brochure site, the investment might not justify the benefits.

Budget for proper development resources. While Craft can reduce long-term costs, initial development requires skilled developers who command appropriate rates. Attempting to build Craft sites with junior developers or agencies unfamiliar with the platform often leads to poor results.

Plan for ongoing maintenance and updates. Like any CMS, Craft requires regular updates for security and performance. Factor these costs into your budget from the start.

Conclusion: The Craft CMS Opportunity in 2025

The surge in Craft CMS developer demand represents a significant shift in how businesses approach web development. With average salaries reaching $152,323 and major corporations expanding their Craft implementations, developers with these skills enjoy exceptional career prospects. The platform's growth from powering 43,000 live sites to becoming the choice of companies like Netflix and Microsoft validates its position as a serious player in the CMS market.

For developers, the message is clear: Craft CMS skills offer both immediate financial rewards and long-term career growth. For businesses, the expanding developer pool and proven track record with large implementations make Craft a viable choice for critical web projects. The combination of flexibility, security, and developer satisfaction positions Craft as more than a trend – it's becoming a standard tool for professional web development teams.

Looking ahead, the trajectory suggests continued growth. As more agencies adopt Craft as their primary platform and more developers gain expertise, the ecosystem will strengthen further. Early adopters who build Craft expertise now will find themselves well-positioned as demand continues to exceed supply throughout 2025 and beyond.

If you're evaluating whether Craft CMS fits your upcoming web development projects or considering adding Craft capabilities to your team, we can help assess your specific requirements and determine if this platform aligns with your technical needs and business goals. Our team has guided numerous companies through CMS platform decisions and can provide insights based on real implementation experience.