Kolesa Group conducted a study of the IT specialist market in Kazakhstan to understand how trends have changed since the 2022 study, which areas are currently at the top, and what challenges await the market in the future.

Methodology

Online survey and analysis of salary data. The survey was conducted among 643 specialists of various levels and fields — from junior to senior, as well as among IT managers, which allowed us to get an objective picture of current trends. The answers of QA and DevOps specialists are excluded from the analysis, they will be considered in the following studies.

The main theses of the research:

• The average salary of developers in Kazakhstan is KZT 1,220,000, the median is KZT 960,000.
• IT specialists are more likely to choose a hybrid work format (36%), but the share of office work remains high (33%).
• 74% of developers work in Kazakhstani IT companies, but the number of specialists in international companies is growing (14%) and remotely (12%).
• The number of middle and senior developers has grown: their share is 76%.

Demographic data

Gender: the developer profession is still occupied by men - 90%.

City: the southern capital remains the choice of Kazakhstani developers. The offices of large IT companies are located in Almaty. However, since the last survey, the number of respondents from Astana has increased by 5%.

Age: the profession remains young – specialists under the age of 35 occupy almost 90% of the market.

The majority of IT specialists are employed in product companies (38%), followed by fintech (29%), and outsourcing (13%). The share of outsourcing decreased by 7% compared to 2022, which indicates an increase in the number of companies developing their own IT products.

There are no significant changes in telecom and retail — demand remains stable.

1. Kazakhstani companies remain the main employers (74%), but the number of international companies opening offices in the country is growing (14%).
2. Salaries continue to rise, but the difference between the average and median salary indicates high competition among the best specialists.
3. Career prospects are becoming clearer: 58% of companies have implemented a grading system.

According to the study, salaries vary depending on the specialization

The maximum income growth is observed after 3 years of experience.The highest salaries are for iOS developers (up to KZT 2,100,000).The minimum start is for cross-platform specialists (160,000 KZT).

Conclusion: the market values specialists with more than 3 years of experience, and companies are willing to pay more for qualified developers.

The study shows that the market is becoming more structured:

• 58% of companies have implemented a grading system for evaluating employee qualifications.
• 31% of developers have been working in the field for more than 5 years, which indicates its maturity and accumulated experience of representatives.
• Companies are increasingly offering bonus programs: 26% of employees receive annual bonuses, and 17% receive quarterly bonuses.

In comparison with 2022, the number of Middle grade specialists decreased by 25%, possibly with the introduction of the Team Lead/ Tech Lead grade. However, the Senior grade developers have shown significant growth in two years – by 22%.

In two years, the number of companies where grades have been implemented has increased by 18%.Previously, only 41% of respondents mentioned the presence of a grade.

The number of respondents receiving an annual bonus remains. This is due to the practice of annual bonuses in the financial sector. The number of developers receiving awards on a quarterly basis also increased by 6%. 

The hybrid format of work leads (36%), but remote work does not dominate (26%), which indicates the need for office meetings and teamwork. The office remains relevant for 33% of specialists, while freelancing and combination occupy only 3% of the market.

• 39% of developers can receive training during working hours at the company's expense.
• 21% pay for their own tuition and complete it after hours.
• 14% study outside of work hours at the expense of the employer.

This indicates that companies realize the importance of continuous professional development and invest in training.

What do developers value when choosing an employer?

Backend developers are focused on flexibility (95%) and salary (85%).Frontend developers value an interesting product more (93%).Fullstack engineers choose a team (100%), emphasizing the importance of the environment. iOS and Android developers are ready to compromise, but expect career growth.

1. Flexibility = Competitive advantage Companies offering remote format and flexible schedule will attract more specialists.
2. Betting on the development of the salary is important, but not the only factor. Developers choose companies with career opportunities, challenging tasks, and a strong team.
3. Focus on retention after 3 years, After 3 years of experience, salaries increase significantly – it is during this period that companies should rely on employee engagement and loyalty.

The IT market in Kazakhstan is becoming more professional and competitive. Developers receive high salaries due to the growing demand for qualified middle-level staff. Companies are implementing transparent grades, offering bonuses, and investing in training. Grocery and fintech companies are becoming the main employers, and the market continues to move towards maturity.

The study shows that the IT industry in Kazakhstan remains promising for career development, and companies continue to compete for the best specialists. The full text of the study is available here.