IT Salaries in Romania in 2026: The Complete Guide
Romania’s IT sector pays more than double the national average — and it’s not even close. Whether you’re a developer weighing an offer, a company budgeting for your next hire, or an HR leader benchmarking compensation, this guide gives you the actual numbers for 2026.
We work with these figures daily. As an IT recruitment agency placing engineers and technical leaders across Romania, salary data isn’t academic for us — it’s what makes or breaks an offer acceptance.
How much do IT professionals earn in Romania in 2026?
The short answer: 11,000–13,000 RON net per month for a typical IT employee in early 2026. That’s roughly €2,200–2,600 net.
Here’s the full picture:
- National average net salary (all sectors): ~5,000 RON per month
- IT sector average (broad, including non-engineering roles): ~8,000 RON net per month
- IT specialists average (developers, DevOps, analysts): 11,957 RON (June 2025) → 12,931 RON (November 2025), implying 12,000–13,000 RON net in early 2026
IT remains the best-paid sector in Romania by a wide margin. The next closest sectors — oil and gas, construction — sit around 6,000–6,200 RON net. The gap is significant.
IT salary ranges by seniority level
This is what matters most for hiring decisions and career planning. Here’s what each experience tier earns in 2026:
Junior (0–2 years experience)
5,500–8,000 RON net per month (~€1,100–1,600)
Roles: Junior developer, junior QA, junior system administrator. After a brief period in 2022–2023 where some beginners secured unusually high offers due to extreme demand, junior salaries have normalized. The market is more selective now — strong fundamentals and practical experience (internships, open-source, freelance work) matter more than before.
Mid-level (3–6 years experience)
9,500–15,000 RON net per month (~€1,900–3,000)
This is where most active hiring happens. Mid-level developers, DevOps engineers and data professionals in this band are the backbone of Romania’s tech industry. Upper ranges are higher in scarce niches like C++, cloud infrastructure and ML engineering.
Senior (6–10 years experience)
16,000–22,000 RON net per month (~€3,200–4,400)
Senior professionals average around 3,300 EUR net per month. Leads in high-demand stacks frequently see offers at 18,000–22,000 RON net. This tier is where competition between employers is most intense — and where counter-offers are most common.
Expert / Principal (10+ years experience)
19,000–23,000+ RON net per month (~€3,800–4,700+)
The top 5 best-paid IT specialisations in Romania: architects (4,707 EUR net), DevOps/cloud engineers (4,099 EUR), mobile developers (3,872 EUR), technical writers (3,667 EUR) and full-stack developers (3,611 EUR). These are individual contributor roles — management tracks pay similarly or higher.
Salaries by role — January 2026 data
These figures come from INS statistics and large salary platforms, representing average net monthly pay across all experience levels for each role.
Programming roles
| Role | Average net salary (RON/month) |
|---|---|
| C++ Developer | 18,654 RON |
| Full-Stack Developer | ~15,600 RON |
| Front-End Developer | ~14,200 RON |
| Python Developer | ~14,200 RON |
| JavaScript Developer | ~13,900 RON |
| Game Developer | ~12,200 RON |
C++ remains the highest-paid programming specialisation in Romania, reflecting both scarcity and the complexity of the work. Full-stack and Python have seen the largest quarter-over-quarter increases — roughly 1,500–2,100 RON growth since October 2025.
Infrastructure, DevOps and security
| Role | Net salary range or average (RON/month) |
|---|---|
| IT Architect | ~17,300 RON (largest growth: +3,800 RON vs. prior quarter) |
| DevOps Engineer | ~14,800 RON (+2,000 RON vs. prior quarter) |
| Cybersecurity Specialist | 7,187–20,015 RON |
| System Administrator | 4,783–13,424 RON |
| Network Administrator | 4,256–11,928 RON |
DevOps engineers and IT architects now earn comparable or higher net pay than many application developers. Senior cybersecurity specialists reach upper-band salaries on par with architects and lead developers.
Data, UX/UI and digital roles
| Role | Net salary range or average (RON/month) |
|---|---|
| UX/UI Designer | ~11,500 RON |
| Data Analyst | 4,050–10,503 RON |
| Digital Marketing Manager | up to 16,253 RON |
| Graphic Designer | 4,050–9,878 RON |
| SEO Specialist | 4,136–9,549 RON |
| PPC Specialist | 4,698–8,682 RON |
| Copywriter | 4,050–8,327 RON |
UX/UI and senior digital marketing roles can reach mid-five-figure net earnings comparable to mid-senior developers. Most non-engineering positions have lower ceilings and slower growth.
Salary growth trends — what’s changed
After a decade of 10–15% annual increases, IT salary growth in Romania has slowed — but remains positive.
Key data points:
- 2024 average salary growth in IT: ~6%, the lowest in the previous decade
- 2025–2026 nominal growth: 11–15% year-over-year at sector level, broadly keeping pace with inflation
- Impact of the tax exemption removal: 72% of IT employees were not fully compensated for the loss of the 10% income-tax exemption removed in 2024. In net terms, many felt flat even as gross pay increased.
The market is more mature. Hiring has become more selective, job changes less frequent, and the double-digit annual raises of the 2010–2020 period are unlikely to return. But IT still outpaces every other sector in Romania in nominal wage growth.
IT salaries by city in Romania
Bucharest
The highest IT salaries in Romania. Largest absolute volume of senior engineers. Home to R&D centres for Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft and Oracle.
Cluj-Napoca
Often called the “Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe.” Highest density of AI specialists and startups. Slightly lower median than Bucharest, but the gap is narrowing.
Timișoara
Strong and fast growth — average net IT earnings rose from ~3,000 EUR in 2023 to ~3,642 EUR in 2025. Lower competitive pressure means better retention for employers.
Iași
Strong academic pipeline feeding Amazon Development Center and a growing number of tech companies. Fastest-growing “hidden gem” among Romanian tech hubs.
The remote factor
Remote and hybrid arrangements allow professionals outside major hubs to access big-city or international-level compensation. International companies hiring in Romania often bring higher pay bands — especially when roles are tied to global product teams or involve critical infrastructure.
What this means if you’re hiring in Romania
These numbers aren’t just statistics — they’re the baseline for every offer conversation we have with candidates.
A few practical implications:
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Gross-to-net calculations matter more than ever. The 2024 tax changes mean candidates scrutinise net compensation more carefully. Bring a local advisor into offer structuring for senior hires.
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Counter-offers are standard. Romanian developers typically have 2–3 live conversations during any job search. Slow offers lose — especially in the 16,000+ RON band.
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The junior market has cooled. Fewer roles, more selective employers, normalised salaries. But mid-senior specialists in DevOps, full-stack, cloud and architecture remain heavily contested.
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Remote doesn’t mean cheap anymore. Romanian seniors compete for international rates. The cost advantage has narrowed — the real value is access to a mature, technically strong talent pool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average IT salary in Romania in 2026?
The average net salary for IT professionals in Romania in early 2026 is approximately 12,000–13,000 RON per month (around €2,400–2,600). This is more than double the national average across all sectors.
How much do junior developers earn in Romania?
Junior developers with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between 5,500 and 8,000 RON net per month in 2026 (approximately €1,100–1,600).
What are the highest-paid IT roles in Romania?
The highest-paid roles in 2026 are C++ developers (~18,654 RON net), IT architects (~17,300 RON), full-stack developers (~15,600 RON) and DevOps engineers (~14,800 RON). At expert level, architects can exceed 23,000 RON net per month.
How do IT salaries in Bucharest compare to Cluj-Napoca?
Bucharest offers the highest absolute IT salaries in Romania, but Cluj-Napoca is close behind and has the highest density of AI and startup roles. Timișoara is catching up fastest, with average IT earnings growing from ~3,000 EUR to ~3,642 EUR between 2023 and 2025.
Are IT salaries in Romania still growing in 2026?
Yes, but more slowly. After years of 10–15% annual increases, growth has moderated to 6–15% depending on the role and source. IT remains the fastest-growing sector in terms of compensation.
How Wise Step can help
We’re an IT recruitment agency based in Romania with over 15 years of hands-on experience in the software industry. We use these salary benchmarks every day to help companies make competitive offers and help candidates understand their market value.
Whether you’re hiring engineers in Romania or evaluating an offer you’ve received, we can give you an honest read on where the numbers stand for your specific role, stack and seniority level.
Get in touch → [email protected]
Last updated: April 2026. Data sources: INS (Romanian National Institute of Statistics), NewTech Academy IT Salary Radar January 2026, Brainspotting Tech Salary & Employment Behavior 2025, Paylab Romania, HackingWork.