Hire Developers in the Philippines: Salary, Cost and EOR Pricing
How much does it cost to hire a developer in the Philippines? The cost depends on the role, seniority, technology stack, benefits, working hours and employment structure.
For companies hiring through an Employer of Record, the standard Smart Outsourcing Solution management fee is:
US$190 per employee per month
This is the standard SOS EOR management fee and includes recruitment and candidate sourcing at no extra charge; your company selects the candidate.
- Employer statutory contributions
- 13th-month pay
- Required employment benefits
- Optional benefits
- Allowances
- Equipment
- Employee-specific expenses
Key Takeaways
- The standard EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month, a fixed rate, not a starting price.
- Recruitment and candidate sourcing are included at no extra charge; your company interviews and selects the candidate.
- Employee salary and employment-related costs are separate from the management fee.
- There are no separate SOS setup, onboarding, exit or offboarding fees, and no FX markup, under standard pricing.
- A refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month's base salary is required at commencement and annually.
- There is no minimum contract duration; the service may be ended with 30 days' notice. Minimum headcount is one employee.
- Global BPO Solution Philippines Inc. is the Philippine legal employer; your company manages the developer's technical work day to day.
- An existing developer or previously selected candidate can generally be onboarded in as little as five business days once requirements are complete.
Developer Salary Examples in the Philippines
The following are illustrative monthly salary examples for planning purposes. They are not an SOS rate card, guaranteed offers or a formal market survey. Actual compensation depends on the developer's experience, responsibilities, technology stack, leadership scope, availability and working arrangement.
| Developer role | Illustrative monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Junior developer | US$800–US$1,500 |
| Mid-level developer | US$1,500–US$3,000 |
| Senior developer | US$3,000–US$5,000 |
| Technical lead or architect | US$4,000–US$7,000 |
Specialised skills, niche technology stacks and leadership responsibilities may command different compensation. The final salary should be agreed with the selected employee before employment documentation is prepared.
What Is Included in the US$190 EOR Fee?
The standard EOR management fee covers employment administration provided by SOS, including:
- Employment documentation
- Employee records
- Payroll administration
- SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG statutory administration
- 13th-month pay administration
- Benefits enrolment where applicable
- HR guidance and employment lifecycle support
- Recruitment and candidate sourcing
Under the standard SOS structure, Global BPO Solution Philippines Inc. is the Philippine legal employer. Your company manages the developer's daily work, including technical priorities, product and project requirements, tools and systems, workflows, schedules, code reviews, performance expectations and team communication. The EOR fee does not replace the employee's salary or employment-related costs.
What Costs Are Separate from the EOR Fee?
The following items are normally calculated separately from the US$190 monthly management fee.
Salary. The agreed gross salary paid to the developer.
Employer statutory contributions. Employer contributions and statutory employment costs required under Philippine rules. Relevant official references include the SSS contribution table, PhilHealth employer information, DOLE guidance on 13th-month pay, the BIR official website and the Pag-IBIG Fund official website.
13th-month pay. Eligible employees in the Philippines are generally entitled to 13th-month pay, calculated as one-twelfth of basic salary earned during the calendar year under Presidential Decree No. 851. The amount is calculated separately from the monthly EOR management fee.
Benefits and allowances. Depend on the agreed employment package and may include health insurance or HMO, transport allowance, communication allowance, meal allowance, internet allowance, leave-related costs, or other approved benefits.
Equipment and employee-specific costs. Equipment, software, licences, travel and other employee-specific costs may be charged separately where applicable.
Recruitment and candidate sourcing. Included in the standard EOR management fee at no extra charge. Confirm the scope and expected timeline before beginning a search.
Example: Monthly Cost for a Developer Earning US$2,000
| Cost item | Example |
|---|---|
| Developer salary | US$2,000 |
| SOS EOR management fee | US$190 |
| Employer statutory contributions | Calculated separately |
| 13th-month pay | Calculated separately |
| Benefits and allowances | Based on agreed package |
| Equipment or other employee-specific costs | Where applicable |
The estimated employment budget is therefore not simply the salary plus a percentage. The final amount depends on the employee's compensation package and statutory obligations. Request an employee-specific quote before approving the role.
Example: Monthly Cost for a Senior Developer
For a senior developer earning US$4,000 per month, the cost calculation may include:
| Cost item | Example |
|---|---|
| Senior developer salary | US$4,000 |
| SOS EOR management fee | US$190 |
| Employer statutory contributions | Calculated separately |
| 13th-month pay | Calculated separately |
| Benefits and allowances | Based on agreed package |
| Equipment or other employee-specific costs | Where applicable |
These examples are for planning only. They should not be treated as a fixed quote or a guaranteed total employment cost.
Are There Additional SOS Fees?
The standard SOS EOR pricing structure has:
- No hidden provider costs
- No FX markup
- No onboarding fee
- No standard provider termination fee
- One standard EOR management fee of US$190 per employee per month
Statutory final pay, legally required termination amounts and other employee-related obligations remain separate where applicable. A refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month's base salary is also required at commencement and annually, with salary-related adjustments. It secures potential termination or redundancy liabilities and is separate from the management fee. The standard arrangement has no minimum contract duration and no long-term lock-in. It may be ended with 30 days' written notice, subject to the agreement. Minimum headcount is one employee, there is no volume requirement. The applicable commercial terms should always be confirmed in the MSA, service schedule and employee-specific quote.
How Much Do Developers Cost Compared With the US, UK or Australia?
Developer compensation in the Philippines may be lower than in some Western markets, but salary figures should not be compared in isolation. The comparison should also consider role scope, seniority, technology stack, working hours, benefits, statutory employment costs, equipment, EOR or entity-management costs, technical management requirements, and currency and exchange-rate movement.
| Role | Illustrative Philippines example | Illustrative US, UK or Australian example |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | US$2,000–US$5,000 per month | US$6,000–US$12,000+ per month |
| Senior developer | US$4,000–US$6,000 per month | US$10,000–US$18,000+ per month |
These figures are broad planning examples for general orientation, not a formal market study, salary survey citation, or guaranteed savings calculation. Confirm current market rates against a named salary-survey source before using these figures in external-facing sales materials.
What Developer Roles Can You Hire?
Salary and total cost vary by role. Common developer roles include:
Software development: frontend developers using React, Vue or Angular; backend developers using Node.js, Python, Java or PHP; full-stack developers; API and systems-integration developers; database developers; application maintenance developers.
Specialised technical roles: mobile developers for iOS, Android or React Native; DevOps engineers; cloud engineers; QA and test engineers; UI/UX developers; technical support specialists; security-focused technical roles.
Advanced roles: technical leads; engineering managers; software architects; product-focused developers; technical project coordinators.
The more clearly the role is defined, the more accurate the salary and employment-cost estimate will be.
How Does EOR Pricing Work?
- Define the role. Confirm the developer's responsibilities, seniority, technology stack, working hours and expected start date.
- Confirm the compensation package. Agree on salary, benefits, allowances, equipment and any other employee-specific items.
- Confirm the EOR fee. Apply the standard SOS management fee of US$190 per employee per month.
- Calculate employment costs. Calculate statutory contributions, 13th-month pay and other applicable employee costs.
- Confirm recruitment requirements. If a candidate has not yet been selected, confirm sourcing and screening support, included at no extra charge.
- Complete onboarding. For an existing employee, onboarding can generally be completed in as little as five business days once the MSA, employee information, required documents and funding are complete.
How Does EOR Compare With Other Hiring Models?
| Model | Main pricing basis | Employment administration | Customer control |
|---|---|---|---|
| EOR | Salary, employee costs and EOR fee | Managed by EOR provider | Customer manages daily work |
| Agency or outsourcing | Project, team or bundled pricing | Usually provider-led | Depends on the contract |
| Freelancer | Individual rate or project fee | Customer or contractor arrangement | Customer manages the engagement |
| Own local entity | Salary and internal operating costs | Managed by the customer | Customer has direct control |
No model is automatically right for every company. Compare the total cost, responsibilities, control, flexibility and legal relationship before choosing an arrangement. Read the comparison ofEOR and freelancer arrangements in the Philippines.
How Quickly Can an Existing Developer Be Onboarded?
An existing employee or previously selected candidate can generally be onboarded in as little as five business days once the following are complete: signed MSA, complete employee information, required employment documents, agreed salary and benefits, payroll funding, and required approvals. The timeline depends on the role, candidate availability, interviews, references, offer acceptance and notice period. Where the individual is already employed by another provider, the existing employment relationship must first be addressed. Read more abouthiring in the Philippines without setting up a company.
What Should You Prepare Before Requesting a Quote?
Prepare the following information: developer role, technology stack, seniority level, proposed salary, working hours, timezone requirements, benefits and allowances, equipment requirements, expected start date, candidate details if already selected, and recruitment requirements if applicable. This allows the EOR provider to separate the fixed management fee from salary and employee-specific costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard SOS EOR fee for a developer?
The standard published SOS EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month. Salary, statutory costs, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances and equipment are separate.
Is US$190 the total cost of hiring a developer?
No. US$190 is the EOR management fee only. The total employment cost also includes the developer's salary and applicable employee-related costs.
What is the average salary for a developer in the Philippines?
There is no single salary that applies to every developer. Illustrative planning examples range from US$800 per month for junior roles to US$7,000 per month for senior technical-lead or architect roles.
Is recruitment included in the EOR fee?
Yes. Recruitment and candidate sourcing are included in the standard EOR management fee at no extra charge; your company selects the candidate.
Are there onboarding or FX fees?
No. The standard SOS pricing structure has no onboarding fee and no FX markup.
Is a refundable deposit required?
Yes. The standard agreement requires a refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month's base salary at commencement and annually.
Is there a lock-in or minimum number of employees?
No. There is no minimum contract duration; the service may be ended with 30 days' notice. The minimum headcount is one employee.
Can I hire a developer without setting up a Philippine company?
Yes. An EOR can employ the developer locally while your company manages the developer's daily technical work.
How quickly can an existing developer start?
Existing employees can generally be onboarded in as little as five business days once the MSA, required information, documentation and funding are complete.
Who manages the developer?
Your company manages the developer's technical work, priorities, tools, workflows, schedules and performance. SOS manages the local employment relationship and employment administration.
What information is needed for an accurate quote?
The role, salary, seniority, benefits, allowances, working hours, equipment requirements, candidate status and expected start date.
A Practical Next Step
To request a developer EOR estimate, prepare: role and technology stack, seniority level, salary expectation, benefits and allowances, working hours, candidate status, expected start date, and recruitment requirements. The quote should show the EOR fee separately from salary, statutory costs, 13th-month pay, benefits and other employee-specific costs. No obligation, just a clear view of the pricing and employment structure.
Speak with a Philippines EOR specialist