Country Profile · Turkey · CEE Tech Talent

Outsourcing in CEE Country Profile – Turkey

Why Turkey is becoming one of the largest and most dynamic tech hiring markets for companies looking to scale engineering teams across software, AI, fintech, gaming, and enterprise technology.

Why Turkey Is Becoming a Strategic Tech Hiring Market

Hiring tech talent across the UK and Western Europe has become increasingly complex. Companies are facing longer hiring cycles, rising salary expectations, and a shrinking pool of experienced engineers.

As a result, many organisations are expanding their hiring approach and looking beyond local markets to access the skills they need. Central and Eastern Europe has become a key part of that shift, offering a strong combination of talent scale, technical quality, operational alignment, and cost efficiency.

Within this landscape, Turkey stands out as one of the largest and most diverse technology talent markets in the wider CEE region. With a large population, strong engineering output, and a rapidly developing startup ecosystem, Turkey offers companies a powerful base for building scalable technical teams.

Turkey Tech Talent Snapshot

900,000+

Tech professionals including broader IT and engineering roles

200,000–250,000+

Software developers

200+

Universities

75,000+

STEM graduates annually

€25k–€55k

Average annual developer salary

7+

Unicorns including Getir, Trendyol, Peak Games and Dream Games

30,000+

Tech companies

€1B+

Annual startup investment in peak years

A Large and Scalable Tech Workforce

Turkey offers one of the largest technology talent pools in the region, supported by a population of over 85 million and a rapidly growing engineering workforce.

The country’s talent pool spans a wide range of technical roles, including:

Turkey’s scale makes it especially attractive for companies needing to build larger teams quickly or support high-growth product environments.

A Growing Outsourcing and Digital Services Sector

Turkey’s outsourcing and IT services sector has grown steadily, supported by a strong domestic market and increasing international demand.

The country has become a key destination for:

Major companies with a presence in Turkey include Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Oracle, Accenture, Siemens, Huawei, Ericsson, Trendyol, Hepsiburada and Getir.

Education Pipeline and Graduate Output

Turkey has one of the largest education pipelines in the region, supported by more than 200 universities and a strong focus on STEM education.

Each year, more than 75,000 students graduate from STEM-related fields, including engineering, computer science and IT disciplines.

Key institutions include:

Cost and Salary Benchmarks

Turkey offers a competitive cost structure compared with Western Europe, with salary levels influenced by currency dynamics and local market conditions.

Experience Level Typical Annual Salary Range
Entry-level Approximately €18,000–€25,000 annually
Mid-level Approximately €25,000–€55,000 annually
Senior roles €50,000+ depending on specialisation

These cost levels make Turkey attractive for companies looking to scale engineering teams, build distributed product teams, and support product development at scale.

Tech Companies and Software Industry Growth

Turkey has a large and rapidly expanding technology ecosystem, with more than 30,000 tech companies operating across the country.

Key tech hubs include:

Turkey’s tech sector has seen rapid development in fintech, gaming, e-commerce, digital platforms and enterprise technology, driven by both local demand and international expansion.

Startup Ecosystem, Unicorns and Investment

Turkey has one of the most active startup ecosystems in the wider region, producing multiple high-growth companies and unicorns.

The country is home to unicorns including:

Startup investment has grown significantly, with €1B+ invested annually in peak years, supported by local and international venture capital.

Why Hire Tech Talent from Turkey?

Large Talent Pool

One of the biggest tech workforces in the region, ideal for rapid hiring.

Strong Graduate Output

A large and continuous pipeline of engineering and STEM graduates.

Competitive Costs

Lower salary expectations compared to many Western European markets.

Product Ecosystem

Home to multiple unicorns and high-growth technology companies.

Interesting Facts About Turkey’s Tech Industry

How GigsRemote Supports Hiring in Turkey

GigsRemote connects companies with pre-vetted tech talent from Turkey and across the CEE region.

With a structured matching process and fast hiring timelines, companies can onboard the right candidates quickly in weeks, not months.

Ready to Build Your Team in Turkey?

Access vetted tech professionals from Turkey and across the wider CEE region with GigsRemote.

Visit GigsRemote Contact Us

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Outsourcing in CEE Country Profile - Turkey