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The Complete Guide to Hiring in Indonesia (2026)

The largest talent pool in Southeast Asia with competitive costs and a booming digital economy.

KopiRecruit Research February 2026 11 min read

Overview

Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy with a population of over 275 million. Jakarta is the primary talent hub, with Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta emerging as secondary tech centers. The country's digital economy has exploded in recent years, driven by unicorns like GoTo, Tokopedia, and Bukalapak.

This startup boom has created a generation of tech-savvy professionals experienced in building and scaling digital products. Indonesia offers the largest absolute talent pool in the region, with costs 55-70% lower than Singapore.

Salary Benchmarks (USD/Year)

Junior vs. Senior salary ranges for key roles in Indonesia.

Software DevDigital MktgData ScientistProduct MgrDesignerQA Engineer$0k$6k$12k$18k$24k
  • Junior
  • Senior

Employer Cost Breakdown

Mandatory employer contributions as a percentage of gross salary.

Employer Contribution

~18% including THR

Notice Period

30 days standard

Annual Leave

12 days + 15 public holidays

EOR Availability

Growing — Deel has local presence

IT Graduate Talent Pipeline

Annual IT/tech graduate output showing the growing talent supply in Indonesia.

2021202220232024202520260k35k70k105k140k

Talent Quality & Insights

Indonesian tech talent has been shaped by the country's unicorn boom. Developers and product managers from companies like GoTo and Tokopedia bring startup-scale experience. The talent pool is deepest in Jakarta but increasingly distributed across secondary cities.

Pros & Cons

✓Advantages

  • • Largest talent pool in Southeast Asia (275M+ population)
  • • 55-70% cost savings vs. Singapore
  • • Booming digital economy with startup-experienced talent
  • • Young demographic — median age 29
  • • Growing English proficiency in tech sector
  • • Government support for digital transformation

!Considerations

  • • English proficiency varies significantly
  • • Complex labor regulations and mandatory benefits (THR bonus)
  • • Infrastructure quality varies outside Jakarta
  • • Currency (IDR) volatility
  • • Cultural hierarchy may require management adaptation

Best Roles to Hire in Indonesia

Software DevelopersDigital Marketing SpecialistsData ScientistsProduct ManagersUI/UX DesignersMobile Developers

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