Hire Developers in Ukraine: Pay, Talent Pool and How to Hire
Full-time employees in Ukraine's information and telecommunications sector earned UAH 77,924 gross on average in September 2026, 2.4 times the national average of UAH 33,153, according to the State Statistics Service. This is sector pay, the closest official figure for developers. With 22% employer ESV, the monthly cost is UAH 95,067.28, by our calculation.
This page is for founders and hiring managers deciding whether to hire software developers in Ukraine. It covers the size of the tech talent pool, what the sector pays, what an employee costs on top of pay, time zone overlap, the martial law rules that affect staffing, and the ways to hire. Ukraine is not in the European Union, and the figures come from the State Statistics Service, the National Bank and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Pay in information and telecommunications vs all activities in Ukraine
Ukraine exports of computer services, 2021 to 2026
Ukraine's tech talent pool in figures
The State Statistics Service of Ukraine counted 118.6 thousand full-time employees in information and telecommunications in September 2026, 2.2% of the 5,498.3 thousand full-time employees in its survey of enterprises. That count covers employees on payroll, not people who work as independent contractors.
Diia.City, the legal and tax regime for IT companies run by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, had more than 4,700 resident companies in October 2026. In May 2026 the ministry counted more than 169,000 IT specialists working at resident companies, with Kyiv home to about half of the residents.
Ukraine exported $6.59 billion of computer services in 2025, according to the National Bank of Ukraine's balance of payments. From January to September 2026, exports reached $5,148 million, 4.6% more than a year earlier. The table above shows the trend since 2021.
What developers earn in Ukraine
Ukraine does not publish official pay for software developers alone. The closest official figure is the information and telecommunications sector, which includes software and IT services as well as telecom and publishing. Full-time employees in that sector earned UAH 77,924 gross on average in September 2026, 2.4 times the average for all activities of UAH 33,153. Sector pay was 21.1% higher than in September 2025, by our calculation from the published figures.
The sector figures are gross, before income tax and military levy. Agree with each candidate whether a quoted salary is gross or net before you make an offer.
What it costs an employer on top of pay
An employer in Ukraine pays the unified social contribution (ESV) of 22% on top of gross pay, on at most UAH 172,940 a month in 2026. On the sector average of UAH 77,924, ESV is UAH 17,143.28, so the monthly cost is UAH 95,067.28. The employer also withholds 18% income tax and 5% military levy, which leaves UAH 60,001.48 net. See the full breakdown, the labor rules and the worked example in our guide to hiring in Ukraine.
Working together
Ukraine is on Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2), and on EEST (UTC+3) in summer. For most of the year Kyiv is 2 hours ahead of London and 7 hours ahead of New York. With a 9:00 to 18:00 working day in each city, that gives about 7 shared hours with London and about 2 with New York. The normal working week is up to 40 hours under the Labour Code. While martial law is in force, normal working time may reach 60 hours a week and basic paid leave is 24 calendar days.
Martial law also affects staffing. Companies with critical-enterprise status can apply through the Diia portal to reserve employees liable for military service. The criteria are set by the Cabinet of Ministers and have changed during martial law, so check them when you plan a team in Ukraine.
How to hire developers in Ukraine
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 Ukraine:
- Ukrainian entity: you register a company in Ukraine, run payroll, withhold income tax and military levy and pay the unified social contribution to the State Tax Service yourself.
- Employer of record (EOR): a third-party provider becomes the legal employer and runs Ukrainian 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 Ukraine
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 Ukraine?
Ukraine does not publish official pay for developers alone. Full-time employees in information and telecommunications, the closest official category, earned UAH 77,924 gross on average in September 2026, according to the State Statistics Service. That is about UAH 60,001.48 net after income tax and military levy, by our calculation.
How long does it take to hire a developer in Ukraine?
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. An employee can leave an open-ended contract with 2 weeks' written notice under the Labour Code.
Should I hire a developer in Ukraine as a contractor or an employee?
Both are possible. An employee is hired through your own Ukrainian entity or an employer of record, with 22% employer ESV 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 Ukraine to hire a developer there?
No. A company outside Ukraine 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 does martial law affect hiring in Ukraine?
While martial law is in force, normal working time may reach 60 hours a week and basic paid leave is 24 calendar days. Companies with critical-enterprise status can apply through the Diia portal to reserve employees liable for military service.
Sources
- Derzhstat, Data bank: survey of enterprises on labor statistics, average wage and number of full-time employees by economic activity. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Derzhstat, New on the site: salary, September 2026, published 29 Oct 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- National Bank of Ukraine, Balance of payments: computer services exports, monthly, USD million. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministry of Digital Transformation, Diia.City residents paid UAH 43.9 billion in taxes in the first 3 quarters of 2026, 14 Oct 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministry of Digital Transformation, Diia.City residents by region, 4,300+ companies and 169,000+ IT specialists, 21 May 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Ministry of Digital Transformation, How to reserve employees through the Diia portal, 17 Apr 2025. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- DPS, Changes to social standards and ESV from 1 Jan 2026, 13 Jan 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- DPS, PIT rate on salary, Tax Code art. 167.1. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- DPS, Military levy at 5% from 1 Dec 2024, Law No. 4015-IX. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Derzhpratsi, Maximum working time under martial law. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Derzhpratsi, Annual leave under martial law. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Derzhpratsi, Resignation notice, Labour Code art. 38. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
