Salaries: Who are the leaders and who are the outsiders?
The average salary in the Russian IT industry has reached 97.4 thousand rubles, and in St. Petersburg this figure is even higher — 109.8 thousand rubles (+9 thousand per year). The maximum offers in the Northern capital start from 162.9 thousand rubles, and top specialists can expect 240–275 thousand rubles and above.
Top 3 highest-paid IT professions in St. Petersburg:
- Data Scientists — from 275 thousand rubles
- Development Team Leaders — 250 thousand rubles
- DevOps Engineers — 240 thousand rubles
Salary anti-rating:
- Technical support specialists — 65.5 thousand rubles
- Designers — 84.7 thousand rubles
- Information security specialists — 85.2 thousand rubles
Demand is falling, but salaries are rising. Why?
Over the past year, the demand for IT specialists in St. Petersburg has decreased by 24%, and across Russia — by 26%. However, this does not mean that employers have stopped hiring. On the contrary, companies have become more selective:
- Remote work is trending — the demand for "remote" specialists has grown by 16%, and their salaries have increased from 81.3 thousand to 103 thousand rubles (+21 thousand).
- IT professionals on a rotational basis are in the black — offers for such IT specialists have increased by 40 thousand rubles, reaching 190 thousand
- Experience is valued more — 40% of vacancies are designed for specialists with 3–6 years of experience, their average salary has risen to 170 thousand rubles.
"The market is moving from mass hiring to targeted search for experts," comments Maria Buzunova, head of the hh.ru press service. "Salaries are growing for those who really bring value to the business, and it is more difficult for juniors to break through."
Who are they looking for, and who are they not?
The most sought-after professions:
- Programmers (20% of vacancies)
- Technical support specialists and designers (11%)
- IT project managers
Least demand for:
- Game designers
- Art directors
- Analytics team leaders
Conclusion: where is the market going?
The IT sector of St. Petersburg is becoming more mature: companies are willing to pay big money for experience, but are no longer scattering offers. It is more difficult for juniors to enter the profession (their salaries have grown to only 57 thousand rubles), and top specialists can claim half a million and above.
The main trend of 2024:
- Remote work — more profitable than the office
- Experience vs. juniors — the market is divided into those who "cost" a lot, and those who still need to grow up
If you are an IT specialist in St. Petersburg, now is the time to assess your skills and, possibly, revise your salary expectations. And if you are just planning to enter the profession — get ready for a tough selection.