How to Hire Developers in India: Costs, Hubs and Hiring Models
IT staff augmentation guide · Updated November 2026
India is one of the world’s largest sources of software engineers. This guide explains why companies hire Indian developers and where to find them. It also covers the five hiring routes and working hours for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US.
Short answer: to hire developers in India without a local entity, use an Employer of Record or a staff augmentation provider. With Staffenza, the developer joins your team full time and you pay salary plus USD 225 a month.
Why Companies Hire Developers in India
- Talent depth: engineers across web, mobile, cloud, data, AI, testing and DevOps.
- English: English is the working language of the Indian tech industry.
- Cost: about 45% less than the same role in Dubai, including the Staffenza fee (Levels.fyi, October 2026).
- Working hours: India is 1.5 hours ahead of the UAE and 2.5 hours ahead of Saudi Arabia.
- Experience with global clients: Indian engineers often work in distributed teams with clients abroad.
India’s Main Tech Hubs
| City | Known for |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Product companies, startups, cloud and AI teams |
| Hyderabad | Global capability centres, cloud and enterprise software |
| Pune | Product engineering, automotive software and testing |
| Chennai | Enterprise IT, SaaS and embedded systems |
| Delhi NCR | Consumer internet, fintech and IT services |
Remote work means you can also hire strong developers from smaller cities such as Kochi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
Five Ways to Hire Indian Developers
| Route | Who handles employment | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance platforms | No one: the developer is a contractor | Availability and long-term commitment |
| Your own Indian entity | Your company | Set-up cost, payroll and compliance work |
| Employer of Record in India | The EOR | You still source and vet candidates yourself |
| IT services company | The vendor | Margins and less control over who works on your project |
| Staff augmentation with Staffenza | Staffenza manages the contract and payroll | You manage daily priorities |
Working Hours: India vs the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US
| Client location | Time difference | Typical overlap |
|---|---|---|
| UAE (UTC+4) | India is 1.5 hours ahead | The whole UAE working day |
| Saudi Arabia (UTC+3) | India is 2.5 hours ahead | Nearly all of the Saudi working day |
| US East Coast | India is 9.5 to 10.5 hours ahead | Two to four agreed hours |
Weekends also differ. The UAE and India usually rest on Saturday and Sunday, while Saudi Arabia rests on Friday and Saturday. Plan shared days from Monday to Thursday.
How Staffenza Hires Developers in India for You
- You share the role, stack and working hours.
- We source candidates from our network of 1,000+ pre-vetted IT professionals.
- Candidates pass five steps: CV and portfolio review, technical assessment, live technical interview, English check and references.
- You interview the shortlist and choose.
- Staffenza handles the developer’s contract, payroll and compliance.
- You pay salary plus USD 225 a month.
Related Guides and Tools
Hiring Developers in India: FAQs
Why hire developers from India?
India has one of the largest pools of English-speaking software engineers. Costs are lower than in the US, UK or Gulf, and hours overlap well with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
How much does it cost to hire a developer in India?
Salary depends on skills, seniority and city. With Staffenza, you pay the developer’s salary plus USD 225 a month, with no hidden margin.
Can a foreign company hire an Indian developer directly?
You can engage a contractor directly, but employing staff in India usually needs a local entity. An Employer of Record or a staff augmentation provider can handle employment for you.
Which Indian cities have the largest tech talent pools?
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and the Delhi NCR region are the largest tech hubs. Kochi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur are growing.
What hours do Indian developers work?
Indian Standard Time is UTC+5:30. That is 1.5 hours ahead of the UAE and 2.5 hours ahead of Saudi Arabia. For US clients, teams usually agree a morning or evening overlap.
How do I check an Indian developer’s skills?
Use a technical test that matches the real job, a live coding interview and reference checks. Staffenza runs five steps: CV and portfolio review, technical assessment, live technical interview, English check and references.
Who pays Indian employment benefits?
The legal employer handles statutory items such as provident fund contributions and gratuity under Indian law. With staff augmentation, that is the provider, not you.