Наталя Хандусенко Hot News 29 June 2026, 11:41

49% of Ukrainian IT professionals are satisfied with their social package: what bonuses do IT specialists value the most?

The level of satisfaction with corporate bonuses in IT directly depends on the scale and type of company, where the most popular benefit is health and sports care. About 60% of specialists in large companies (from 200 to 1000+ people) are completely satisfied with their social package. In contrast, the lowest level of satisfaction is recorded in micro-businesses up to 10 people (29%) and government institutions (26%).

Key findings

As part of the salary survey, DOU analyzed the responses of 10,644 IT professionals in Ukraine (or those planning to return) and 2,160 specialists abroad. Most respondents, when choosing between money and bonuses, prefer finances : 44% would choose +30% to their salary without a social package, and 25% would choose +15–20% to their income with a minimum package. Only 12% of respondents are satisfied with the current balance, while 10% seek to improve their social package without changing their salary.

There is a clear pattern across companies: the larger the business, the wider the social package and higher the income. The best combination by type of company is offered by product and outstaffing players with the highest median salary of $3,000 and social package indices of 10.9 and 9.9, respectively. Large companies are in the lead in terms of size: in businesses with 200–1,000 specialists, the index reaches 13.3 (median $2,950), and in organizations with 1,000 or more people — 13.2 (median $2,890).

The most valuable components of a social package for IT professionals are flexible working hours and location (60%), as well as vacation and sick leave (57%). Monetary bonuses are important for 49% of respondents, mainly among lower-income professionals in government agencies, NGOs, or non-IT companies. Next in priority are health and sports (37%), working conditions and equipment (35%), and training (32%).

Reservations are generally valued by 28% of professionals. However, among men in Ukraine, this figure rises to 40%, and for those who already have a reservation from their employer, it is the most important element of the package (82%).

In terms of gender, women in IT have a lower median salary, but a broader social package, where they receive benefits for training, vacations, and sick leave more often than men. At the same time, women are slightly less satisfied with their social package — 47% versus 50% among men.

IT workers consider working conditions, vacation, sick leave, and cash bonuses to be the most valuable components of the social package.

Working conditions

Flexible format and location are the most valuable benefits for 60% of IT professionals, with full remote work leading the way — it is available to 69% of respondents. The ability to work remotely is common in companies of all sizes: from microbusinesses with up to 10 people (76%) to giants with over 1,000 employees (69%).

In terms of company types, remote work is least practiced by government agencies (33%), while the leaders are outstaffing (78%) and service companies (75%). At the same time, specialists with direct contracts or direct employment with foreign employers without Ukrainian teams have the most options for flexible work.

Vacation and sick leave

After flexible working conditions, vacation and sick leave are the second most valuable element of the social package for 57% of IT workers.

63% of respondents have more than 20 days of paid vacation per year, 20% have less than 20 days, and unlimited vacation is available to 3%. Traditionally, larger companies are more likely to guarantee basic benefits, including long vacations and days off for public holidays.

Specialists in Ukraine have more paid sick leave with a limit of days, while abroad they more often offer maternity leave for fathers. This block is best provided in large companies (from 200 to 1000+ people), the food sector, as well as specialists with permanent contracts or registration through a Ukrainian legal entity.

Cash bonuses

Monetary bonuses are the third most valuable — they were chosen by 49% of respondents, mainly lower-income specialists in government agencies, NGOs, and non-IT companies. At the same time, 40% of respondents do not have any financial benefits from their employer at all. Among those who do have them, 28% receive compensation for equipment, 24% — referral bonuses, 15% — payments for personal events, 13% — periodic bonuses, and 11% — performance bonuses.

Various material incentives are more common in large companies. However, in government institutions, periodic bonuses (23%) and thirteenth salaries (22%) are more often paid. Also, periodic payments are actively practiced outside the IT sector.

Health and sports are the most common bonus

5,270 respondents have employer-provided health insurance — this is the most common bonus in this category (49%). Specialists in Ukraine receive insurance more often (50%) than their colleagues abroad (43%).

There is a clear trend: the larger the company, the more often it insures its staff. IT professionals from large companies (from 200 to over 1,000 people) have the widest package of medical and wellness benefits, as well as those who cooperate through a Ukrainian company.

37% of respondents believe that this category is the most valuable component of the social package.

Other

Corporate benefits: The most popular corporate benefits are team building (42%), holiday gifts (38%), and office snacks (34%). Specialists in Ukraine and abroad have corporate parties equally often (42%), but gifts and free fruit are more often available to employees in Ukraine. In general, the most such bonuses are offered by food companies and businesses with 200–1,000 specialists.
Education and development: The most popular educational bonuses are English language courses (39%), internal training or mentoring (33%), and access to external courses (29%). Large companies (1,000+ employees) offer these benefits most often, while companies with up to 50 people have them less often. Large service companies and specialists registered through a Ukrainian legal entity have the most extensive development programs, with women receiving such bonuses more often than men. Employees in Ukraine usually have access to corporate English, while their colleagues abroad have access to external training.
Social and military support: 40% of IT workers note the presence of corporate donations or initiatives in favor of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Regarding support for mobilized colleagues, 25% of respondents indicated job retention, 18% - continued payments, and 9% - provision of ammunition and equipment. Such guarantees, such as job retention and payments, are significantly more often provided by large companies (from 200 to 1000+ people), while small businesses do this less often.

SoftServe and Ciklum have revealed whether they plan to limit benefits for sole proprietors as EPAM did

From coffee and corporate parties to military leave. What benefits do specialists of Ukrainian IT companies currently receive?