What Skills Should a WordPress Developer Have?

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet today, making it one of the most popular platforms for building sites of all kinds—from blogs to eCommerce stores to business portals. But to truly unlock its potential, you need the expertise of a skilled WordPress developer.

If you’re planning to hire one, or become one yourself, you might be wondering: What skills should a WordPress developer have? In this blog, we break it down into technical, creative, and business skills that make a developer successful.

1. Basic Understanding of Core Web Languages

While a WordPress developer doesn’t need to be fluent in every programming language, having a solid understanding of the basics is essential—especially when customizing themes or extending functionality.

PHP – The primary language used in WordPress for server-side logic and customization.
HTML – For structuring content across pages and posts.
CSS – Used to style your website’s layout, colors, fonts, and overall appearance.
JavaScript – Helps add dynamic elements like sliders, pop-ups, and form validation.
MySQL – Powers the WordPress database; knowing how data is stored and retrieved can help troubleshoot or optimize performance.

More importantly, a WordPress developer should be confident working with themes, page builders (like Elementor, WPBakery), and essential plugins to build, customize, and manage client websites effectively.

2. Deep Knowledge of the WordPress Ecosystem

A good developer should understand how WordPress works inside and out. This includes:

Themes & Templates – Knowing how to build or customize themes
Plugins – Ability to install, customize, or develop plugins for added functionality
The WordPress Codex – Familiarity with official developer documentation
Child Themes – To safely modify themes without affecting updates
The Loop, Hooks, and Filters – Core concepts that make WordPress customizable

At Rah Digital, our developers leverage these tools to build responsive, secure, and SEO-friendly WordPress websites for businesses worldwide.

3. Understanding of Page Builders & CMS Tools

While custom coding is essential, many modern WordPress websites are built using visual page builders. Developers should be comfortable with:

Elementor
WPBakery Page Builder
Gutenberg (WordPress Block Editor)
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
WooCommerce – For building online stores

Knowing how to work with these tools allows developers to be efficient while still delivering powerful results.

4. Responsive and Mobile-First Design

With most users browsing on mobile, developers must build mobile-optimized websites. This means:

Designing responsive layouts that adapt to all screen sizes
Testing on mobile, tablet, and desktop
Using flexible media queries and grid systems

Speed and responsiveness are also important ranking factors in Google search.

5. SEO Best Practices

A developer doesn’t need to be an SEO expert—but having a good grasp of on-page SEO is critical. This includes:

Clean, semantic HTML
Optimized URLs, headings, and meta tags
Schema markup
Site speed optimization
Image compression
Mobile-first performance

At Rah Digital, we combine SEO-friendly development with on-site optimization using tools like Rank Math and Yoast SEO.

6. Security and Maintenance

WordPress sites are often targeted by bots and hackers. Developers should know how to:

Prevent vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, cross-site scripting)
Implement SSL and HTTPS
Use security plugins like Wordfence
Regularly update plugins, themes, and WordPress core
Perform backups and site monitoring

These steps help ensure that the website remains secure and functional long-term.

7. Familiarity with Hosting & Domains

Developers should also be able to:

Set up a domain and connect it to a host
Manage DNS settings
Work with cPanel, FTP, and SSH
Install WordPress manually if needed
Recommend suitable hosting providers (e.g., SiteGround, Cloudways, Bluehost) based on client needs

8. Soft Skills Matter Too

In addition to technical abilities, a great WordPress developer should have:

Communication skills – To understand client goals and explain solutions
Problem-solving skills – For troubleshooting bugs and site issues
Time management – Especially important when working with deadlines
Attention to detail – Clean code and pixel-perfect design matter
Collaboration – Ability to work with designers, marketers, and clients

Why These Skills Matter for Your Business

Hiring a developer with the right mix of technical and soft skills means your project is more likely to succeed. You’ll get a website that:

Is tailored to your business goals
Loads fast and looks great on all devices
Can grow with your business
Is secure and well-maintained
Ranks well in search engines

Final Thoughts

So, what skills should a WordPress developer have? The answer lies in a mix of technical expertise, real-world experience, creativity, and a mindset for problem-solving.

If you’re looking for a team that checks all the boxes, Rah Digital offers custom WordPress development with a full-stack approach—design, functionality, SEO, and ongoing support included.

📩 Contact us today or reach out via WhatsApp to get started.