The IT sector showed the strongest wage growth among major industries in 2022, and analysts expect that momentum to continue into the following year. Local data from SuperJob reported notable salary gains for IT specialists in Moscow, with average wages rising by roughly 16.5% over the year.
In contrast, growth in other sectors appeared more modest: construction saw about a 14.7% increase and banking around 11.3% according to the same source.
Across technology companies, engineers, software developers, and project managers were among the top in-demand roles in 2022. Positions in software implementation, maintenance, systems administration, analytics, and information security also remained important, though with slightly lower demand.
Industry executive Sergei Strelkov, CTO of Bimeister IT, projects a steady salary uptick in 2023 for the tech sector. He estimated a modest average increase of about 10%. He noted that salary growth has historically persisted, but the post-mobilization environment has led many professionals to recalibrate expectations.
He highlighted that remote work can temper salary expectations, explaining that employers offering full remote options may attract applicants without demanding premium terms. Currency payments were cited as a significant perk for recruiting qualified specialists.
Other critical factors shaping 2023 decisions included employer stability, readily available funding, and flexibility in hiring practices.
Which IT specialists tend to earn more?
Despite widespread participation in online programming courses, SuperJob emphasized that programmers’ pay is strongly influenced by the prestige and perceived quality of the university they graduated from.
In 2022, the highest IT salaries were reported among graduates from leading Russian institutions such as Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, ITMO University, MEPhI, and MSTU. NE Bauman’s programs were also noted for high compensation packages.
SuperJob observed that IT firms generally offer the most substantial overall compensation packages compared with other industries, including robust training programs, corporate events, and access to health benefits. Employers in IT were more likely to invest in employee development and wellbeing.
Strelkov predicts that the 2023 job market may remain fragile in some respects. He highlighted four key decision factors for workers: the possibility of remote work, opportunities paid in foreign currencies, the long-term stability of the employer, and the flexibility of the application process.
He stressed that remote work remains the most influential factor for many applicants. Foreign currency compensation can be a compelling lure, particularly for highly skilled professionals. Employer stability and the ability to fund ongoing operations also weigh heavily in choices about where to work.
Are junior IT roles worth the wait?
For junior IT specialists in Moscow, take-home pay in 2023 was forecast to range from roughly 90,000 to 130,000 rubles after tax, with no extra bonuses. Entry-level PHP and Python developers were projected to earn around 90,000–120,000 rubles, while Ruby and C++ entries could see slightly higher starting figures. Java juniors were expected to reach about 100,000–130,000 rubles.
According to Strelkov, DevOps engineers showed the broadest salary spectrum, with middle-to-senior candidates sometimes receiving from 200,000 to 700,000 rubles. A smaller developer could anticipate around 150,000–200,000 rubles, while more senior engineers often commanded higher figures based on experience and project complexity.
In technical stacks such as C#/.NET or Angular/JavaScript, roles like architect or team lead tended to command 400,000–500,000 rubles, with senior developers commonly achieving 300,000–350,000 rubles. Intermediate developers might see 250,000–300,000 rubles, and systems analysts around 250,000–350,000 rubles depending on specialization and responsibilities.
Strelkov also noted that QA testers typically earned less than developers in 2023, with expected salaries in the 150,000–250,000 rubles range.
Staff shortages and hiring dynamics
Industry observers from SuperJob warned that Russia’s IT sector would continue facing a shortage of highly skilled programmers at the start of 2023. The demand for junior talent might dip as the market tightens and the crisis continues to reshape hiring trends.
Executives suggested that remote work would remain a key retention strategy, given the sector’s prior adaptation to distributed work patterns. Some analysts noted that a portion of talent has relocated abroad, yet a large share of displaced workers remained connected to domestic employers or remote roles with local firms.
Officials at the Ministry of Digital Development acknowledged ongoing talent migration but stressed that many employees still contribute to Russian IT, even after moving residence. The ministry warned that proposals to curb teleworking could reduce Russia’s competitiveness and slow IT progress. Ultimately, the focus remained on attracting and retaining top talent, including professionals located outside the country.