Are you wondering how much it costs to hire developers from different locations?
You’ve come to the right place.
According to the Stack Overflow Study 2023, the United States, Switzerland, Israel, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Australia are the top spots where developers are cashing in big time.
In this article, we will explore the tech landscape of the top 6 highest developer salaries and the factors that make these countries tech havens.
So, grab your password, buckle up, and let’s explore the world of development!
The Top 6 Highest Developer Salaries In The World
1. United States
Developer salaries in the USA are among the highest in the world, ranging from $112,000 to $200,000 USD per year.
The USA is home to the world’s largest and most dynamic tech industry with Silicon Valley as its center. The country is a location of many tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Tesla, Nvidia, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon. The innovation ecosystem grows with lots of venture capital, top universities, and a strong entrepreneurial culture.
While earning the highest salaries, developers in the USA face a high cost of living. Major tech hubs like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle have high living costs, in particular a housing price. In Silicon Valley, many software developers find it hard to afford living there since the median home price exceeds $1million USD.
2. Switzerland
Even though Europeans are known for their “work to live” philosophy, unlike the American “live to work”, developers in Switzerland earn around between $105,000 and $148,000 USD per year.
Switzerland ranks one of the top IT industries due to its strong focus on high-quality research and innovation and has many multinational technology companies like Google (European Headquarters in Zurich), ABB, Logitech, and Swisscom.
3. Israel
Israel, known as the “Startup Nation,” relies heavily on its tech sector, which contributes 18% to local GDP. With substantial investments from both investors and export revenues, software engineers in Israel can expect some of the best salaries in the world.
Developers in Israel earn between $85,000 and $140,000 USD per year.
The country is well-known in cybersecurity, AI, and medical technology with notable tech companies including Check Point Software Technologies, Mobileye, Monday.com, and Nice Systems.
4. Ireland
When you think of Ireland, shamrocks, leprechauns, and Guinness might come to mind. But recently, Ireland has earned a reputation as a major tech hub in Europe.
Irish developers earn between $75,000 and $128,000 USD per year.
The country has seen significant foreign direct investment from global tech giants with venture capital funding for Irish SEMs reaching over €1 billion in 2022.
Many big tech companies have set up in Ireland. Dublin, home to over 2,200 startups, ranks 8th in the European Digital City Index and hosts over 8,000 Google employees. Cork has 6,000 Apple employees, and Amazon has been investing in Ireland for 20 years, employing over 5,000 people since opening its first office in 2004.
5. Luxembourg
Located in the heart of Europe and bordered by Germany, France, and Belgium, Luxembourg offers a stable economic, political, and social environment that is ideal for the growth of startups.
Developers here earn between $70,000 and $128,000 USD per year.
Luxembourg has excellent ICT infrastructure, including top-notch data centers and strong cybersecurity. This makes it a great place for e-commerce and e-payment companies to succeed.
Major players like Amazon, Paypal, and Rakuten have chosen Luxembourg as their European base. The country also has a skilled workforce with many PhD graduates and ICT specialists, which is great for the fintech sector.
6. Australia
Software developers in Australia earn between $72,000 and $118,000 USD per year.
Australia is a top choice for tech professionals due to its good weather, high standard of living and competitive software developer salaries.
Major companies like Canva, Atlassian, and Procreate, along with government support, are driving the country’s goal of a top-ten digital economy by 2030, making it attractive to IT professionals.
However, high developer salaries are partly due to the high cost of living. Prices in Australia rose by 7.0% in the year up to March 2023. Sydney typically has the highest average salaries, but cities like Canberra and Perth also offer competitive pay in the IT sector.
Hidden costs of Developer Salaries
Local taxes (except Ireland) and other costs such as paid leave and pension quickly add up making the real cost to companies vastly exceed the salaries mentioned in this article. For a real world example, one of Trienpont’s clients in Europe contracts an ex-employee who relocated to Bangkok earlier this year.
The monthly cost to the company in Europe is significantly less, our engineer’s take home salary is not too different than it was in Europe but thanks to much lower living costs his quality of life has improved significantly.
Thailand’s Position as a Global Tech Hub
Thailand is emerging as a top tech hub in Southeast Asia, attracting expat entrepreneurs, tech companies, and tech talent to develop their careers.
Here are reasons why Thailand is becoming a regional hub for technology.
1. Homegrown Talent
With Strong educational foundations and local training programs, Thailand has excellent computer science programs at its top universities which are Chulalongkorn University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, and Mahidol University.
We have witnessed this. We have seen this firsthand with developers like Mix, a graduate of King Mongkut’s University of Technology. His work showcases his skills, as he has contributed to numerous software projects and specializes in various technologies.
2. International Talent Pool
Thailand’s tech landscape, affordable cost of living, vibrant culture, and great food make Thailand an appalling destination for tech talent seeking new opportunities. This diverse talent pool brings a wealth of experience and perspectives to the country’s tech industry.
At Trienpont, we have a team of tech experts from around the globe including Belgium, Myanmar, France, India and Australia.
3. Major Tech Companies and Startups
Today, the Thai startup ecosystem is currently ranked 53 globally and 11 in Asia Pacific.
Major tech companies like Agoda, Lazada, Shopee, and Grab have significant operations in Thailand. Agoda, for example, has over 2,000 employees in Bangkok. The Thailand Techsauce Global Summit also aims to make Thailand a digital gateway in the next 3-5 years.
Why Not Build Your Dream Tech Team in Thailand?
Thailand’s tech landscape boasts a rich pool of homegrown and international talent, making it a reliable and cost-effective choice for outsourcing developers. Compared to hiring in other markets, outsourcing to Thailand can save you up to 40%-50%.
At Trienpont International, our tech specialists undergo rigorous screening and real-world testing, ensuring their expertise and relieving you of HR burdens or the hassle of finding freelance developers. Our developers are skilled in various technologies and can adapt to different project needs, ensuring excellent results.
Contact us to access a diverse global talent pool for your digital projects.