In the second half of 2025, 19% of Ukrainian IT professionals switched jobs, with 67% of them securing higher salaries. However, 17% reported no change in income, while 16% experienced a pay cut. This data comes from a recent survey conducted by DOU, highlighting the dynamics of salary adjustments in the tech industry.
Sales specialists, product managers, designers, marketers, and professionals in AI/ML and Data Science were among those most likely to change positions. Conversely, leadership specialists, QA engineers, and DevOps experts were less inclined to make a move.
Product designers, DevOps engineers, marketers, and analysts had the highest rates of salary increases upon transitioning to new roles. On the other hand, project managers, recruiters, HR specialists, and sales professionals often accepted lower pay. Among developers, Embedded engineers stood out with 79% receiving salary hikes after changing jobs, while Mobile developers tended to maintain their compensation levels, and Front-end engineers frequently moved to lower-paying positions.
Middle-level specialists showed a remarkable trend, with 75% achieving higher salaries compared to the overall market average of 67%. However, those in senior and managerial roles often saw their salaries remain unchanged, and there was a notable portion of managers and leads who moved to roles with reduced compensation.
The survey also indicated that product companies were more likely to offer higher salaries, with 69% of specialists in this sector reporting salary increases after changing jobs. In contrast, non-IT companies and outsourcing firms typically offered stagnant pay, with government institutions and startups most often associated with lower salaries.
The average salary increase for IT professionals who switched jobs was approximately $600, equating to a 36% rise. This growth was significantly influenced by experience; those with less experience saw greater increases, with each additional year of experience reducing expected salary growth by 2.4 percentage points. Junior specialists experienced a 17.7 percentage point higher growth compared to Middle specialists, while Senior specialists saw a drop of 5.8 percentage points.
In terms of absolute figures, DevOps and SRE specialists enjoyed the most significant salary increases, averaging $1,000, followed by AI/ML and Data Science professionals at $900, and Software Engineers at $800. Relative growth was highest among PR and communications specialists (+45%), marketers (+41%), and those in AI/ML and Data Science (+37%). Conversely, project managers witnessed the smallest increases at +26%, with sales and HR specialists at +31%.
The survey also revealed that those who accepted lower salaries after job changes typically faced an average decrease of $500, or 20% of their previous income. Full-stack developers lost the most, with an average reduction of $1,000, while Backend developers experienced the least loss.
Overall, the findings suggest that job switching remains a critical factor in the salary landscape for IT professionals in Ukraine. As companies continue to hire less experienced IT specialists, the implications for the market indicate potential shifts in salary structures and competition among firms to attract talent.
Informational material. 18+.
