5 Lesser-Known IT Cities in Poland

The Polish IT market can offer a wide range of services and specialists for businesses of various sizes, from SMEs to large international enterprises. However, not all Polish cities have a big concentration of enterprise-level IT companies.

For instance, Warsaw, Wrocław, and Kraków have the highest concentration of R&D experts. On the other hand, Lublin, Poznań, Katowice, Gdańsk, and Łódź are more suitable for small and medium-sized businesses targeting neighbouring countries or the local market. 

Let's take a closer look at some lesser-known tech cities in Poland and explore the unique features of their IT communities.

Lublin

Lublin, located in eastern Poland, is the country's largest cultural, academic, and business center with a metro area population of 328,000 in 2024. It has a smart workforce, affordable work, rent costs, and excellent expressways, making the city really attractive for investment.

Lublin – Important Facts

The report Polish Economic Institute states that the city occupies: 

• 1st place for internationalization of universities, equal to Warsaw.
• 5th place among 26 Polish academic centers in Academicity of Cities Index.
• 5th place in Innovativeness category.

IT Talent Pool 

About 60,000 students live in Lublin, making up nearly 17.5% of its total people. The city graduates more than 15,000 people each year, who enter the job market and expand the pool of skilled workers in the local economy.

Key tertiary education IT universities in the city include: 

• the Lublin University of Technology;
• the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University;
• the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin;
• the University of Life Sciences in Lublin.

According to the unemployment rate in Poland by Statista, Lublin's unemployment rate was 4.3% as of December 2023, lower than the national average of 5.1%. Companies in the Lublin Metropolitan Area can reach out and tap into the workforce in Lublin and its bordering points such as Świdnicki (8.2%) and Lubartowski (12.8%), which still have large pools of people ready to take up employment.

How Much Does a Tech Professional Make in Lublin?

An IT Executive working in Lublin will typically earn around $28,324 per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about $14,446 to the highest average salary of $43,370.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an IT Company in Lublin?

According to TechBehemoths data, the hourly rates for IT services in Lublin reveal that approximately 67% of companies charge between $30 and $70 per hour, while 37% of companies charge between $70 and $150 per hour.

The Startup Ecosystem in Lublin

The startup ecosystem in Lublin had growth in 2023 and is ranked as 10th best startup ecosystem in Poland, rising to 70 positions in the Global Ecosystem Index, according to Startup Blink. 

Startups in Lublin are particularly strong in hardware, IoT, health tech, and software and data. The expanding Software and Data business in the city is being supported by a few noteworthy success stories. Sundose, SDS Optic, and DCX are a few of the most growth-oriented startups in Lublin in 2023.

“Lublin is a dynamic city with huge investment potential. By building a local economic ecosystem and fostering cluster initiatives, Lublin encourages start-ups, SMEs and large companies looking for new business locations to be more entrepreneurial. Such an investor-friendly environment provides plenty of opportunities for growth and success for both manufacturing industries and the business services sector”. - comments Investor Services Bureau of the Lublin City Hall.

Discover tech companies in Lublin.

Poznań

Poznań is one of the oldest and the fifth-largest cities in Poland, with an estimated population of 520,774 in 2024. It is the historical capital of the Greater Poland region and is known as a center of trade, sports, education, technology, and tourism. 

Poznań – Important Facts

Advantages of Poznań as an IT investment location according to IT Sector Investment Potential in Poznań report are: 

• Access to skilled talent.
• 12,2000 IT/ICT and engineering/technology students.
• Specialties in software house, hardware, cloud, e-commerce, digital payment.
• Developed IT infrastructure and data centres.
• Attractive office space.
• High quality of life.
• City's support at every investment step.

IT Talent Pool 

Poznań is a unique city known for its high-quality education and wide degree offerings, particularly in IT-related majors. Popular universities offer high-quality education, with around 130,000 students, Poznań is an academic city with a wide range of degree options, making it an attractive destination for students seeking a comprehensive education.

Public institutions offering IT studies:

• the Adam Mickiewicz University;
• the Poznań University of Technology;
• the Poznań University of Economics and Business.

The city is a hub for shared service and outsourcing centers. There are currently 80 business service centers in operation in Poznań, with over 30 of them related to IT, ITO, or IT-oriented R&D. Additionally, another 10 centers include IT processes in their portfolio. There are over 8000 employees in Poznań in IT, ITO, R&D, SSC centres.

Poznań is a well-known city in the IT market, with a focus on serving local Polish clients (16% of clients) and the German market (21.9% of clients), according to N-iX data. The city has approximately 50 IT companies, making it an ideal location for SMEs and startups. Two of the main international investors in Poznań are Roche and Capgemini, both of which have their headquarters in the city.

The city has launched several projects to attract entrepreneurs and innovators. These initiatives include the Technology and Industry Park, an innovation center, and the Plus One Coworking Space - an incubator that provides free professional office infrastructure to new companies. The main goal of these projects is to promote and support local start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures.

How Much Does a Tech Professional Make in Poznań?

An Information Technology Executive in Poznań can earn an average of $29,200 per year, with salaries ranging from $14,789 to $45,738, according to World Salaries data. Poznań offers IT workers financially attractive salaries compared to other cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Tri-City, but they also can find good offers in Upper Silesia or Łódź.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an IT Company in Poznań?

According to TechBehemoths data, the hourly rates for IT services in Poznań reveal that approximately 2% of companies charge between $30 per hour, while 45% of companies charge between $30 and $70 per hour, majority charging $70 and $150 per hour and the last category is 3% that charge between $150 - $250/h.

The Startup Ecosystem in Poznań

According to Startup Blink database, Poznań has 65 startups, which is about 8% of all startups in Poland. The city ranks as the 4th best startup ecosystem in Poland. In the year 2023, Pozna's startup scene ranked 21st in the Global Ecosystem Index.

Explore IT companies in Poznań.

Katowice

Katowice is the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship, the principal city of the Silesian Metropolis, and the sixth-fastest growing city in the world. The region of Silesia is widely known for its industrial past.

If you want to establish an IT project, make sure to include Katowice in your planning. According to recent reports, Katowice is one of the most popular city for information technology projects, and the city is developing a competence in this field. 

The agglomeration is quickly growing, attracting Polish and worldwide IT investment thanks to its contemporary commercial infrastructure. Major investments include the International Congress Centre and Silesia Business Park, The KTW offices, reflect the city's strong future view.

Katowice – Important Facts

• 1st place in fDi ranking of Polish Cities of the Future.
• 6th fastest developing city globally.
• 102 Business Services Centers and 54 IT Centers.
• Fitch rated Katowice 'Good'.
• 51% of Business Services Sector employees in IT.

IT Talent Pool 

Setting up your project in Katowice gives you access to talented graduates and IT specialists from prestigious universities, including:

• the Silesian University of Technology;
• the University of Silesia;
• the University of Economics.

Katowice has around 12,000 engineering and technology students, 8000 IT/ICT students, and over 7000 people studying philology and foreign languages. This offers investors access to experts who have a strong language skill set. 

Ranked as the 11th most populous city in Poland, Katowice hosts more than 180 IT businesses, either based in the city or with their headquarters situated there. The city has nearly 27,500 skilled tech professionals specializing in areas such as branding, UI/UX design, web development, and mobile app development. These professionals collaborate with companies not only within Poland but also with businesses from France and the United Kingdom.

International businesses choose Katowice for good reason - they value the city's availability to top-tier experts and IT expertise. Several companies, including Fujitsu, IBM, Deloitte, Honeywell, and Rockwell Automation, and others, have chosen Katowice as their location.

How Much Does a Tech Professional Make in Katowice?

An Information Technology Executive working in Katowice will typically earn around $28,590 per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about $14,000 to the highest average salary of $44,570.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an IT Company in Katowice?

TechBehemoths data state that the hourly rates for IT services in Katowice reveal that approximately 48% of companies charge between $70 - $150/h and 53% charge between $30 - $70/h.

The Startup Ecosystem in Katowice

There are 19 startups located in Katowice, which is approximately 2% of all startups in Poland. In terms of ranking, Katowice is the 6th best startup ecosystem in Poland. In 2023, the startup scene in Katowice significantly improved and moved up to 91 place in the Global Ecosystem Index, according to Startup Blink database.

Explore Tech Companies in Katowice. 

Gdańsk 

Gdańsk's picturesque coastal landscape and historical significance make it an ideal location for software developers seeking work-life balance. The city's fast-growing tech scene, tech parks, and incubators make it an attractive destination for talent in the software industry.

IT Talent Pool 

The metropolis of Gdańsk is the largest academic center in northern Poland, with 23 higher education institutions, 100,000 students, and 26,000 yearly graduates. The city has numerous tech centers, companies, and startups that aim to improve our quality of life.

How Much Does a Tech Professional Make in Gdańsk?

The average monthly salary for a Software Engineer in Gdańsk is $4,226, with additional pay of $1,200, including cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing, according to Glassdoor data. 

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an IT Company in Gdańsk?

TechBehemoths data state that the hourly rates for IT services in Gdańsk reveal that approximately 4% of companies charge between $30 per hour, while 42% of companies charge between $30 and $70 per hour, majority charging $70 and $150 per hour.

The Startup Ecosystem in Gdańsk 

Around 3% of total startups in Poland are located in Gdańsk. It ranks fifth among Poland's best startup hubs. By 2023, Gdańsk's startup ecosystem had risen to 28 positions in the Global Ecosystem Index.

Find more IT companies in Gdańsk.

Łódź

Łódź, the third-largest city in Poland, continues its dynamic development, becoming one of the most innovative centers in Poland.

Łódź – Important Facts

• Nearly 30,000 specialists.
• Over 200 companies offering IT services.
• Over 1,000 graduates entering local market annually.
• Over 600,000 square meters of modern office space.

IT Talent Pool 

Today, business development largely depends on access to talent. Łódź is one of the most important academic centers in Poland. The city hosts a total of 21 higher education institutions, 7 public and 14 private, as well as 30 research and development institutions. Nearly 72,000 students study at Łódź universities annually, including nearly 5,000 international students, and around 17,000 graduates receive diplomas.

Grafton Recruitment's report on 60 IT services employers in Łódź revealed that nearly 40% of respondents, the largest group, have proficiency in JavaScript/React and Java. Other highly skilled professionals include Angular, Python, and Node.js. 

The report also revealed that 98% of the companies plan to increase employment over the next 12 months, resulting in over 2,000 jobs for IT professionals. The diversity of IT services in Łódź is evident across specialists and technologies.

How Much Does a Tech Professional Make in Łódź?

The average salary for a specialist in information technology in Łódź, Poland is $24,880, which is 6% lower than the national average.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an IT Company in Łódź?

TechBehemoths data indicates that the hourly rates for IT services in Gdańsk reveal that approximately 3% of companies charge between $30 per hour, while 42% of companies charge between $30 and $70 per hour and the majority - 55% charging $70 and $150 per hour.

The Startup Ecosystem in Łódź

The city of Łódź accounts for approximately 2% of the startup ecosystem in Poland. It holds the 9th position among Poland's top startup ecosystems. In 2023, Łódź's startup scene had significant growth, rising to 81 spots in the Global Ecosystem Index.

Discover IT companies in Łódź.

To Sum Up 

When you decide to take on a project with an IT company, it's important to consider more than just their expertise. You should also ensure that they operate in a supportive business environment that allows for growth and development. There are certain cities that have consistently shown that they understand the needs and requirements of international investors over the years.