Let’s talk about money.
If you’re a tech professional in Portugal, you’ve probably heard whispers about salary shifting, companies tightening budgets, and AI reshaping job expectations.
But what’s actually going on?
The 2025 Tech Salary Benchmark Report—brought to you by Damia Group in partnership with SIXT—just dropped, and it’s packed with insights into the state of tech salaries, hiring trends, and what skills are commanding the highest pay.
Here’s a breakdown of what matters most for your career:
1. Tech Salaries Are (Mostly) Going Up
Despite a shaky global economy, Portugal’s tech salaries have continued to rise, especially for key roles like Frontend, DevOps, and AI/ML specialists.
Backend Developers: Senior salaries range from €40K to €110K, with Python and Java leading demand.
Frontend Developers: Salaries jumped 11.5% YoY, now ranging from €45K to €98K for senior roles. React remains king.
DevOps & SRE: Average salary hit €71K, and AWS expertise pays the most.
AI & Machine Learning Engineers: These roles have exploded, with demand for NLP (think GPT and LLMs) rising fast.
💡 Takeaway: If you have skills in AI, cloud, or full-stack development, you’re in a strong position to negotiate better pay.
2. The Work Model Shift: Remote is Fading, Hybrid is Winning
Remember when fully remote work felt like the new normal? Well, companies have other plans.
Hybrid work is the new standard, with many companies requiring 1-2 office days per week.
Office culture is making a comeback, but flexibility remains a key hiring advantage.
Fully remote roles are declining, but candidates still want flexibility—17% still prefer full remote.
💡 Takeaway: If remote work is a dealbreaker for you, expect fewer options—but strong candidates can still negotiate flexible hybrid models.
3. AI is Changing the Game (and Salaries)
AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s a career-shaping force.
65% of AI-skilled candidates now have NLP & LLM experience.
AI Engineers, Data Scientists, and ML roles are seeing major salary bumps.
AI-driven Product Managers are now a thing. If you’re in PM, adding AI knowledge can future-proof your career.
💡 Takeaway: If you’re not learning AI skills, you might fall behind. Even basic familiarity with AI concepts can set you apart.
4. What Companies Are Offering Beyond Salaries
Salary matters, but benefits are more competitive than ever. Some of the most attractive incentives in 2024:
4-day work weeks or Friday afternoons off
Higher salaries in exchange for less flexibility
Stock options and bonuses
Home office allowances
💡 Takeaway: If you’re job hunting, don’t just focus on salary—negotiate perks that matter to you.
5. How to Use This Data to Get Ahead in 2025
↳ Know Your Worth – Compare your role and experience level to the salary ranges in the report.
↳ Invest in AI & Cloud Skills – AI, Python, and AWS are high-value skills right now.
↳ Negotiate Smart – Companies are offering more flexibility and benefits—ask for what you want.
↳ Future-Proof Your Career – Salaries are still rising, but layoffs and hiring slowdowns in certain areas mean staying adaptable is key.
Want the full report? Download it here: Damia Group 2025 Tech Salary Report
This is your career cheat sheet for 2025—use it wisely. 🚀