The real ROI of Polish tech teams in 2025

The 21st largest economy in the world, home to 60,000+ tech businesses and over 500,000 software experts - spanning software engineering, cloud, ML, data, cybersecurity, and AI.

Welcome to Poland.

My country consistently ranks highly in various assessments of the world's best software developers. Poland has earned second place all-time in the International Informatics Olympics, only behind China. We hold the 15th spot on the Global English Proficiency Index, and 11th for the largest software developers pool (with the smallest general population of all the top-listed countries). And the list goes on.  

These and more indicators confirm Poland’s steady position as a global leader in tech nearshoring and outsourcing. Looking for IT talent in Poland makes all the sense in the world. But is it still viable economically as our country develops? I dare to say it does, bringing you some hardcore data and facts, together with my insights into why nearshoring in Poland is still an economic win.

From communist collapse to a tech standout

When Poland was entering the EU in 2004, the minimum monthly pay was 824 PLN (around $200 today - I know, it raises eyebrows!). Over the last 20 years, this amount has grown by 500%. Throughout the last two decades, our country has undergone a remarkable transformation, from a class-B society no one treated seriously to a pivotal European player and a beacon of resilience. The Polish economy was the only one in Europe to avoid recession during the global 2008-2009 crisis, and ranked 6th for stability following the pandemic among the developed countries. 

We have witnessed a truly unprecedented renaissance over the last quarter of a century. Following globalisation, we have embraced international expansion and pitched our talents and resources to enterprises worldwide. The outcomes are astonishing: 

• In 2024, the cloud computing market was set to grow by 24% compared to the previous reporting period, to reach $1.2 billion. [International Trade Administration]
• Poland's IT services market is expected to reach $10.44 billion in 2025. [Statista]
• IT outsourcing takes the lead within this market, which is predicted to have a market volume of $3.84 billion in the same year.
• Poland's digital economy's total value was forecasted at 122.6 billion euros ($133.908 billion) in 2030. [Statista]
• The Polish GDP growth in 2024 reached 2.6 percent; in 2025, it’s forecasted to reach 4.1%.
  [Polish Economic Institute]
• In the third quarter of 2020, the average salary in Poland was $1,334. Four years in, it soared to $2,106, a growth by nearly 58%. 

Our country has shed all its post-communist era complexes, and is now a confident technology leader in the region. Still, we have grappled with above-average inflation rates over the past few years. While the inflation rate in the European Union averaged 2.44 percent from 2000 until 2025, according to Trading Economics, in Poland it soared at 7.53% over the same period. 

The pace of progress additionally hikes living costs, which in the last decade have soared by more than half. With increasing expenses for everything, from everyday necessities and utilities to purchasing a home, tech professionals demand higher pay to maintain their standard of living. This shift has naturally reflected on the salaries, including those by Polish software developers, DevOps, software architects, and other experts in the IT field.  

How much does it cost to build an IT team in Poland?

Many experienced specialists expect salaries on par with Western European levels, especially in remote-friendly roles that grant them access to international opportunities. This trend occurred during the pandemic when remote work became widespread, allowing many Polish professionals to secure better-compensated positions abroad. Today, global companies actively recruit Polish developers, often offering higher salaries and more attractive benefits than local firms. 

As a result, Polish employers face growing pressure to stay competitive, not only by raising salaries, but also by enhancing benefits such as remote work flexibility, professional development, and career growth opportunities. Despite this, most Polish-based tech teams continue to cost significantly less than their Western counterparts.

But what are the actual cost ranges?

To clarify, my colleagues compiled an IT salaries guide 2025, drawing on extensive internal and external research. This guide consolidates average salaries for various tech roles in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries and compares them with figures from select Western markets. Measured against the rates in Benelux, the United Kingdom, or the USA, we’re talking about 30-50% savings, depending on the skillset and role.

This data shows you will still save big by investing in Polish tech teams versus Western Europe or the USA. Beyond salaries, nearshoring to Poland cuts admin costs and utilities, too, for businesses who want not only to set up their teams, but also offices here. For example, office space in Germany costs €25-30 per m²/month, the UK varies from €20-60 (London is double these rates), and the Netherlands starts at €11, with Amsterdam rent launching at €19. Poland? €10-20 per m²/month, depending which city you choose.

Beyond the price. Economically viable, technologically excellent

Savings by investing in Polish talent are still viable. But Poland’s appeal has never been just about money. 

Our country offers a stable EU-aligned legal system with strong IP and data protection, a key thing for international teams. The Polish government actively supports IT investors through R&D tax breaks, innovation grants, and startup assistance. A quick example, businesses conducting research and development in our country can deduct up to 200% of eligible expenses from their taxable income. Such tech-friendly policies encourage university-business partnerships, making Poland great for long-term growth.

But above all, Poland's talent stands out. Here’s a summary of what our customers tell me and my colleagues gathering their feedback on Polish tech teams: 

• Our developers are known for top-notch problem-solving and high productivity and proactive and creative thinking – you often get more value with fewer people than in pricier markets. 
• Pwrteams' customers consistently rank Poland as Europe's top nearshoring destination, thanks to our skilled tech workforce integrating seamlessly into their teams. This is driven by cultural alignment and strong language skills, enabling Polish tech experts to collaborate with international colleagues smoothly.
• Our professionals excel particularly in software engineering, cloud computing, DevOps, cybersecurity, and AI/ML, with many holding AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud certifications. 

In short, international teams love Polish teams for their professionalism, high standards, and smooth communication. Plus, Poland offers stability, safety, and excellent tech infrastructure. Plus, our location is key. We're right in Europe's center. 

Being in the CET time zone means we align perfectly with Germany, the UK or Benelux for real-time collaboration and faster decisions. Travel to Poland is quick and easy with great air, rail, and road connections. Face-to-face meetings are simple to arrange, helping build stronger client relationships. At Pwrteams, we often use this in-person approach when onboarding employees for European clients, ensuring smooth integration.

Who invests in the Polish tech landscape?

Global tech companies seek the best value for money and continue investing in Polish talent. Here are a few standout examples:

• Google - The search giant employs +2,000 people in Poland, making it one of the region’s biggest tech hubs. Google has data centres in our country and has committed to investing $5 million over the next few years to enhance digital skills in the future workforce.

• SAP - The ERP leader has two offices in Poland, the Warsaw headquarters, and a strategic R&D centre in Gliwice.

• Intel - Intel’s scientific research and development centre in Gdańsk employs around 4,000 people across nearly 40 labs. The company has also committed to making a significant investment in its semiconductor plant in Wrocław, but these activities have been suspended for now, with Intel reshifting its strategic plans.

• Microsoft - In 2020, Microsoft spent $1 billion on Polish data centers, and now plans to follow up with $700 million to bolster our cybersecurity defences. 
• Dell - The US behemoth operates a 37,000 square-meter manufacturing plant in Łódź, with ca. 1,200 employees plus a few hundred in the company’s Warsaw headquarters.

Location, talent, tech skills, and cost savings - Poland has it all

Nearshoring to Poland makes strategic sense from a revenue and quality delivery standpoint. Partnering with a specialised team augmentation company like ours to build dedicated Polish tech teams additionally reduces recruitment and HR costs while helping build teams more efficiently. 

With Pwrteams, as an employer, you pay only for the talent's salary plus a modest management fee, eliminating the substantial overhead of payroll administration, HR responsibilities, equipment provisioning, and office space. More importantly, you're freed from operational concerns and cultural integration challenges - we handle everything as our teams are our responsibility. This extended team approach delivers all the benefits of Poland's exceptional tech ecosystem without the traditional complexities of international recruitment.

What’s more, with team augmentation, you get an established sourcing, hiring, and retention process that eliminates key risks of unfitting hires. We operate using our proven recruitment framework that ensures quick, perfect matches and boasts an impressive 95.7% retention rate for Polish tech teams:

1. Perfect alignment. When presenting candidates, we provide complete profiles with technical evaluations from specialists and detailed HR feedback. This guarantees candidates meet all job requirements.
2. Continuous improvement. Our recruiters often join these assessments, learning more about technical skills to improve their expertise.
3. Culture fit. Even tech superstars fail without people skills. That's why we emphasize cultural fit and values during interviews. We listen to what candidates say and how they say it - communication style reveals personality and teamwork approach. Many red flags appear during initial HR screening, preventing future hiring headaches.
4. Bridging the gaps. Every client has different needs, and every candidate has their work style preferences. We connect these dots, matching beyond technical skills to include team dynamics and shared values. This balanced approach keeps everyone happy and builds lasting partnerships.

A winning economic equation

Poland-based tech teams continue to deliver exceptional economic value in today's market. While offering premium technical capabilities comparable to Western European or North American counterparts, their cost structure remains highly competitive. 

This winning combination of high-quality output and reasonable investment makes Polish tech talent an ideal solution for companies seeking to optimise their development resources without compromising on excellence. Accessing this valuable talent pool becomes possible and remarkably straightforward with the right recruitment partner guiding the process. Let us know if you'd like to discuss where to start.