Hire Developers in Serbia: Pay, Talent Pool and How to Hire
Employees in computer programming, consultancy and related activities in Serbia earned RSD 406,337 gross and RSD 294,941 net on average in August 2026, 2.5 times the national average, according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. With 15.15% employer contributions, the monthly cost is RSD 467,897.06, by our calculation. Serbia had 120,600 ICT specialists in employment in 2025.
This page is for founders and hiring managers deciding whether to hire software developers in Serbia. It covers the size of the tech talent pool, what developers earn, what an employee costs on top of pay, time zone overlap and the ways to hire. Serbia is not in the European Union, and the figures come from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Eurostat and the National Bank of Serbia.
Developer pay in Serbia: computer programming vs all activities
ICT specialists in employment in Serbia, 2020 to 2025
Serbia's tech talent pool in figures
Serbia had 120,600 ICT specialists in employment in 2025, 4.2% of all employment, according to Eurostat. The EU average share was 5.0%. The number is 52.5% higher than in 2020, when it was 79,100. Eurostat marks a break in the Serbian series in 2021, so part of that rise may come from a change in the survey. Women made up 20.8% of ICT specialists in 2025, against 19.5% in the EU.
Serbian universities and colleges produced 3,385 graduates in information and communication technologies in 2024, 8.9% of all tertiary graduates. That is 20.2% more than in 2019, and 35.3% of the 2024 ICT graduates were women.
Serbia exported EUR 4.55 billion of ICT services in 2025, 10.2% more than in 2024, according to the National Bank of Serbia. From January to August 2026, ICT services exports reached EUR 3,139.5 million, 5.8% more than a year earlier.
What developers earn in Serbia
The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) publishes pay for computer programming, consultancy and related activities (division 62), the activity that covers software development and IT consultancy. Employees there earned RSD 406,337 gross and RSD 294,941 net on average in August 2026, 2.5 times the average for all activities of RSD 161,953 gross. From January to August 2026 the division 62 average was RSD 420,084 gross, 3.5% more than in the same period of 2025.
These are averages for everyone in the activity, not only developers, and they include bonuses paid in the month. The EU Structure of Earnings Survey gives a second view: in October 2022, professionals in information and communication earned RSD 339,846 gross a month, 3.1 times the average for all employees. Serbian pay is often quoted net, so agree with each candidate whether a salary is gross or net before you make an offer.
What it costs an employer on top of pay
Employers in Serbia pay 15.15% in social contributions on gross pay in 2026: 10% for pension and disability insurance and 5.15% for health insurance. Contributions are paid on at most RSD 732,820 a month. On the division 62 average of RSD 406,337, employer contributions are RSD 61,560.06, so the monthly cost is RSD 467,897.06, by our calculation. The employer also withholds the employee's 19.9% contributions and 10% salary tax from gross pay. See the full breakdown, the labor rules and a worked example in our guide to hiring in Serbia.
Working together
Serbia is on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1), and on CEST (UTC+2) in summer. For most of the year Belgrade is 1 hour ahead of London and 6 hours ahead of New York. With a 9:00 to 17:00 working day in each city, that gives about 7 shared hours with London and about 2 with New York. Full time is 40 hours a week under the Labour Law, and paid annual leave is at least 20 working days.
How to hire developers in Serbia
Placement. We source, screen and interview remote developers and deliver a shortlist of 3 vetted candidates within 21 days for a flat $6,500. If we do not deliver the shortlist, you get your deposit back. See how placement works.
Job post. Prefer to run the search yourself? Post a job for $299 and reach candidates who want to work remotely.
Once you have chosen the person, there are 3 ways to employ them in Serbia:
- Serbian entity: you register a company in Serbia, run payroll, withhold salary tax and pay the contributions to the Tax Administration yourself.
- Employer of record (EOR): a third-party provider becomes the legal employer and runs Serbian payroll for a monthly fee per employee. Your company directs the work.
- Contractor: the person invoices you through their own business. The relationship has to be genuinely independent, or it can count as employment.
Euro Remote Talent does not employ people on your behalf. We handle the placement: we find and shortlist the candidate, and you employ them through the route that fits.
More on hiring in Serbia
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average developer salary in Serbia?
Employees in computer programming, consultancy and related activities earned RSD 406,337 gross and RSD 294,941 net on average in August 2026, according to RZS. That covers everyone in the activity, not only developers. The average for all activities was RSD 161,953 gross.
How long does it take to hire a developer in Serbia?
With our placement service, you get a shortlist of 3 vetted candidates within 21 days, or your deposit back. Interviews, the offer and notice periods come on top. Under the Labour Law an employee gives at least 15 days' notice, and up to 30 days if the contract says so.
Should I hire a developer in Serbia as a contractor or an employee?
Both are possible. An employee is hired through your own Serbian entity or an employer of record, with 15.15% employer contributions on top of gross pay. A contractor invoices you through their own business, but the relationship has to be genuinely independent, or it can count as employment.
Do I need a company in Serbia to hire a developer there?
No. A company outside Serbia can use an employer of record, a third-party provider that employs the person for you, or a genuine contractor agreement. Euro Remote Talent handles the placement: we find, screen and shortlist the person, and you choose the route.
How many ICT specialists work in Serbia?
120,600 in 2025, 4.2% of all employment, according to Eurostat. Serbian higher education produced 3,385 ICT graduates in 2024.
Sources
- RZS, Proseฤne zarade po zaposlenom, avgust 2026, table 3 by activity, published 26 Oct 2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Employed ICT specialists (isoc_sks_itspt). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Employed ICT specialists by sex (isoc_sks_itsps). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Tertiary graduates by field of education, ICT (educ_uoe_grad02). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean monthly earnings by occupation and activity (earn_ses22_48). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- National Bank of Serbia, Balance of payments developments, January to December 2025. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- National Bank of Serbia, Balance of payments developments, January to August 2026, 16 Oct 2026. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
- Poreska uprava, Law on Contributions for Mandatory Social Insurance, in force from 1 Jan 2026, art. 44. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
- Poreska uprava, Bilten CVPO 1/2026: contribution bases for 2026. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
- Pravno-informacioni sistem RS, Zakon o radu (Labour Law), art. 51, 68 and 178. Checked 3 Nov 2026.
