Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kunming

Kunming
March 1, 2023
Share:

Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province in southwestern China. It is known for its mild climate, colorful ethnic villages, and beautiful landscapes. The city has a diverse mix of cultures and traditions, including the traditional Dai and Yi people. Kunming is also a popular tourist destination and is home to many temples, parks, and other attractions. It is a great place to explore the culture and history of the region. Kunming is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kunming 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 Kunming 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 Kunming, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kunming is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kunming

Kunming is a major tech hub in China, boasting a vibrant tech talent pool. According to the Kunming Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Kunming has over 200,000 people in the tech industry, including over 10,000 tech startups. The city also has over100 technology incubators and accelerators, and more than 1,000 venture capital funds. Additionally, Kunming is home to over 50 universities, research institutes, and technology parks. The city is also home to some of the most innovative tech companies in China, including Huawei, Alibaba, and Tencent.

The tech ecosystem in Kunming

Kunming is a city in southwest China that is rapidly becoming an innovation hub. It has a vibrant tech ecosystem that includes a range of startups, entrepreneurial networks, accelerators, venture capital firms, incubators, and research and development centers. The city has seen a surge in tech investment, which has helped to fuel its growth. It is home to a number of leading Chinese tech companies, such as Huawei, Tencent, and Baidu. Its growing tech scene has attracted many global businesses, such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, to open offices in the city. Kunming also has a thriving startup culture, with a range of co-working spaces and incubators, as well as a number of hackathons and tech events. In addition, the city has a number of universities and research institutions, such as the Kunming University of Science and Technology and the Kunming Institute of Technology, which are focusing on developing innovative technology.

Best tech meetups in Kunming

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. Kunming Mobile App Development Meetup
2. Kunming Web Design Meetup
3. Kunming JavaScript Meetup
4. Kunming Linux Meetup
5. Kunming AI and Machine Learning Meetup
6. Kunming Big Data Meetup
7. Kunming Cloud Computing Meetup
8. Kunming VR/AR Meetup
9. Kunming IoT Meetup
10. Kunming Blockchain Technology Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kunming

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



1. Utilize online job boards: Job boards such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster are good places to post job listings and attract software development talent in Kunming.

2. Reach out to local universities: Contact universities in Kunming and see if they have any students or alumni who have the skillset you’re looking for.

3. Leverage social media: You can use platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter to advertise your job and reach out to potential software developers in Kunming.

4. Utilize recruiters: Professional recruiters can be invaluable in helping you find the right software developers for your team.

5. Network: Attend local meetups, technology events, and conferences to meet potential software developers and build relationships.

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 Kunming 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 Kunming

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. Zhaopin
3. Jobboard
4. 51job
5. Liepin
6. Lagou
7. WeChat
8. QQ
9. Sina Weibo
10. Zhilian

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kunming

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. Upwork
2. Fiverr
3. Freelancer
4. LinkedIn
5. Remote.co
6. WeWorkRemotely
7. Virtual Vocations
8. Jobspresso
9. Jobbatical
10. Flexjobs

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 Kunming

The average salary for a junior developer in Kunming is approximately ¥4,000 to ¥6,000 per month. This salary range typically includes base pay and a bonus, depending on the company and position. Junior developers in Kunming are usually expected to have 1-2 years of experience in software engineering, and must be proficient in coding languages such as Java, JavaScript, HTML and CSS. They may also need to have knowledge of web development frameworks and databases. Junior developers are usually expected to assist senior developers and complete tasks such as developing and debugging software applications, writing code, and testing software.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kunming

In Kunming, the average salary for a senior developer is around 11,000 RMB per month, with a range of 8,000 – 14,000 RMB. This salary range is slightly lower than the national average of 12,000 – 15,000 RMB per month. The salary range may vary depending on the type of job and experience of the senior developer. Senior developers with more experience and specialized skills may be able to earn higher wages.

Employing software developers (remotely)

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



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider who helps companies hire and manage employees in Kunming and other cities in China. EORs take on the responsibility of payroll, benefits, and all other aspects of employment in China. With a Kunming-based EOR, companies can reduce the risks associated with hiring and managing employees in China and focus on their core business operations.

Here's how to use an Employer of Record in Kunming:

1. Research and choose an EOR that meets your needs. Make sure to look for an EOR who is familiar with the labor laws and regulations in Kunming and the surrounding cities.

2. Sign an agreement with the EOR. The agreement should specify the services the EOR will provide and the fees associated with those services.

3. Provide the EOR with all the necessary information about the employees, such as contact information, job responsibilities, and salary details.

4. The EOR will then handle the paperwork and other administrative steps to hire the employees and manage their payroll and benefits.

5. Monitor the EOR's performance and make sure that they are adhering to the labor laws and regulations in Kunming.

By using an Employer of Record, companies can easily and safely hire and manage employees in Kunming.

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

More content like this

Sign up and receive the best new tech recruiting content weekly.
Thank you! Fresh tech recruiting content coming your way 🧠
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Latest Articles