The real cost of hiring an MQL5 programmer

On general marketplaces like Upwork, MQL5 developers list from around $10/hour at the low end. Specialists who avoid general bidding wars — often found on MQL5.com's own freelance section — commonly charge $60–100+/hour.

Simple modifications or small indicator conversions tend to run $30–$200. A real strategy with proper entries, exits, and risk management — the kind most traders actually want automated — more commonly lands in the $150–$500+ range, scaling up with complexity: multiple timeframes, multiple instruments, or more elaborate risk logic.

Initial delivery is commonly quoted at 2–4 weeks. Once revisions are factored in — almost always needed, since a spec written by someone other than the developer rarely survives first contact with real requirements — 4–6+ weeks is a more realistic total, often longer.

None of this includes what happens the next time you want to change a rule. Most freelance engagements are scoped per-project, so a revision six months later is frequently a new paid engagement — sometimes with a different developer who has to relearn the strategy from scratch.