HR agency LENKEP has released a comprehensive overview of salaries and the labor market in Serbia, specifically for iGaming, fintech, and affiliate companies. This study is based on internal data from the agency, market observations, and publicly available sources. The salary benchmarks reflect the practices of teams from CIS countries in international markets, calculated based on net monthly amounts.
Key findings highlighted by iGN include:
Hiring Models and Labor Cost Burden
- 60-65% above the net salary is attributed to taxes and contributions when hiring through a local company (D.O.O.). For a net salary of 400,000 dinars (€3,400), the employee costs the company approximately 652,000 dinars (€5,600) per month.
- €200–600 per month is the fixed tax for sole proprietors under a simplified regime (paušalac) with a turnover limit of up to 6 million dinars (€51,000) annually.
- 10% profit tax and social contributions apply to sole proprietors exceeding the 6 million dinars (€51,000) limit.
- 5-15% above the total employee cost is the commission for intermediaries when hiring through licensed agencies.
Salary Ranges for Senior Specialists
- Engineering: Backend Developer €3,400–5,000, ML Engineer €4,200–6,200, Software Architect €4,500–6,500
- Fintech: Risk Manager €3,300–4,600, PSP Integration Manager €3,800–5,200, Compliance Officer €3,000–4,200
- Operational Roles: Sportsbook Manager €4,200–6,000, Casino Manager €3,800–5,500 (both roles include bonuses)
- Affiliate: Performance Marketing Manager €3,500–5,000, Media Buyer €2,100–3,200 with bonuses
Salary Ranges for Department Heads
- €6,500–10,000 for Head of Engineering / Director of Engineering
- €6,000–10,000 for Head of Digital / Chief Digital Officer
- €5,500–8,500 for Head of Payments
- €5,000–9,000 for Country Manager / Regional Manager
Total Team Costs per Month (Serbia, CIS, Cyprus)
- €5,560, €4,500, €7,200 for one employee
- €27,800, €22,500, €36,000 for a team of five
- €55,600, €45,000, €72,000 for ten employees
- €111,200, €90,000, €144,000 for twenty employees
Licensed iGaming Activities
- €250,000 is the minimum charter capital, €300,000 is the bank deposit or guarantee, and €10,000 is the daily risk deposit.
- 15% is the base tax rate on GGR (25% for live formats), and the license is valid for 10 years with the possibility of extension.
According to Elena Rzyanina, CEO and founder of LENKEP, Serbia has transitioned from a temporary relocation point to a full-fledged operational base for international teams. A community, labor market, and professional environment have already formed here, allowing businesses to maintain team management and operational stability.
The authors of the review note that several digital segments are competing for candidates in Serbia. Therefore, salary benchmarks should be based on the role and level of responsibility rather than average values within a single vertical. For qualified specialists relocating to Serbia, tax incentives, including a 70% income tax exemption, are in effect until December 31, 2026.