Hire Developers in Serbia: The Ultimate Guide to Serbia’s IT Landscape

The Serbian IT market has been experiencing dynamic growth recently and steadily evolves into one of the most attractive technology hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the current state of offshore software development Serbia offerings and everything you should know about it: key benefits, talent availability, salary ranges, the strongest tech cities to hire employees in Serbia, recommendations on finding and working with Serbian developers, and more.

Serbia’s IT Sector: Key Facts

With its actively growing tech sector, Serbia stands out as a compelling destination for high-quality development services. For example:

• The Serbian software development field is projected to reach a whopping €4.4 billion in 2025;
• ICT sector contributes around 10% to Serbia’s GDP;
• In the last 10 years, Serbia was able to expand its tech talent pool from 40,000 to 125,000 specialists and counting.

According to the Global Innovation Index 2025, Serbia ranks 54th out of 139 economies in and is 7th among the 36 upper-middle-income economies. 

Above all, it holds high positions in such innovation categories as Knowledge and technology outputs (35th place), Infrastructure (39th), and Human Capital and Research (49th). This, in turn, means a data-backed proof of Serbia’s strong talent, solid infrastructure, and the capability to turn research and technology into real products and economic value.

Serbia Global Innovation Index 2025: Key Categories

Factors for Tech Sector Development

While already active as a tech ecosystem, Serbia’s ITC potential horizons are beyond promising. First and foremost, it is driven by the following factors:

• Government support for digital innovation

Over €135 million allocated to boost local IT hubs and upgrade the local IT infrastructure in 2023 alone.

• Growing interest among global and regional investors

An 18% increase in investment funds in recent years is a strong signal in investor confidence.

• Strong pipeline for technical education

In recent years, there’s an impressive 68% growth in freshmen enrolled for ICT-related academic programs in Serbia.

• High English proficiency

Serbia boasts an English Proficiency Index score of 567, which is categorized as “High Proficiency” and guarantees smooth international collaboration.

Key Areas of Specialization

According to the number of companies in specific IT service categories, it becomes evident that Serbia has a strong presence and expertise in fields of mobile app development, software development, and web app development. 

Meanwhile, beyond these core areas, representation of firms in other more niche IT services drops significantly. Among others, the lowest presence is seen in categories such as game development, blockchain, IoT, AI, DevOps, and Web3.

A small note: when selecting development partners in Serbia, take both the strong and niche service categories into account. For example, if you want to hire BI developers in Serbia, take into account that a longer time might be required for finding the right fit. 

Otherwise, you can reach out to the Mobilunity experts who will help you find developers with the right skills for you.

Expertise Level

Serbian development companies consistently earn high scores across all core services. Client rankings speak for themselves, such as:

• Top software developers in Serbia category averages a 4.6 rating;
• Top web developers category also have a 4.6;
• Mobile app development boasts a 4.7 rating.

These numbers can serve as a strong indicator of trust and proven performance, which also suggests Serbia is a reliable destination for outsourcing various IT projects.

Key Considerations and Must-Prepare Steps Before Hiring Engineers from Serbia

Before you hire engineers from Serbia, ensure you are caught up with all these aspects.

• Check visa or relocation requirements if applicable

While hiring engineers remotely is straightforward, relocating talent or hiring international workers inside Serbia may involve additional documentation and permit steps.

• Clarify taxation and compliance requirements early

Understand Serbian social contributions, payroll obligations, confidentiality, IP ownership, data security, etc. This way, you can mitigate potential issues later on.

• Adjust compensation and benefits based on local standards

Consider that corporate benefits are among top-focus factors of Serbian developers, and adjust it accordingly to local standards to ensure you attract and maintain top tech talent. 

• Approach hiring with cultural awareness

Serbian specialists appreciate clarity over corporate politeness and prefer concrete expectations.

• Assess experience working with global clients

Most Serbian engineering teams are accustomed to European and US collaboration, but reviewing delivery history, time-zone readiness, and remote processes helps validate alignment.

• Consider language and localization preferences

English is widely spoken at a professional level, but translating job descriptions or onboarding guides into Serbian can strengthen rapport and expand your reach.

• Choose established hiring partners

The right partner will help you reach your goals faster. You can benefit from streamlined hiring cycles, lower operational risks, stable employee retention, and other partnership perks.

The Employment Conditions in Serbia

Serbia provides a structured employment environment well-aligned with European labor standards. Review the table below to better understand all the essentials of hiring in Serbia.

IT Market in Different Cities In Serbia

In recent years, many cities have emerged as major hubs for IT services. Tech incubators, investment opportunities, and offices of global IT providers all contribute to that growth. Let’s explore the country’s major tech centers in more detail below.

Belgrade

As the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade has established itself as the leading Serbian IT hub that has attracted and nurtured numerous tech companies. And the city is home to a large number of software development Belgrade talent, accounting for most of the country’s talent pool. 

Belgrade’s IT ecosystem is dynamic and vibrant, with global players entering the field alongside local IT providers. For example:

• Paysend opened a European Technology Center in Belgrade to turn it into a local tech hub for software and product development;
• The Belgrade-headquartered company called Nordeus (mobile game developer provider) was acquired by a global games company Take‑Two Interactive for $378 million;
• Brightscout, a US-based brand and innovation studio, officially launched its new Belgrade office as an extension of its services.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is Serbia’s second-largest city and is home to many web developer Novi Sad candidates. The city’s favorable business environment has contributed to its growing reputation in the IT sector and it is an attractive destination for tech companies. 

Currently, Novi Sad matches Belgrade in both company count and developer rates. See details below.

Kragujevac

Kragujevac, while having long served as an industrial hub, has recently been reinventing itself as a tech innovation centre. Impressively, the city features nearly the same number of software development companies as in major cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Čačak

Čačak offers a compelling “second-tier” tech hub opportunity within Serbia. Particularly, the city is home to the Science and Technology Park Čačak that provides a supportive environment for local tech startups and their founders. 

Overall, with lower operating and living costs compared to larger Serbian cities, Čačak offers attractive conditions for software companies building remote or nearshore teams.

Subotica

Subotica is actively building up its reputation as an IT expertise centre, even though it currently has a smaller number of tech companies compared to major Serbian cities.

The city is home to the IT Cluster Subotica, established back in 2015 and supporting tech-driven collaboration in the region ever since. Besides, the fact that Subotica is located highly close to the Hungarian border leads to its favorable position for cross-border markets and close ties with tech ecosystems of the neighboring countries.

Niš

Niš is located in southern Serbia. The city’s lower cost of living and a pool of talented graduates have made it an appealing destination for IT companies, both local and international. 

While the city has a significantly smaller talent pool, the rates to employees in Serbia may also be slightly lower on average.

Kraljevo

Kraljevo is gradually establishing its presence in the country’s expanding technology landscape as an outsourcing destination to hire site engineers from Serbia, along with other key tech specialties. 

Hire Serbian Developers: Salaries Comparison With Other Countries

As illustrated in the table below, hiring in Serbia is 40-65% more cost-efficient on average compared to hiring in Western Europe, and 60-75% more affordable than hiring in the United States. First and foremost, this is related to Serbia’s lower living and operational costs.

Ultimately, the total cost to hire Serbian developers depends on seniority and technology stack. For example, to hire Java developers in Serbia, expect an average hourly rate between €12 (for junior Java developers) and €30 (for senior Java experts). 

Besides, some tech stack specialties might be even more cost-efficient (such as salaries of cloud engineers in Serbia, in particular). Explore the table for more details.

*Salary data is based on Mobilunity’s Recruitment Team research of local job markets. All salaries are net (excluding service fees) and intended for comparison purposes. Actual costs may vary depending on factors like skill level, city, engagement model, and other.

Contact us to get an exact quote for hiring a developer that matches your specific requirements.

Why Do Companies Hire Developers in Serbia?

Summing up the above-mentioned advantages of Serbia IT market and Serbian developers for hire, it’s a popular hiring destination because of the following:

• An actively growing tech ecosystem backed by government innovation programs and tech parks;

• Versatile tech roles and IT expertise domains across modern tech stacks (Java, .NET, Python, JS, DevOps, AI/ML, etc.);

• Significantly lower costs than Western Europe and the U.S.;

• Ideal time zone with full EU overlap and partial U.S. overlap for smooth collaboration.

The Benefits of Outsourcing the Hiring Process to Professionals

Partnering with an experienced IT recruitment agency or nearshore development partner in Serbia can significantly simplify and accelerate hiring. Here’s how.

Benefit #1

✅ Save time and accelerate hiring

Recruitment partners take over the full hiring workflow, starting from candidate sourcing up and to retention. The best thing is, your internal team can stay focused on core priorities.

Benefit #2

✅ Reduce hiring and operational costs

With outsourced IT recruitment Serbia, you avoid expenses related to job advertising. Besides, access to tech talent pools helps fill roles more efficiently, improving ROI and reducing budget waste.

Benefit #3

✅ Access a wider and more diverse talent pool

IT recruitment partners in Serbia maintain strong networks across the country’s major tech hubs. Thanks to it, they can connect you with both active candidates and highly skilled passive talent. This might be particularly beneficial for filling niche roles or skill requirements.

Benefit #4

✅ Gain a trusted long-term strategic partner

Many agencies offer scalable recruitment support, helping expand teams as business needs evolve. Their local expertise and flexible cooperation models make them valuable ongoing partners rather than one-time intermediaries.

Benefit #5

✅ Structured and reliable candidate screening

Meticulous candidate evaluation process includes the ability to masterfully integrate various candidate assessments: technical assessments, coding challenges, soft-skill evaluations, reference checks, cultural-fit interviews, and others. A seasoned recruitment expert can leverage them all.

Benefit #6

✅ Attract top talent through a strong local employer brand

Recruitment partners in Serbia are skilled in providing transparent communication and smooth candidate recruitment experience. This elevates candidate perception and increases your chances of securing and retaining highly proficient experts.

Benefit #7

✅ Full compliance with Serbian labor laws and regulations

Agencies are well-versed in Serbia’s employment legislation and taxation requirements for fully compliant hiring. Thus, they reduce legal risks and any potential complications for you.

Mobilunity’s Expertise in Hiring and Providing Developers in Serbia

At Mobilunity, our dedicated recruitment team ensures you’ll get the right technical skills, experience and cultural fit for your project, backed by the following:

• Access to a large network of tech talent. We maintain an established talent pool spanning all most-though-out tech specialties.

• Efficient process for hiring software developers in Serbia. Our refined sourcing and screening workflows significantly shorten time-to-hire, which helps you launch projects faster and without compromising quality.

• Flexible cooperation. Whether you need a single specialist or a full managed development team, we adapt to your preferred cooperation model.

By using our network in Serbia, Mobilunity has established strong connections with top  professionals, such as front end developer Belgrade talent, in the country. 

Mobilunity’s Service Models for Serbia

Mobilunity provides various hiring solutions for our clients seeking outsourcing in Serbia. We understand the unique needs of each business and strive to offer suitable solutions.  

See the list of our most popular services.

✅ Dedicated development team

Enjoy a fixed monthly fee tailored to your budget with a dedicated development team in Serbia.

With this model, you manage a dedicated software developer Serbia team while we handle HR, accounting, and help desk requirements. Thus, it is ideal for businesses needing full-time developer talent for larger or ongoing tasks and projects. 

✅ Part-time developers – Mobilunity FLEX

This option is perfect for smaller projects or businesses requiring a part-time team. 

With such model, our team remains dedicated to your project for agreed hours (covering HR, accounting, help desk, or other pre-agreed tasks) while you are responsible for direct management. 

✅ Recruitment service

Our simplified recruitment-as-a-service solution involves finding the right tech for your company’s vacancy. 

Our specialized recruiters will source talent either from Serbia, across Eastern Europe, or all around the world. For instance, see how we helped a Japanese client fill a key tech role.

Hire developers in other Countries

Expand your team’s capabilities by recruiting experienced developers from around the globe. Utilize their varied backgrounds and specialized skills to spur innovation and advance your technology endeavors.

Spain

Latvia

Lithuania

Australia

Ireland

FAQs

Looking for an expert outsourcing partner in Serbia? Contact the team at Mobilunity and find the right candidates fast.

Written by:

Anastasia Stefanuk

Market Researcher

Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.