Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CONTENTS
OVERVIEW 3
ATTRITION INSIGHTS 6
RECRUITMENT PROCESS INSIGHTS 9
EMPLOYEE NET PROMOTER SCORE 14
CONTRACTOR BEHAVIOR 15
WORKING MODEL 17
CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED AN ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER 19
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES 24
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 31
SALARY STRUCTURES & FAIR SALARIES 31
SALARY INCREASES IN 2023 35
ANNUAL BONUSES 37
CURRENT BENEFITS 38
ATTRACTIVE BENEFITS 42
Learning Interests And Trends Within The Tech Community 44
METHODOLOGY & DEMOGRAPHICS 46
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
OVERVIEW
The tech industry in Romania is still experiencing growth in average salaries, although this
growth seems to be more temperate (9%, as compared to 20% the previous year). The average
salary for tech professionals is currently 3,402E, net, monthly, reflecting still a positive upward
trend in the industry.
The data on salary increases in 2023 shows a diverse range of experiences among
professionals regarding their compensation. A significant portion, 23%, did not receive any
salary increase, highlighting that nearly a quarter of the workforce did not see financial
growth in that year. However, the majority did experience some level of increase, with the
most common increments being between 5% and 10% (20% of respondents) and 0% - 5%
(17%). Notably, a smaller but substantial group reported more significant increases, with 6%
each in the 20% - 30% and over 30% brackets. On the other hand, 10% of the respondents
experienced a salary decrease, with 9% attributing it to the elimination of the tax exemption
and 1% to other reasons.
Attrition is stable, with a small drop to 21% from 24%, while there’s a shift of freelancers
moving to employment contracts, at least for the next year.
Recruitment has slowed down in 2023, with less candidates participating in recruitment
process (48% as compared to 55% active candidates) and an average of 1.3 recruitment
process as compared to 1.8 in January 2023. We see this as an effect of the decrease of
projects and recruitment objectives in employer plans. On the other side, professionals show
slightly more availability for new career opportunities, as 73% (vs. 68% in January 2023) are
interested to find out about them.
The Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) for the industry is 12, a decrease from 23, the
previous year. While both years show a positive eNPS, indicating that more employees are
promoters rather than detractors, the decrease in the score from 2023 to 2024 is a significant
indicator of changing employee attitudes towards their employers.
There is a strong and sustained preference for remote work among professionals, with the
majority favoring a full remote workweek (5 days) in both 2023 and 2024. However, there is a
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
slight shift from full remote to more flexible, partial remote arrangements from 2023 to 2024,
as evidenced by the increase in professionals with 2 to 4 days of remote work. This shift
brings, on average, a 4.3 days per week remote in Jan 2024, as compared to 4.5 days per week
in January 2023.
Professional objectives for individuals in the IT sector reveal a clear hierarchy of career
priorities. The most predominant goal, shared by 72% of professionals, is to increase their
salary package, highlighting the primary importance of financial compensation in career
progression. Following this, 57% of individuals prioritize having a work-life balance, reflecting
a significant concern for maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal
life. The desire to learn new technologies is also a key objective for 50% of the respondents,
indicating a strong inclination towards continuous learning and keeping up with the rapidly
evolving tech landscape.
The expectations regarding the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on jobs in the next five
years present a diverse range of perspectives. A significant portion of respondents (44%)
believe their jobs will not be affected by AI, indicating a perception that their roles are either
too specialized or distinct for AI integration. However, almost an equal number (40%)
anticipate that AI will automate some of their tasks, suggesting an awareness of the potential
for AI to streamline or alter certain aspects of their work. Notably, a smaller percentage (6%)
foresee a significant impact of AI on their jobs, reflecting concerns or predictions about
substantial changes or disruptions due to AI advancements.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
ATTRITION INSIGHTS
The overall attrition rate has fluctuated over the years, peaking in 2019 and decreasing
thereafter, reaching 21% in January 2024. The previous year has been a slightly more stable
year in terms of attrition, with an average of 21% at the national level, as compared to 24% in
January 2023.
What are the reasons for the last job change? Jan 2024
I was offered a better salary package 62%
I was offered a better product and more complex technologies 27%
I was overworked / burnout 20%
Relationship with my manager 12%
I was offered a career advancement (team lead, etc) 10%
My project ended 8%
I wanted to work as a freelancer 7%
Relationship with the team 6%
Office location 4%
I was fired / restructured 4%
In how many recruitment processes (at least one interview) did you
2024
participate in 2022?
1 16%
2 10%
3 7%
4 3%
More than 4 12%
None 52%
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
Roles with a business or data focus, like Business Analysts and Data Scientists, are more active
in the job market compared to more traditional IT roles. This could be reflective of the
evolving nature of the tech industry, where data analysis and business integration are
becoming increasingly important. The relatively lower activity in certain technical roles may
suggest a more stable job market or specific industry trends affecting these roles.
In general, Development Roles - i.e. Backend Developer, Fullstack Developer, and Mobile
Developer show similar levels of activity (around 1.3 processes), reflecting a standard level of
movement in the developer job market. Specialized Roles like DevOps/Cloud Engineer and
RPA Developer, with an average of 1.4 to 1.8 processes, indicate a healthy interest in
specialized technical skills.
In terms of reasons for rejecting job offers in January 2024, the most common reason for
turning down an offer was the salary package not meeting expectations. This highlights the
critical role of financial compensation in job acceptance decisions and suggests a high value
placed on salary in the overall employment package. Another significant factor influencing
the decision to stay with a current employer was the perception of ease and safety in doing so,
which is at a considerable 28% in January 2024.
A large portion - 32% of the workforce - is in a state of consideration regarding job changes,
with a significant number open to new opportunities but not actively pursuing them. The
increase in candidates actively seeking new opportunities in 2024 could be indicative of
changing job market dynamics, employee sentiment, or economic factors.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
Are you currently available for new job opportunities? Jan 2024
Maybe 40%
Yes 32%
No 16%
Only as a freelancer (PFA/SRL) 10%
Only abroad 3%
To what degree would you recommend your current employer to your friends and
2024
acquaintances?
1 2%
2 1%
3 2%
4 3%
5 6%
6 8%
7 18%
8 26%
9 16%
10 18%
CONTRACTOR BEHAVIOR
There is a notable decrease in the percentage of individuals working as PFA/SRL from 18% in
January 2023 to 13% in January 2024. This decline could indicate a shift in preference towards
more traditional employment models, possibly due to changes in market conditions,
regulatory environments, or perceived stability in standard employment.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
The attractiveness of working as a PFA (authorized physical person) or SRL (limited liability
company) reflects changing perceptions among professionals in the period between 2021 and
January 2024. In 2022, a significant 43% of respondents were considering the option of
working as a PFA/SRL, indicating a strong interest in these forms of self-employment.
However, this interest has gradually declined to 35% in 2023 and further to 29% in 2024. This
decreasing trend might be influenced by various factors such as changes in the economic
environment, evolving professional priorities, or perhaps challenges and complexities
associated with operating as a PFA/SRL, and increased taxation. The proportion of
respondents who are not well-informed about this type of work has remained relatively
stable, hovering around 21-26%, suggesting a consistent gap in knowledge or awareness
about the specifics of these work structures.
Another notable trend is the growing concern about the new fiscal changes making PFA/SRL
structures less attractive, increasing from 12% in 2023 to 16% in 2024. This indicates that
regulatory changes can significantly impact the appeal of these work formats. The percentage
of respondents who find working as a PFA/SRL very attractive has remained relatively stable,
fluctuating slightly around 14-15%. Additionally, a small but noteworthy portion of
professionals (5% in 2024) reported transitioning from PFA/SRL to traditional employment,
suggesting a movement towards more conventional work arrangements for some.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
WORKING MODEL
There is a strong and sustained preference for remote work among professionals, with the
majority favoring a full remote workweek (5 days) in both 2023 and 2024. However, there is a
slight shift from full remote to more flexible, partial remote arrangements from 2023 to 2024,
as evidenced by the increase in professionals with 2 to 4 days of remote work. This shift
brings, on average, a 4.3 days per week remote in Jan 2024, as compared to 4.5 days per week
in January 2023. The consistency in the percentage of professionals with no remote work days
suggests a stable segment of the workforce either prefers or is required to work on-site.
How many days of remote work (work from home) per week do you currently get? 2024
0 days 3%
1 day 1%
2 days 7%
3 days 10%
4 days 8%
5 days 70%
Throughout 2019 to 2024, the most consistently important factor for professionals has been
whether the company pays well, with a steady increase in its importance, peaking at 84% in
2024. This trend underscores the enduring significance of financial compensation in job
attractiveness. However, there has been a notable shift in emphasis towards the well-being of
employees. While still a key factor in 2024 (63%), the focus on employee well-being has seen a
decrease from its peak in 2020 and 2021 (71%), suggesting a possible rebalancing of priorities
or a response to changing workplace environments post-pandemic.
Another significant shift is observed in the importance attached to companies that develop
complex projects and work with new technologies. Although still valued by more than half of
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
the respondents in 2024 (57%), this criterion has seen a decrease from its high in 2019 and
2020, indicating evolving attitudes towards the type of work or the technology sector's
maturity. Investment in training and development, and the provision of promotion
opportunities, have remained relatively stable but show a slight downward trend in recent
years, reflecting possible changes in career development expectations. The importance of
workplace location has decreased, possibly influenced by the rise of remote work options.
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES
The data on professional objectives for individuals in the IT sector reveals a clear hierarchy of
career priorities. The most predominant goal, shared by 72% of professionals, is to increase
their salary package, highlighting the primary importance of financial compensation in career
progression. Following this, 57% of individuals prioritize having a work-life balance, reflecting
a significant concern for maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal
life. The desire to learn new technologies is also a key objective for 50% of the respondents,
indicating a strong inclination towards continuous learning and keeping up with the rapidly
evolving tech landscape.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
The Perceived Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) On Industry Jobs In The Next Five
Years. We also wanted to investigate what is the perception of the IT professionals regarding
the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on their jobs in the next five years. A significant
portion of respondents (44%) believe their jobs will not be affected by AI, indicating a
perception that their roles are either too specialized or distinct for AI integration. However,
almost an equal number (40%) anticipate that AI will automate some of their tasks,
suggesting an awareness of the potential for AI to streamline or alter certain aspects of their
work. Notably, a smaller percentage (6%) foresee a significant impact of AI on their jobs,
reflecting concerns or predictions about substantial changes or disruptions due to AI
advancements. Meanwhile, 10% of respondents are uncertain about AI's impact, highlighting
a degree of ambiguity or lack of clarity about the future role of AI in their professional lives.
This spread of opinions underscores the varying degrees of AI awareness and anticipation
across different job sectors and roles, reflecting both the potential opportunities and
challenges that AI may bring to the workforce.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
As compared to previous years, the average salary in January 2024 has seen a smaller
increase (9% vs 20% in January 2023). However, this increase does not seem to align with the
expectations of professionals at various experience levels. Particularly for those in the early
stages of their careers (0-1 years and 1-2 years), the current salary falls significantly short of
their expectations, with a gap of 21% and 35% respectively. This discrepancy suggests a sense
of undercompensation among these groups, possibly leading to dissatisfaction or a feeling of
being undervalued.
Some roles have seen a significant increase in salary from 2023 to 2024, indicating a growing
market value for these positions. For instance, Infrastructure Engineers experienced a
substantial raise from €2,756 to €3,489, reflecting perhaps a heightened demand or a shortage
of skilled professionals in this area. Similarly, Technical Writers saw a notable increase from
€1,880 to €2,100, suggesting an increased recognition of the value of this role in the tech
sector.
Conversely, several roles have witnessed a decrease in salary, which could be indicative of
various factors such as market saturation, evolving industry needs, the impact of the fiscal
modifications or shifts in the technology landscape.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
In major tech hubs like Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, there's an increase in salaries from 2023
to 2024, indicating a robust growth in these urban centers. However, these increases still fall
short of the expected salaries for 2024, suggesting a gap between current compensation and
employee expectations.
Your current type of employment by What is your CURRENT net income (salary) on a
2024
monthly basis, in Euro
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
A significant portion, 23% of IT professionals, did not receive any salary increase, highlighting
that nearly a quarter of the workforce did not see financial growth in that year. However, the
majority did experience some level of increase, with the most common increments being
between 5% and 10% (20% of respondents) and 0% - 5% (17%). A smaller but substantial
group reported more significant increases, with 6% each in the 20% - 30% and over 30%
brackets. On the other hand, 10% of the respondents experienced a salary decrease, with 9%
attributing it to the elimination of the tax exemption and 1% to other reasons.
0% - 5% 17%
5% - 10% 20%
15% - 20% 8%
20% - 30% 6%
Over 30% 6%
NO 23%
ANNUAL BONUSES
51% of IT professionals receive an annual bonus. In average, the bonus is 11.2% of their
annual salary.
The responses regarding the criteria for qualifying for a bonus in 2023 and 2024 indicates
shifting trends and priorities in performance incentives. In 2024, personal performance, as
assessed in performance evaluation meetings, remains the most common criterion, but its
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
significance has decreased from 49% in 2023 to 37%. This suggests a possible shift towards
more holistic or varied evaluation methods.
The emphasis on company results as a criterion has increased slightly (from 25% to 30%),
indicating a growing focus on overall organizational success rather than purely individual
achievements.
What are the criteria you would need to satisfy to qualify for the bonus? 2024
Personal performance (based on an performance evaluation meeting) 37%
Company results 30%
No criteria, the bonus is guaranteed 11%
Project success and deliverables 15%
Tenure in the company 7%
CURRENT BENEFITS
Both in January 2023 and January 2024, the most prevalent benefit is the ability to work from
home, with a slight increase from 81% in 2023 to 82% in 2024, reinforcing the growing
emphasis on remote work flexibility in the post-pandemic era. This is complemented by the
benefit of remote work (working offsite), which also saw an increase from 53% to 56%,
indicating a continued shift towards accommodating offsite work arrangements. However,
there's a notable decrease in other traditional benefits like meal tickets (from 64% to 60%)
and flex time (62% to 58%), suggesting a possible realignment of benefit priorities to adapt to
the changing work environment. Additionally, consistent offerings such as additional vacation
days and medical insurance maintain their prevalence, reflecting their continued importance
in the benefits package.
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
Flexible benefits (you choose your benefits based on a budget offered by your employer) 21%
ATTRACTIVE BENEFITS
There is a shift in the perceived value of work benefits as compared to the previous year. Work
flexibility, in the form of work-from-home options and flex time, continues to be highly valued
by employees, with a slight uptick in preference for work-from-home arrangements. This
suggests an increasing trend towards a desire for greater work-life balance and autonomy in
one's work schedule. Additionally, the appeal of financial incentives such as the 13th salary
remains strong, reflecting a consistent appreciation for direct monetary benefits.
Conversely, there is a decline in the perceived attractiveness of some traditional benefits such
as medical insurance, meal tickets, and dental coverage. This change could be indicative of a
broader reassessment of benefit priorities, possibly influenced by the ongoing global health
and economic climates. As remote work becomes more embedded in corporate culture, the
allure of office-based perks and physical presence-related benefits, like gym subscriptions
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
and office perks, has diminished, pointing to a potential recalibration of benefits packages
that companies may need to consider to attract and retain talent.
Books
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
YouTube Channels
Other Interests
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TECH SALARY & EMPLOYMENT BEHAVIOR REPORT 2024
Demographics
Targu Mures 2%
Oradea 2%
Craiova 2%
Other 6%
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