When companies think about hiring tech talent in Europe, Poland is too often overlooked. It should not be. Over the last decade it has quietly become one of the continent's deepest and most reliable engineering pools, and in 2026 it is a serious answer to the talent shortage in Western Europe.
Why Poland works
- A large, skilled engineering pool. Poland produces tens of thousands of STEM graduates every year, with a strong culture of software engineering and computer science.
- High English proficiency. Polish tech professionals routinely work in English, which makes integration into international teams smooth.
- Competitive cost. Salaries are attractive compared to Western Europe for an equivalent level of skill, without the quality trade-off.
- A mature tech scene. Global companies and strong local product firms have been operating there for years, so the talent is used to international standards and remote collaboration.
The key cities
The talent is spread across several strong hubs, not just the capital:
- Warsaw: the largest market, finance and enterprise tech.
- Kraków: a major hub for global tech and shared-services centers.
- Wrocław: strong in software and R&D.
- Gdańsk / Tri-City and Poznań: growing product and engineering scenes.
Sourcing across several cities widens the pool considerably, especially for remote or hybrid roles.
Salary context
Polish tech salaries are competitive but rising, as demand grows. Senior and scarce profiles (cloud, data and AI, cybersecurity) command the strongest packages, and the best candidates are in high demand, so speed and a compelling offer matter. Note that many Polish tech professionals work on B2B contracts rather than standard employment, which affects both cost and structure.
How to hire there
You have three main options:
- Set up a local entity: worth it only for a large, long-term team.
- Employer of Record (EoR): employ someone in Poland legally, in weeks, without opening an entity. Ideal for one to a few hires. See how EoR works.
- Remote from your existing setup: possible, but the legal and contractual framework still needs to be sorted before you sign.
Watch-outs
- Competition for talent is real: the best profiles have options, so a slow or vague process loses them.
- Contract structure (employment vs B2B) shapes cost, benefits and compliance, decide it early.
- Local market knowledge matters: salary bands, notice periods and what candidates actually value differ from Western Europe.
In summary
Poland is not a "cheap" option, it is a strong one: a deep pool of skilled, English-speaking engineers, ready to work with international teams. For companies fighting the shortage at home, it is one of the smartest places in Europe to look.
Want to tap into Polish tech talent (or anywhere else in Europe)? We source where the right profiles actually are, and can even employ them for you through our Employer of Record solution. Let's talk about your needs.