Key Takeaways
PHP is not the language it was a decade ago. Modern PHP 8+ with strict typing, JIT compilation, fibers for async operations, and mature frameworks like Laravel has made it one of the most productive server-side stacks available. But the talent pool is split between developers stuck in legacy patterns and engineers who write modern, secure, maintainable code.
This checklist helps you identify which category a candidate falls into before you make the hire.
Must-Have Technical Skills
1PHP 8+ Features
Typed properties, union types, enums, fibers, match expressions, named arguments, and readonly properties. A developer who cannot use these writes legacy code.
2Framework Mastery (Laravel or Symfony)
Eloquent ORM, middleware, service providers, Artisan commands, queue workers, and event broadcasting in Laravel. Service container, bundles, and Doctrine in Symfony.
3Database and ORM Skills
Query optimization, migrations, database design, Eloquent relationships, and raw SQL performance tuning. Redis caching and queue management.
4Security Awareness
SQL injection prevention, XSS protection, CSRF tokens, input validation, password hashing, and OWASP Top 10 knowledge. Security flaws in PHP apps are the most common production incidents.
5Testing and CI/CD
PHPUnit, Pest, feature tests, integration tests, and CI/CD pipeline configuration. Untested PHP code is a liability, not an asset.
Salary Benchmarks
Hire PHP Engineers Who Write Modern Code
Boundev places Laravel and Symfony developers through staff augmentation vetted for PHP 8+, security best practices, and production-grade architecture.
Talk to Our TeamInterview Questions That Reveal Depth
"How do fibers change async programming in PHP 8.1?"
Tests knowledge of modern PHP concurrency. Weak candidates will not know what fibers are.
"Explain N+1 query problem and how you solve it in Eloquent."
Reveals ORM understanding and performance awareness. Expect answers involving eager loading with with() or load().
"How do you prevent SQL injection in raw PHP queries?"
Security fundamentals. Expect prepared statements with PDO, parameterized queries, and input validation.
"Walk me through deploying a Laravel app to production."
Tests DevOps awareness. Look for answers covering environment configuration, queue workers, supervisor, nginx, and database migrations.
Hiring Insight: Through dedicated teams, we reject PHP candidates who cannot explain SOLID principles, dependency injection, or write tests. These fundamentals separate engineers who maintain codebases from those who create tech debt.
PHP Ecosystem by the Numbers
FAQ
What skills should a PHP developer have?
Modern PHP 8+ features (typed properties, enums, fibers), framework mastery (Laravel or Symfony), database optimization, security best practices (OWASP Top 10), and testing with PHPUnit. Through Boundev, we vet for all five.
How much does it cost to hire a PHP developer from India?
Junior PHP developers cost $2,100-3,500/month, mid-level $3,500-5,500/month, and senior engineers $5,500-8,500/month. This represents 48-62% savings compared to US-based PHP developers of equivalent skill level.
Is PHP still worth investing in?
Yes. PHP powers 77% of all server-side web applications, and modern PHP 8+ with Laravel is one of the most productive stacks for web development. Through software outsourcing, we build production PHP applications that serve millions of users.