WordPress has come a long way from being just a blogging site. Now it runs everything from big business websites to online stores and even software products. As WordPress has evolved, so have the skills and types of developers who work with it.
If you’ve ever thought about what kind of WordPress developer you are or who to bring on board, this article is here to help. We’ll break down the different types of developers and the most popular specializations out there.
Why Categorizing WordPress Developers Matters
Not all WordPress developers do the same kind of work. A freelancer using Elementor for client sites is vastly different from a developer building custom plugins or API integrations. Properly categorizing these roles helps:
- Businesses find the right talent
- Developers understand their growth path
- Agencies build balanced, multi-skilled teams
Core Types of WordPress Developers (By Skill and Approach)
We’ll start by identifying five main categories, from low-code users to experienced software engineers. These tiers represent increasing technical depth.
1. No-Code WordPress Implementers
Also known as: Page builder users, WordPress site builders, non-technical freelancers
Skillset:
- Drag-and-drop builders (Elementor, Divi, WPBakery)
- Theme installation & basic configuration
- Plugin setup (forms, SEO, caching)
- Minimal or no custom code
Common Work: Marketing pages, small business websites, brochure sites
2. Low-Code / Frontend-Focused WordPress Developers
Also known as: Theme customizers, frontend WordPress developers
Skillset:
- HTML, CSS, basic JS
- Child themes and layout tweaks
- Minor PHP for template edits
- Custom CSS and JavaScript
- Light use of hooks
Common Work: UI changes to themes, styling WooCommerce elements
3. Theme Developers (Intermediate Full-Stack)
Also known as: Custom theme developers, CMS engineers
Skillset:
- PHP, WordPress templating system
- Custom post types and taxonomies
- WP_Query, template hierarchy
- Enqueuing scripts/styles properly
- Basic plugin configuration and integrations
Common Work: Building custom themes, CMS-focused sites
4. Full-Stack WordPress Developers
Also known as: Plugin developers, backend-focused WP engineers
Skillset:
- Advanced PHP and JavaScript
- Plugin development
- WordPress REST API & AJAX
- Custom admin interfaces
- Security, sanitization, nonces
Common Work: Plugin creation, dynamic sites, complex integrations
5. WordPress Application Developers / Architects
Also known as: Lead engineers, headless WordPress architects
Skillset:
- Plugin and theme architecture design
- Headless CMS (REST/GraphQL)
- Multisite/multilingual systems
- Custom APIs and integrations
- Infrastructure scaling and caching
Common Work: SaaS platforms, large-scale or decoupled WordPress applications
Summary
| Tier | Developer Type | Key Focus | Writes Code | Example Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No-Code Implementer | Site setup & visual builders | No | Build with Elementor or Divi |
| 2 | Frontend WP Developer | HTML/CSS with light PHP | Yes (basic) | Style themes, add JavaScript |
| 3 | Custom Theme Developer | CMS structure & theming | Yes | Build CPTs, templates, taxonomies |
| 4 | Full-Stack WP Developer | Plugin logic, REST, APIs | Yes | Write plugins, integrate APIs |
| 5 | WP Architect / App Developer | Scalable apps & systems | Yes | Headless, multisite, advanced logic |
Conclusion
When people talk about a “WordPress developer,” they might be referring to anyone from someone who builds websites without code to a deep-tech system designer. If you get these different types, you can:
- Hire more cleverly by picking the right skill level
- Level up your own skills by figuring out your next moves
- Work together more smoothly by knowing who does what
No matter if you’re using Elementor to kick things off or heading up a headless WordPress project, there’s a route for every type of builder in the WordPress community.