Toptal is a marketplace for top CSS developers, engineers, programmers, coders, architects, and consultants. Top companies and startups choose Toptal CSS freelancers for their mission-critical software projects.
Phanindra combines deep back-end development expertise using Node.js with a range of skills from the front end with Vue and React to DevOps in AWS. This experience enables him to build scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant applications. With a passion for coding and strong attention to detail, Phanindra strives to exceed client expectations and deliver bug-free code.
Sean is a senior developer with a broad and versatile skillset who works heavily in React, React Native, and Node.js. He has an entrepreneurial spirit and a midwest work ethic and has worked with a large range of companies of different sizes and scopes. His strong theoretical and practical background in software architecture, UI design, DevOps, and business consulting makes him extremely capable of bringing success to projects of any size.
Amanda is a front-end developer who has been working for over nine years designing usable UIs and implementing them by writing scalable and high-performance JavaScript code. She's widely experienced working with a variety of clients, from startups to enterprise companies like AT&T, IBM, and Sprint. Amanda also has experience with continuous integration, testing, Git workflows, agile methodologies, and SEO.
Radomir is a principal software engineer with a robust software architecture background and the ability to find simple solutions to complex problems. He is passionate about good practices, clean code, software architecture, Agile methodologies, and leading teams. You'll often find him acting, playing guitar, fishing, etc., and trying to convince people to use the Agile methodology in all those fields.
United KingdomToptal Member Since September 20, 2019
Nick is a front-end specialist who also has over a decade of back-end experience. He’s highly committed to quality and use of best practices and enjoys crafting simple solutions to complex problems.
Giulia is a creative and detail-oriented freelancer with a passion for front-end development and UI/UX design. She has over six years of experience developing web applications for professional, academic, and personal projects. Giulia is a CSS enthusiast, and she is always learning new technologies. She is a good communicator and values empathy between co-workers.
Marcelo is a front-end developer with over a decade of experience building pixel-perfect websites. He's worked across desktop and mobile, developing web and mobile apps. Marcelo is also an expert at solving complex UI problems along the way and enjoys seeing his work in action.
Andrey is a senior full-stack web developer with over 12 years of experience. Specializing in building back-end APIs for web applications, Andrey thoroughly understands the requirements for solid builds and always strives to provide the best infrastructures to safely and quickly facilitate growth and scaling.
Piotr is a full-stack web developer who started with .NET as his chosen back-end framework and, more recently, worked mainly with Node.js in the front end. He is proficient in React and Vue. Piotr is a quick learner, willing and able to learn new skills rapidly, and is experienced in working in a multinational environment. He has cooperated with teams and clients from various European countries, the US, and Asia.
For over the past decade, Danilo has been working as a software developer creating web apps and software that can scale. At his current employment, he’s successfully occupied several roles such as full-stack developer, team lead, manager, back-end developer, and he’s now working on a team that is responsible for the development tools. Danilo champions best practices and helps developers to be more productive by providing reusable software.
Since 2016, Temur has been making a living as a senior full-stack developer building apps with the PHP framework, Laravel; this includes working as a senior back-end developer for companies Artel and Uzbekinvest. He’s also quite good at front-end development, especially with Vue.js, and has used those skills on behalf of IUTLab and Artel. Temur’s passionate about problem-solving and applying his in-depth knowledge of mathematics.
CSS developers build websites, primarily focusing on styling, user experience, and cross-browser compatibility. This guide to hiring CSS developers details the most critical skills, interview questions, and job description tips to help you pinpoint the best CSS expert.
... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.
Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.
Our clients
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
What our clients think
Clients Rate Toptal CSS Developers4.3 / 5.0on average across 3,279 reviews as of Aug 7, 2023
Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of tripcents as any in-house team member of tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a start up, they are our secret weapon.
Brantley Pace, CEO & Co-Founder
Tripcents
I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.
Paul Fenley, Director
K Dunn & Associates
The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.
Ryan Rockefeller, CEO
Radeeus
Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.
Jason Kulik, Co-Founder
ProHatch
As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.
Stuart Pocknee , Principal
Site Specific Software Solutions
We used Toptal to hire a developer with extensive Amazon Web Services experience. We interviewed four candidates, one of which turned out to be a great fit for our requirements. The process was quick and effective.
Abner Guzmán Rivera, CTO and Chief Scientist
Photo Kharma
Sergio was an awesome developer to work with. Top notch, responsive, and got the work done efficiently.
Dennis Baldwin, Chief Technologist and Co-Founder
PriceBlink
Working with Marcin is a joy. He is competent, professional, flexible, and extremely quick to understand what is required and how to implement it.
André Fischer, CTO
POSTIFY
We needed a expert engineer who could start on our project immediately. Simanas exceeded our expectations with his work. Not having to interview and chase down an expert developer was an excellent time-saver and made everyone feel more comfortable with our choice to switch platforms to utilize a more robust language. Toptal made the process easy and convenient. Toptal is now the first place we look for expert-level help.
Derek Minor, Senior VP of Web Development
Networld Media Group
Toptal's developers and architects have been both very professional and easy to work with. The solution they produced was fairly priced and top quality, reducing our time to launch. Thanks again, Toptal.
Jeremy Wessels, CEO
Kognosi
We had a great experience with Toptal. They paired us with the perfect developer for our application and made the process very easy. It was also easy to extend beyond the initial time frame, and we were able to keep the same contractor throughout our project. We definitely recommend Toptal for finding high quality talent quickly and seamlessly.
Ryan Morrissey, CTO
Applied Business Technologies, LLC
I'm incredibly impressed with Toptal. Our developer communicates with me every day, and is a very powerful coder. He's a true professional and his work is just excellent. 5 stars for Toptal.
Pietro Casoar, CEO
Ronin Play Pty Ltd
Working with Toptal has been a great experience. Prior to using them, I had spent quite some time interviewing other freelancers and wasn't finding what I needed. After engaging with Toptal, they matched me up with the perfect developer in a matter of days. The developer I'm working with not only delivers quality code, but he also makes suggestions on things that I hadn't thought of. It's clear to me that Amaury knows what he is doing. Highly recommended!
George Cheng, CEO
Bulavard, Inc.
As a Toptal qualified front-end developer, I also run my own consulting practice. When clients come to me for help filling key roles on their team, Toptal is the only place I feel comfortable recommending. Toptal's entire candidate pool is the best of the best. Toptal is the best value for money I've found in nearly half a decade of professional online work.
Ethan Brooks, CTO
Langlotz Patent & Trademark Works, Inc.
In Higgle's early days, we needed the best-in-class developers, at affordable rates, in a timely fashion. Toptal delivered!
Lara Aldag, CEO
Higgle
Toptal makes finding a candidate extremely easy and gives you peace-of-mind that they have the skills to deliver. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone looking for highly-skilled developers.
Michael Gluckman, Data Manager
Mxit
Toptal’s ability to rapidly match our project with the best developers was just superb. The developers have become part of our team, and I’m amazed at the level of professional commitment each of them has demonstrated. For those looking to work remotely with the best engineers, look no further than Toptal.
Laurent Alis, Founder
Livepress
Toptal makes finding qualified engineers a breeze. We needed an experienced ASP.NET MVC architect to guide the development of our start-up app, and Toptal had three great candidates for us in less than a week. After making our selection, the engineer was online immediately and hit the ground running. It was so much faster and easier than having to discover and vet candidates ourselves.
Jeff Kelly, Co-Founder
Concerted Solutions
We needed some short-term work in Scala, and Toptal found us a great developer within 24 hours. This simply would not have been possible via any other platform.
Franco Arda, Co-Founder
WhatAdsWork.com
Toptal offers a no-compromise solution to businesses undergoing rapid development and scale. Every engineer we've contracted through Toptal has quickly integrated into our team and held their work to the highest standard of quality while maintaining blazing development speed.
Greg Kimball, Co-Founder
nifti.com
How to Hire CSS Developers through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of engineering will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-Selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right CSS developer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new CSS developer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
The expenses associated with hiring a CSS expert can vary greatly depending on factors like project complexity, developer seniority, and geographical region. More straightforward tasks like styling updates or responsive design improvements are much cheaper than more extensive projects such as building a comprehensive, custom-designed website from scratch. As one point of reference, Glassdoor estimates the average total pay of a CSS developer in the US to be $80,704 as of July 11, 2023. Regardless, a top-notch CSS programmer is a worthwhile investment to improve your company’s online presence.
How do I hire a CSS developer?
To hire a CSS engineer, you may follow six steps:
Identify your needs. Define specific CSS tasks for your project, like website design or responsive design implementation. Decide whether to hire remote CSS developers, find on-site engineers, or employ a hybrid approach to best meet your project needs.
Write a job description. Craft a specific job post based on the job opening and its associated responsibilities.
Advertise the job. Share the job posting on social media platforms and specialized tech job boards or enlist the help of recruitment agencies to reach potential candidates.
Review applications. Check résumés and portfolios, focusing on the CSS skills and experience that align with your project.
Conduct interviews. Assess candidates with technical CSS questions, probing for specific examples from past projects.
Finalize the hire. Select the best candidate based on your project needs.
How in demand is CSS?
CSS is a fundamental part of web development—almost all websites use it for styling and layout, making it crucial for any web project. As a result, it is in extremely high demand: CSS is the second most used programming language among developers, with one in two developers coding in HTML/CSS, according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023. As websites continually evolve to offer more dynamic and interactive experiences, the need for professionals with advanced CSS skills grows. Moreover, the rise in mobile and responsive web design also mandates capable CSS experts who can create flexible layouts and designs across different devices. Overall, the continuous and growing demand for CSS makes it one of the most sought-after skills in web design and development.
How quickly can you hire with Toptal?
Typically, you can hire a CSS expert with Toptal in about 48 hours. Our talent matchers are experts in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your CSS expert, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
Gustavo is a startup founder and web developer with more than 17 years of experience. He specializes in building and scaling Rails and JavaScript apps and perfecting UI/UX design. Gustavo single-handedly created a video collaboration service used in more than 110 countries—years before Zoom or Google Hangouts existed.
As the Backbone of Web Development, CSS Experts Face Unprecedented Demand
The demand for CSS developers has reached unprecedented levels: CSS is the second most used language among developers, with one in two developers working with HTML/CSS. One contributing factor is the popularity of progressive web apps (PWAs), which rely heavily on technologies like CSS.
As the influence of CSS grows over the next 10 years—the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 23% increase in web developer jobs from 2021 to 2031—the landscape of web development continues to evolve, presenting new hurdles and considerations for employers seeking the perfect CSS engineer for their teams. The hunt for a competent professional who not only has the requisite technical abilities, but also fits your company’s culture and workflow is becoming increasingly complex.
To navigate this complex hiring landscape, you’ll need a solid understanding of CSS programmer skills, responsibilities, and interview questions. This guide will equip you with the required knowledge and help you hire a top-notch CSS expert who will bring value to your team and match your company’s project-specific needs.
What attributes distinguish quality CSS Developers from others?
In the digital landscape, CSS experts are pivotal in determining a website’s user experience (UX). They are front-end (or sometimes full-stack) developers who transform the bare bones of HTML and JavaScript into visually stunning, user-friendly websites and applications. The best CSS professionals do more than simply make your website look good—they ensure it is accessible, responsive, and optimized for performance. But what separates a good CSS programmer from a great one?
Technical Skills
The foundational technical skills of a CSS candidate include a strong programming background (CSS, HTML, and JavaScript), familiarity with UI/UX and responsive design principles, and experience with performance optimization and cross-browser compatibility:
CSS fundamentals – First and foremost, a quality CSS programmer should have a firm grasp of CSS and its associated tools. This includes a deep understanding of CSS syntax, selectors, the box model, and layouts such as Flexbox and CSS grid. They should also know when to use various CSS measurement units and the differences between them.
CSS preprocessors – Candidates should also be comfortable working with CSS preprocessors like Sass and Less. Another option used by many modern engineers is CSS-in-JS (JSS), which offers useful APIs like styled components. These tools can make managing complex stylesheets easier and simplify CSS development, so familiarity with them is highly desirable.
HTML – CSS experts must know HTML to understand a webpage’s structure and apply styles effectively, as CSS and HTML work together closely. HTML defines a site’s structure and layout, and CSS styles the elements defined in HTML.
JavaScript – CSS programmers must work closely with JavaScript to manipulate CSS properties and create interactive user experiences. JavaScript enhances webpages with interactivity, enabling features like animations, form validation, and dynamic content.
Responsive design – Modern CSS engineers must understand responsive design in today’s multidevice world, where many users access websites from mobile devices. Responsive design ensures websites appear and operate efficiently on various devices and screen sizes, from smartphones to wide desktop screens.
UI and UX – CSS programmers versed in UI/UX and website design can guarantee a visually pleasing, smooth, and intuitive user experience—and generally ensure the final website aligns with the intended design. They understand the importance of layout, color, and typography in influencing user behavior and perceptions.
Performance optimization – The best CSS developers know how to write efficient CSS that minimizes load times and enhances the user experience.
Cross-browser compatibility – CSS experts should use concrete strategies to ensure the website appears and functions correctly on all popular web browsers.
Code organization – Engineers who write modular, clean code ensure the future maintainability of your codebase. One common best practice for code organization is using the BEM methodology.
Experts who have mastered these complementary technical skills alongside pure CSS are best prepared to create stunning, user-friendly websites and applications.
Soft Skills
A quality CSS professional possesses not only a wealth of technical skills, but also a strong sense of creativity, problem-solving abilities, a commitment to continuous learning, and excellent communication.
Skill
Motivation
Candidate Requirements
Creativity and aesthetics
CSS combines the creativity of art with the precision of science; a quality developer needs a good eye for design.
They should understand how color, typography, spacing, and other elements work together to create an intuitive user experience, as well as have creative approaches to solving design problems.
Problem-solving
CSS can be tricky, especially when working across browser types; problem-solving skills save time and frustration.
They should be able to troubleshoot and overcome obstacles, especially issues related to cross-browser compatibility.
Continuous learning
The field of web development evolves constantly and introduces new methods, tools, and recommended practices.
They should be committed to continuous learning, keeping up with the latest developments in their field, and consistently upskilling with the most relevant technologies in mind.
Communication
All software engineers must communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and clients.
They should be able to explain complex technical issues clearly to nontechnical audiences and be comfortable providing and receiving feedback (to facilitate continuous improvement and growth).
Vetting developers for these soft skills will ensure that you find someone who not only can write CSS, but also can use it to turn designs into elegant, engaging web components while keeping your team and stakeholders happy.
How can you identify the ideal CSS Developer for you?
The process of hiring a CSS expert starts with thoroughly examining your project prerequisites, the expertise required to meet them, and the level of proficiency you seek in a developer. Are you interested in building a simple website or a sophisticated web application? Do you plan to hire on-site or remote developers? Will you use specific tools or libraries that the engineer needs to know? Are there any design constraints they need to adhere to? Defining these requirements will help you understand the skills and level of experience of your ideal CSS programmer.
Junior, Mid-level, and Senior Developers
We can broadly categorize CSS experts into junior, mid-level, and senior developers. Depending on their experience level, they can take on different roles within a company:
Type
Experience
Skills
Independence
Ideal Project
Junior
0 to 2 years
Basic understanding of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
More guidance and supervision required
Small budgets or simple projects (e.g., creating basic layouts or styling components)
Mid-level
2+ to 5 years
Deep knowledge of CSS and its associated tools
Less supervision required; contributes project ideas and suggestions
Complex tasks like creating responsive designs or optimizing performance
Senior
5+ years
Deep knowledge of CSS, related tools, and other web technologies
Leads teams and supervises others; makes critical project decisions
Big budgets and highly complex projects; leading a development team
Each type of developer comes with their own skills, experiences, and costs, and understanding these differences can help you determine the right fit for your project.
CSS vs. HTML Developers
The primary distinction between HTML and CSS engineers lies in their functions. HTML is like the skeleton of a webpage, and its developers are responsible for structuring the content. On the other hand, CSS is akin to the skin and clothes, and its engineers determine the look and style of the webpage (e.g., layout, colors, and fonts).
When you’re seeking to create or refine your company’s online presence, hiring an expert who specializes in both CSS and HTML is an excellent strategy, as both technologies are essential when constructing websites and complement each other. A site built with HTML without CSS would appear unstyled and unprofessional, while a CSS site without HTML would have no content or structure to enhance.
An expert proficient in both languages can create a complete, functional, and aesthetically pleasing website, and many companies prefer to hire developers who have expertise in both HTML and CSS. This combination is ideal for projects requiring a custom, responsive design that ensures an optimal user experience across various devices.
Project-specific CSS Developer Tools
Finally, you should consider a candidate’s familiarity with the CSS tools and libraries that benefit your project. Some of the most popular available options include:
PostCSS – Extends CSS code using JavaScript plugins; helpful in maintaining and optimizing CSS code, particularly for large-scale projects.
Can I Use – Provides compatibility data for CSS features across different web browsers, ensuring consistent functionality across all platforms.
<css-doodle /> – Facilitates the creation of complex patterns and shapes using CSS; ideal for crafting unique website elements.
CSSmatic – Simplifies the creation of custom CSS gradients (e.g., with a gradient generator feature), enhancing the visual appeal of designs.
CSS Blocks – Helps create reusable and maintainable CSS styles; particularly beneficial for large-scale web projects.
EnjoyCSS – Makes CSS code creation and customization easier; especially useful for quickly creating and adjusting CSS styles.
Bulma – Assists in crafting responsive and modular designs, simplifying the development process.
Clippy – Generates clip-path shapes in CSS, providing a straightforward way to create complex shapes.
Autoprefixer – Adds vendor prefixes to CSS rules automatically, allowing for cleaner, vendor-neutral CSS.
Identifying engineers who can effectively use the right tools for your project enhances development productivity and website quality. Though Less and Sass are required developer skills for all projects, CSS experts may not need experience with all the listed technologies—you may select the appropriate ones based on your business requirements.
How to Write a CSS Developer Job Description for Your Project
Having defined the attributes of your quality candidate, you may now craft your CSS developer job description. Begin by outlining the tasks and duties your engineer will be responsible for and provide precise details about the various projects they will be involved in. List the required technical skills (e.g., proficiency in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript; familiarity with CSS preprocessors; and experience with responsive design) and any desired soft skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving, and mentorship abilities).
There are multiple potential job titles you may list for a CSS programmer, including “Front-end Developer,” “Web Developer,” “UI Developer,” or “CSS Specialist.” Choose the title that effectively captures the essence of the role and accurately reflects its associated responsibilities. For inspiration, consider these HTML, front-end web, or UI/UX developer job description templates.
What are the most important CSS Developer interview questions?
The interview process is a valuable opportunity to delve further into a candidate’s skills, experience, and compatibility with your company’s culture. Here are some of the most critical questions to ask when interviewing a potential CSS engineer, along with the desirable details they might include in their answers:
Can you explain the CSS box model?
The box model is a critical CSS concept, and a strong developer should be able to explain it clearly. They should talk about its four parts—content, padding, margin, and border—and articulate how they work together to define the size and positioning of an element.
How do you approach responsive design?
Candidates should be able to articulate the principles of responsive design and describe how they’ve applied it in the past. They should highlight approaches such as implementing media queries, fluid grid layouts, and flexible (adaptive) images.
Have you worked with CSS preprocessors like Less or Sass?
Preprocessors can make managing CSS easier, especially for larger projects, and engineers who have experience with them and can articulate their advantages will likely be more efficient and productive. A candidate should point to specific examples of using preprocessors and describe how they benefited each project.
Can you share a time when you faced a challenging CSS issue?
This question provides insight into the candidate’s ability to solve problems effectively. The developer should detail the issue, how they approached solving it, and what they learned from the experience. Expect them to be specific about how they troubleshot and resolved it.
How do you ensure cross-browser compatibility?
Different browsers can interpret CSS differently, leading to inconsistencies in how a website looks and functions. A CSS expert will be familiar with these issues and have clear strategies for testing and ensuring compatibility across browsers.
How do you stay current with the latest CSS techniques and tools?
The field of web development is continually changing, and developers must stay on top of the latest advancements. Seek out candidates who demonstrate dedication to ongoing learning, whether through online tutorials, conferences, and/or coding communities.
For additional technical questions, you may consult the following guides with questions you can ask and answers you should expect:
While these examples gauge a candidate’s technical skills, assessing a developer’s soft skills and cultural fit is essential. You may round out the interview with questions that provide insights into their communication style, problem-solving methodology, and aptitude for collaborative teamwork.
Why do companies hire CSS Developers?
Ultimately, hiring a CSS expert is an investment in the online presence of your business. With their combination of technical skills and creativity, CSS experts can create websites that look good and provide a smooth and engaging user experience.
CSS developers play a critical role in crafting visually appealing and user-friendly websites. They translate designs into web elements, implementing everything from layouts and color schemes to animations and responsive designs. A top-notch user interface is crucial in today’s digital world, where a company’s website often serves as a first impression for potential customers.
CSS experts also contribute to a website’s performance and functionality:
They write efficient CSS code to minimize load times, enhancing the user experience and potentially improving search engine rankings.
They ensure cross-browser compatibility, ensuring the website appears and functions correctly across all major browsers.
CSS professionals serve a variety of projects, whether you’re launching a new corporate website, developing an online portfolio, designing an e-commerce platform, or starting a blog. As the web market expands, finding the right CSS expert to refine your website’s user experience will give you an edge over competitors. With the insights offered in this hiring guide, you will be prepared to attract, screen, and interview the best CSS programmers who will bring your vision for your web business to life.
The technical content presented in this article was reviewed by Inam Taj.
