Introduction

Hiring British software engineers offers US companies access to a huge tech talent pool of native English speaker, and significant cost savings – all of which contributing to the UK’s reputation as a go-to location for offshore tech recruitment, for companies with a slightly higher budget.

Why is the UK popular for tech hiring?

US companies love hiring developers in the UK due to its large pool of highly skilled, English-speaking talent, significantly lower salary costs compared to the US, strong cultural & business alignment, and favorable tax incentives, all while offering a strategic European base and a mature tech ecosystem.

The UK boasts world-class, educated tech professionals with skills in high demand, providing a rich source of talent, with some of the top universities in the world located in the UK producing thousands of tech graduates every year.

UK developer salaries, while competitive, are also considerably lower than US equivalents, allowing US firms to save significantly on labor costs. Competitive corporation tax rates, R&D tax credits, and Patent Box schemes further boost profitability.

How many developers are in the UK?

The number of software developers in the UK varies by report, with estimates ranging from around 465,000 (2024) to over 849,000 (2025) according to some estimates, placing it among Europe’s leading tech hubs. Plus, London is home to more software developers than any other European city.

Top cities to hire developers in the UK

The leading cities for hiring tech professionals in the UK include:

• London: The UK’s tech capital, with a massive talent pool in AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and SaaS.
• Manchester: The UK’s second-largest hub, strong in gaming, e-commerce, AI, and cyber security.
• Bristol: Innovative cluster, strong in digital media, aerospace and green tech.
• Edinburgh: Key for fintech, data science, and machine learning.
• Cambridge/Oxford: The “Golden Triangle,” these cities offer skilled graduates in AI, data, and research due to their prestigious universities.
• Birmingham: A fast-growing tech hub, good for PHP, data architecture, cloud development, and general tech.

Is it hard to hire a developer in the UK?

As a major tech hub, it can be hard to find highly skilled developers in the UK that fit your budget. The UK has a highly competitive tech talent market, with startups and small businesses struggling to compete with the salaries and benefits offered by major players in the region.

As a result, many companies are turning to dedicated tech hiring platforms like HireDevelopers.com to simplify the process of hiring developers and tech talent across the UK. These platforms offer a faster alternative to traditional hiring, offering thousands of pre-vetted engineers currently looking for new opportunities.

How much does it cost to hire a developer in the UK?

Glassdoor reports an average base salary of $55,000 annually for mid-level software engineers in the UK, with a range of $3,500 to $6,000 per month.

With pre-vetted platforms like HireDevelopers.com, companies can save up to 80% on salaries and hiring costs when hiring British developers.

How to hire a developer in the UK

The first step to hiring a developer in the UK is to decide on a hiring method. Traditional hiring methods include local job adverts, LinkedIn job posts and using your professional network to identify potential candidates.

However, these methods are often time consuming and can be expensive. The median time to hire a developer is around 41 days, with the slowest 10% taking up to 82 days and 38% of companies reporting project delays due to recruitment problems, according to the Linux Foundation’s 2024 State of Tech Talent Report.

Alternatively, many companies are now turning to services like HireDevelopers.com to cut costs and speed up the hiring process. With HireDevelopers.com, you can hire UK-based developers at any price point and in just 24 hours.

You should also consider using coding challenges alongside a traditional interview during the hiring process – if you’re using a pre-vetted talent pool like HireDevelopers.com, this has already been done for you. Coding challenges allow you to assess problem-solving skills and coding expertise in a realistic, real-time environment.

If you need help putting together a job description or conducting a job interview, you can check out our helpful and comprehensive guides below. Alternatively, to cut your time-to-hire by 90% and unlock savings of up to 80%, get in touch and book your free HireDevelopers.com consultation today.

Why hire British developers with HireDevelopers?

Hiring the right British developer for your team is a huge undertaking, and the process can be intimidating, especially for startups and small businesses.

At HireDevelopers.com, our pre-vetted, global tech talent marketplace streamlines your hiring journey and cuts time-to-hire by over 90% without compromising on quality or stretching your budget. Receive a custom shortlist of top developers at any seniority level and at any price point within just 24 hours of your consultation.

Plus, we’ll handle all payroll, legal compliance and HR completely for free, giving you more time to start building with your new UK-based dev.

Get in touch today and start hiring top-notch British developers in just 24 hours with HireDevelopers.com