Full-Time Senior Developer in Europe: What’s the Cost?
Hiring a full-time developer can be a major commitment. Beyond just the salary, European employers need to take into consideration additional costs such as taxes, social security, and benefits.
- Average Salary: A senior full-stack developer’s annual gross salary in Europe typically ranges between €60,000 and €85,000, depending on the country.
- Taxes and Social Contributions: Employers must contribute to social security and health insurance. These contributions vary by country but generally they represent a 20-30% on top of the gross salary. For example, if a developer earns €70,000, employer contributions could result on a total cost of €90,000 or more.
- Benefits: Full-time employees expect to receive minimum benefits like paid vacations (25-30 days), health insurance, and pensions, meal or transport allowance. These benefits often add another 5-10% to the total cost.
- Hiring and Onboarding Costs: Recruitment takes time and money. The average cost per hire, including job advertisements and recruitment teams, can be around €5,000 to €7,000 per role. And depending on the role, the hiring process might take from 2 to 6 months.
Remote Freelance Developer in Europe: The Flexible Alternative
Hiring a remote freelance developer gives businesses the ability to scale up and down quickly, with more control over costs.
- Hourly/Project Rates: Tech freelancers in Europe typically charge €40 to €80 per hour, depending on their seniority, country and language. For a freelancer working 20 hours per week at €60/hour, the total annual cost would be around €57,600 — significantly lower than a full-time hire. Check out this article to find out top tech stacks and freelance developer rates in Europe
- No Social Contributions: Unlike full-time employees, freelance developers handle their own taxes and social security, which saves businesses additional expenses and paperwork.
- No Benefits: Freelancers do not receive benefits like paid leave, health insurance, or pensions, further reducing employer costs.
- Quick Hiring and Onboarding: Hiring a remote freelance developer via platforms like UPPER can take just a few days. Onboarding is also quicker, as freelancers are used to diving straight into projects.
Cost Comparison: Full-Time vs. Freelance Developer
Cost comparison between hiring a freelance developer and a full time developer in Europe
Why UPPER is Your Best Choice for Hiring Freelancers
Whether you’re looking to hire freelance developers online for a short or long-term project or just need a more flexible, cost-efficient solution, UPPER is the ideal platform to hire freelance developers in Europe. UPPER connects you with top tech freelancers quickly and efficiently, providing tools for time tracking, invoicing, and project management.
Additionally, if your company prefers full-time employees, UPPER offers perm employee recruiting services, providing your company with fully developers in Europe.
Conclusion: Why Freelancers May Be Your Best Option
Hiring a remote freelance developer offers more flexibility and lower costs compared to full-time hires. With no need to pay for social contributions, benefits, or lengthy onboarding processes, many companies in Europe are opting for tech freelancers.
UPPER helps you not only hire freelance developers online but also manage them effectively, making it easier than ever to build agile, cost-efficient development teams.
For more on optimising your hiring process, check out this article on designing your recruiting process.