Complete guide

How to find software developers in Johannesburg

Johannesburg
March 1, 2023
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Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and the second most populous urban area in the country. It is the provincial capital of Gauteng and is the economic hub of South Africa. The city is home to a diverse population of over 4 million people and is known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant nightlife and diverse array of attractions. Johannesburg is a major transport hub and is home to the OR Tambo International Airport, the largest airport in the country. The city is also the hub of South Africa's mining industry and is a leading destination for business and leisure travel. Johannesburg is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Johannesburg are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Johannesburg you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Johannesburg, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Johannesburg is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is a major hub for tech talent in South Africa, with a large and rapidly growing pool of skilled tech workers. According to the South African Bureau of Statistics, the city is home to 35.2% of the country’s tech talent, with the majority of these workers being employed in the city’s thriving tech industry. The city’s tech talent pool is highly educated, with 59% having a university degree or higher and 25% having a postgraduate degree. The city also has a high concentration of tech jobs, with over 25,000 software engineers, 8,000 IT professionals and 4,500 web developers based in Johannesburg. The city is also home to a number of innovative start-ups, with the number of tech startups in the city growing by over 20% in the last five years. These figures demonstrate the strength of the tech sector in Johannesburg and highlight the city’s potential for further growth in the years ahead.

The tech ecosystem in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is a rapidly growing tech hub in South Africa, with a vibrant and diverse tech ecosystem. The city is home to a number of large multinationals, such as Microsoft, SAP and IBM, as well as numerous local startups. There is also a thriving community of venture capitalists, incubators and accelerators, such as 4Di Capital and 22 on Sloane, that are helping to foster the growth of new businesses. In addition, there are a number of co-working spaces and meetup groups that bring together tech professionals for learning, collaboration and networking. Furthermore, the city is host to a number of events, such as the annual Tech4Africa conference, which bring together the best and brightest minds in the tech industry. All of these elements combine to make Johannesburg a thriving and exciting tech hub.

Best tech meetups in Johannesburg

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. JoburgTech Meetup
2. JHB Tech Community Meetup
3. JHB Data Science Meetup
4. JHB DevOps Meetup
5. JHB Cyber Security Meetup
6. JHB Artificial Intelligence Meetup
7. JHB Machine Learning Meetup
8. JHB Cloud Computing Meetup
9. JHB Big Data Meetup
10. JHB JavaScript Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Johannesburg

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Partner with a reputable recruitment agency: Recruiting software developers for a Johannesburg-based company can be a daunting task. A reliable recruitment agency can help you find the best software development talent in Johannesburg.

2. Leverage social media: Social media platforms like LinkedIn can be a great way to identify and reach out to software developers in Johannesburg. Use LinkedIn to search for software developers, review their profiles, and connect with them.

3. Post job ads: Post job advertisements on job boards and other online platforms to attract software developers in Johannesburg. Be sure to include an attractive job description and competitive salary package to attract the best talent.

4. Attend events: Attend networking events, conferences, and other professional gatherings to meet and interact with software developers in Johannesburg.

5. Ask for referrals: Ask your existing employees and other contacts to refer software developers they know in Johannesburg. A personal referral can be a great way to find reliable talent.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Johannesburg is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Johannesburg

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Glassdoor
4. CareerJunction
5. Job Mail
6. Career Builder
7. JobVine
8. Jobberman
9. PNet
10. Monster

Best remote job boards to find developers in Johannesburg

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Upwork
3. Freelancer
4. Fiverr
5. Guru
6. Toptal
7. PeoplePerHour
8. Remote.co
9. FlexJobs
10. WeWorkRemotely

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Johannesburg

The average salary for a Junior Developer in Johannesburg is R265,000 per year. This salary range typically falls between R229,000 and R306,000. Junior Developers in Johannesburg can expect to earn an average salary of R265,000 per year, depending on experience and skillset. This includes a salary of R18,750 per month and a bonus of up to R25,000 per year. Benefits typically include medical aid, pension fund contributions, and other allowances.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Johannesburg

The average salary for a senior developer in Johannesburg is R828,761. This breaks down to an average of R68,230 per month. Senior developers in Johannesburg typically earn more than their counterparts in other cities due to the higher cost of living in the area. Senior developers are typically experienced professionals with a deep understanding of programming languages, frameworks, and technologies. They are responsible for developing, testing, and deploying software applications, as well as leading and mentoring junior developers.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Johannesburg. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Johannesburg. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Johannesburg.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a great resource for business owners in Johannesburg who need to hire employees but do not want to go through the hassle of setting up a company in South Africa. An EOR can help you find, hire, and manage your employees without having to register a business in Johannesburg.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use an Employer of Record in Johannesburg:

1. Research the different EOR providers in Johannesburg: Make sure you find one that suits your business needs and has the right skillset to manage your employees.

2. Establish a contract with the EOR provider: The contract should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of both parties.

3. Hire employees through the EOR provider: The EOR provider will handle the recruitment and onboarding process for you.

4. Manage the payroll process: The EOR provider will handle payroll, taxes, and other related paperwork.

5. Monitor performance: The EOR provider can help you monitor and manage employee performance.

6. Terminate employment: The EOR provider can also help you terminate employees in a legally compliant manner.

Using an Employer of Record in Johannesburg is a great way to simplify the process of hiring and managing employees. It can save you time, money, and effort while ensuring that you remain compliant with all applicable laws.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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