For several months, IT companies have been facing a significant slowdown in the industry. Many of them faced a number of challenges and difficult personnel decisions related to this. Some of them were forced to make difficult choices in the form of layoffs, job cuts and salary freezes, while others took a cautious approach, prioritizing slow but steady growth in uncertain times. The reasons for these changes include, among others: a large number of IT specialists that have appeared on the labour market in Poland in recent years, in conjunction with the expanding impact of artificial intelligence and business revision in organizations.
Evolution or revolution in the IT industry? And how does this relate to the earnings of IT specialists in Poland?
Cpl experts estimate that earnings in the IT industry in 2024 will remain at the same level in most specializations. The amount of remuneration of IT specialists will depend primarily on experience and the position held, but the area of specialization will also be important - the differences may even reach several dozen thousand zlotys. The current salary rates in the IT industry in Poland, in selected areas, are as follows:
• IT Technical Support: PLN 5,550 - PLN 26,5000 gross,
• Software Development specialists: PLN 8,000 - 45,000 gross,,
• IT Security: PLN 14,000 - 35,000 gross,,
• Administration: PLN 13,000 - 23,000 gross,
• Database: PLN 16,000 - 22,000gross,
• Artificial intelligence: PLN 14,000 - PLN 32,000 gross.
According to data collected by Cpl, employers are currently most often looking for specialists in the following areas: Machine Learning Engineer, Data Scientist, AI Architect, AI Researcher, AI Engineer, DevOps Engineer related to AI.
Salaries in IT in Poland compared to Central and Eastern European countries
Cpl, conducting recruitment in CEE countries, compared the pay rates offered for the same positions. The results of the "CEE Salary Guide 2024" report show that Poles currently earn the best in the region - their salaries are comparable or even higher (depending on the position) than the Czechs, who had the highest salaries in the region a year ago. Poland is a leader in the region in terms of availability of qualified talent, especially in the case of niche positions or the latest technologies. The availability and quality of employees attract international companies to the Polish market. According to the comments of Cpl experts in the Czech Republic, local IT companies are saving heavily and have not increased salaries - the only positive changes concerned roles related to cloud solutions or DevOps. Slovaks, Hungarians and Bulgarians earn less on average than Poles and Czechs, with differences in individual positions amounting to up to PLN 10,000. The smallest increase in rates on the Slovak market was recorded in the IT sector. Current salary rates in the IT industry in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary, in selected areas, are as follows:
Software Developer Java
Poland avg. PLN 18,500 gross
Czech Republic avg. PLN 17,703 gross (CZK 90,000)
Slovakia avg. PLN 12,535 gross (EUR 2,900)
Hungary avg. PLN 12,121 gross (HUF 1,072,500)
Bulgaria avg. PLN 15,155 net (BGN 6,850)
Software Developer C/C++
Poland avg. PLN 15,000 gross
Czech Republic avg. PLN 15,703 gross (CZK 90,000)
Slovakia avg. PLN 11,239 gross (EUR 2,600)
Hungary avg. PLN 14,014 gross (HUF 1,240,000)
Bulgaria avg. PLN 14,401 net (BGN 6,500)
Data scientist
Poland avg. PLN 23,500 gross
Czech Republic avg. PLN 17,448 gross (CZK 100,000)
Slovakia avg. PLN 14,912 gross (EUR 3,450)
Hungary avg. PLN 10,002 gross (HUF 885,000)
Business Intelligence Developer
Poland avg. PLN 16,000 gross
Czech Republic avg. PLN 13,087 gross (CZK 75,000)
Slovakia avg. PLN 10,458 gross (EUR 2,400),
Hungary avg. PLN 12,523 gross (HUF 1,108,000)
The level of remuneration is influenced by economic conditions in individual countries, the size of the labour market and the presence of foreign entities.
Investments in the development of new skills of IT employees will be key to maintaining the competitiveness of companies - both business and personnel. Employers should verify their plans as soon as possible - including their personal competences - in order to offer their employees, the opportunity to acquire new skills, thereby increasing the competitiveness of companies on the labour market. As Cpl experts note, flexibility, adaptation to new market conditions and the use of technological development, combined with human potential, are becoming key elements for companies and IT professionals striving to achieve success in this constantly developing industry.
The data quoted above are only a small part of the statistics presented in the Cpl report "CEE Salary Guide 2024". The results of the study, along with expert opinions and forecasts for 2024, are available on the CEE Salary Guide 2024 (cpl.com)