Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Today's Edition

EveryNews

Stories that matter, signal over noise

Technologies

How Much IT Managers Earn in 2026: DOU Data and What It Means

The median salary for IT managers in December 2025 is $3,000 (unchanged over the past six months). Where pay is higher, who has lost out, and which skills actually boost income now — short and to the point.

Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

January 26, 2026 · 2 min read

How Much IT Managers Earn in 2026: DOU Data and What It Means

Brief

According to a DOU survey, the median salary of managers in IT in December 2025 was $3000 — a figure that has not changed over the past six months. The highest compensation remains with Engineering Managers — around $7000. At the same time, notable increases were recorded for the roles of Delivery Manager (+$700) and Product Owner.

Details by role

Changes for key positions are as follows:

Engineering Managers — median ≈ $7000.
Delivery Manager — increase of $700 over six months.
Product Owner — positive dynamics (overall growth in the segment).

Conversely, downward trends are observed in some managerial roles:

Scrum Masters — median salary fell by $300.
Project Managers — Senior: $3325 (minus $575 over six months), Middle: $2000 (minus $100), Junior: $1200 (no change).

In Product Managers, Senior and Middle medians declined, while Junior rose to $1400 (+$200 over six months).

"The median salary for managers in December 2025 is stable — $3000. This market indicator simultaneously reflects both sustained demand for managerial roles and an increasing differentiation by experience, specialization, and location."

— DOU Analytical Team

Location, company, English — what really matters

Salaries depend not only on the role. DOU records significant regional and corporate differences: the median for Project Managers in Lviv is $2900, in Kyiv — $2100. Startups recorded a peak in the third quarter — $5125, while product companies — $4955. Moving from Upper-Intermediate to Advanced English can add about $700 to salary, especially for specialists with more than 10 years of experience.

Who is on the market and how its profile is changing

Over half of IT managers work in Kyiv, another 14% — in Lviv. Women make up 43% of respondents; the highest share of women is among Project Managers (51%) and Scrum Masters (53%). The most common specialization is Project Manager (40%), followed by Product Manager (22%). The average age is 32 years; most have more than three years of industry experience.

What this means for you — practical takeaways

1) A stable median of $3000 — a sign of market resilience: demand for managers exists, but it is more selective regarding skills and location.
2) Roles related to product delivery (Delivery Manager) and product ownership (Product Owner) are gaining value — a market response to companies’ focus on rapid releases and product monetization.
3) If you want to increase your income — invest in English, move into product/startup environments, or build technical expertise to transition into Engineering Management.
4) Declines in some Project and Scrum roles may indicate a redistribution of responsibilities and automation of processes; this is a signal for managers to develop domain skills, not just process skills.

Final context

DOU data show: Ukrainian IT continues to be an economic beacon for the country — growth in certain managerial niches alongside corrections in others. For a specialist this means: the market is open, but compensation is increasingly tied to specific expertise, location, and communication skills. The next step is yours — choose a career trajectory and invest in the skills the market is willing to pay for today.

Source: DOU survey (December 2025).

Related

Latest

Business

EU Against Google: Why the Latest Fine Could Change More Than Previous Ones

# European Regulators Target Google Again — This Time Over Digital Markets Act Violations. What's Behind the Accusations and Why It Matters Beyond the Corporation European regulators have renewed their scrutiny of Google, this time focusing on alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act. The charges underscore Brussels' increasingly aggressive stance on big tech monopolies and what officials say are anticompetitive practices. The accusations center on how Google leverages its dominance across multiple digital services — from search to advertising to mobile platforms — to disadvantage competitors. Regulators claim the company is using its market power in ways that stifle innovation and limit consumer choice. The case carries significance far beyond Google itself. It signals how the EU is attempting to enforce its landmark Digital Markets Act, legislation designed to curb the gatekeeping power of tech giants. A potential penalty could set precedent for how other large technology companies face similar scrutiny. For consumers and smaller tech firms, the outcome could reshape the digital landscape by creating more room for competition. For Google, fines and operational restrictions could fundamentally alter its business model in Europe, the world's most stringent regulatory market. The case also reflects a broader geopolitical divide, with the EU pursuing a regulatory approach that contrasts sharply with the lighter-touch oversight favored in the United States.

May 26, 2026