GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Software Industry Statistics

The software industry faces major hiring, retention, and diversity challenges according to recent data.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Median software engineer salary is $127,470

Statistic 2

92% of software firms offer health insurance

Statistic 3

Average bonus for devs is 15% of salary

Statistic 4

RSUs comprise 30% of tech compensation

Statistic 5

401k match average 4% in software

Statistic 6

75% offer unlimited PTO in tech

Statistic 7

Total comp for senior SWE $250k average

Statistic 8

20% annual raise expectation in software

Statistic 9

Mental health benefits in 65% of tech firms

Statistic 10

Parental leave averages 16 weeks

Statistic 11

55% offer gym memberships or wellness stipends

Statistic 12

Equity refreshers given to 70% of retained staff

Statistic 13

85% competitive benchmarking for salaries

Statistic 14

Learning stipends average $2,500/year

Statistic 15

40% have profit sharing in software

Statistic 16

Commuter benefits in 80% of Bay Area tech

Statistic 17

Pet insurance offered by 25% of firms

Statistic 18

Salary transparency policies in 35%

Statistic 19

Only 26% of software workforce is women

Statistic 20

7% of tech CEOs are women in software firms

Statistic 21

Black employees make up 5% of software roles

Statistic 22

40% of women in tech report bias in promotions

Statistic 23

DEI programs in 85% of software companies

Statistic 24

15% increase in diverse hires since 2020 in tech

Statistic 25

30% of software firms have ERGs for inclusion

Statistic 26

LGBTQ+ representation at 8% in software

Statistic 27

55% of HR prioritize neurodiversity hiring

Statistic 28

Gender pay gap in software is 6%

Statistic 29

25% of tech underrepresented minorities feel excluded

Statistic 30

70% of software HR track diversity metrics

Statistic 31

Latinx employees 6% of software workforce

Statistic 32

45% increase in women in leadership roles since 2019

Statistic 33

Bias training reaches 80% of tech HR teams

Statistic 34

12% of software devs are Asian women

Statistic 35

60% of firms report improved innovation with diversity

Statistic 36

Veteran hiring in software at 3%

Statistic 37

50% of HR say DEI boosts retention in tech

Statistic 38

Disability representation 4% in software

Statistic 39

82% of software companies report difficulty hiring skilled developers in 2023

Statistic 40

75% of tech HR leaders say attracting top talent is their biggest challenge

Statistic 41

Average time to hire a software engineer is 42 days

Statistic 42

60% of software firms use AI in recruitment processes

Statistic 43

70% of developers apply to jobs via referrals

Statistic 44

45% of tech job postings receive no qualified applicants

Statistic 45

Campus hiring accounts for 25% of software engineer hires

Statistic 46

90% of software companies prioritize coding tests in hiring

Statistic 47

Remote hiring increased by 300% post-pandemic in tech

Statistic 48

65% of HR in software uses LinkedIn for sourcing

Statistic 49

Cost per hire for software roles averages $4,200

Statistic 50

55% of tech hires come from employee referrals

Statistic 51

78% of software firms face skills gap in hiring

Statistic 52

Diversity hiring goals met by only 30% of tech HR

Statistic 53

50% increase in contract hiring for software roles

Statistic 54

68% of HR use video interviews for software positions

Statistic 55

Applicant tracking systems used by 95% of software companies

Statistic 56

40% of tech recruiters report ghosting by candidates

Statistic 57

Internal mobility fills 20% of software vacancies

Statistic 58

85% of software HR prioritize soft skills in hiring

Statistic 59

72% of software HR turnover rate is 13.2% annually

Statistic 60

45% of developers leave due to lack of career growth

Statistic 61

Average tenure of software engineers is 2.5 years

Statistic 62

60% of tech employees cite burnout as reason to quit

Statistic 63

Retention bonus offered by 70% of software firms

Statistic 64

35% voluntary turnover in software industry vs 19% average

Statistic 65

50% of HR say work-life balance key to retention

Statistic 66

Exit interviews show 40% leave for better pay in tech

Statistic 67

65% of software companies track engagement for retention

Statistic 68

Remote work reduces turnover by 25% in software

Statistic 69

55% of devs stay longer with mentorship programs

Statistic 70

48% turnover cost equals 1.5x salary in tech

Statistic 71

70% of software firms increased retention focus post-2022 layoffs

Statistic 72

38% of engineers leave due to poor management

Statistic 73

Annual churn rate in software HR is 18%

Statistic 74

62% retention improves with flexible hours

Statistic 75

25% of tech turnover linked to DEI issues

Statistic 76

Software companies with high retention have 21% higher profit

Statistic 77

52% of HR use pulse surveys for retention

Statistic 78

Women in software have 20% higher turnover

Statistic 79

68% of software HR invest in upskilling

Statistic 80

90% of devs want more training opportunities

Statistic 81

Average training budget $1,200 per employee

Statistic 82

75% use online platforms like Coursera

Statistic 83

Leadership training for 40% of mid-level staff

Statistic 84

60% report skills obsolescence in 2 years

Statistic 85

Mentorship programs in 70% of software companies

Statistic 86

50% completion rate for internal training

Statistic 87

AI/ML training demand up 300%

Statistic 88

82% of HR tie training to promotions

Statistic 89

Certification reimbursements in 65%

Statistic 90

45% use microlearning for devs

Statistic 91

Diversity training mandatory for 80%

Statistic 92

55% ROI on training investments in tech

Statistic 93

Hackathons for skill dev in 60% firms

Statistic 94

70% of software HR use LMS systems

Statistic 95

Soft skills training gap in 65% of teams

Statistic 96

Conference attendance budget $3k avg

Statistic 97

38% increase in cloud training enrollments

Statistic 98

Peer learning programs in 50%

1/98

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In an industry where 82% of software companies report difficulty hiring skilled developers, mastering human resources has become the ultimate competitive advantage in the race for tech talent.

Key Takeaways

82% of software companies report difficulty hiring skilled developers in 2023
75% of tech HR leaders say attracting top talent is their biggest challenge
Average time to hire a software engineer is 42 days
72% of software HR turnover rate is 13.2% annually
45% of developers leave due to lack of career growth
Average tenure of software engineers is 2.5 years
Only 26% of software workforce is women
7% of tech CEOs are women in software firms
Black employees make up 5% of software roles
Median software engineer salary is $127,470
92% of software firms offer health insurance
Average bonus for devs is 15% of salary
68% of software HR invest in upskilling
90% of devs want more training opportunities
Average training budget $1,200 per employee

The software industry faces major hiring, retention, and diversity challenges according to recent data.

Compensation and Benefits

Median software engineer salary is $127,470
92% of software firms offer health insurance
Average bonus for devs is 15% of salary
RSUs comprise 30% of tech compensation
401k match average 4% in software
75% offer unlimited PTO in tech
Total comp for senior SWE $250k average
20% annual raise expectation in software
Mental health benefits in 65% of tech firms
Parental leave averages 16 weeks
55% offer gym memberships or wellness stipends
Equity refreshers given to 70% of retained staff
85% competitive benchmarking for salaries
Learning stipends average $2,500/year
40% have profit sharing in software
Commuter benefits in 80% of Bay Area tech
Pet insurance offered by 25% of firms
Salary transparency policies in 35%

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

In the high-stakes game of software compensation, the winning hand appears to be a well-insured, mentally-supported, equity-holding senior engineer with a gym bag, a new parent, a learning budget, a pet, a vague hope for salary transparency, and the perpetual expectation of a 20% raise while navigating the ironic abundance of unlimited PTO they'll likely never fully use.

Diversity and Inclusion

Only 26% of software workforce is women
7% of tech CEOs are women in software firms
Black employees make up 5% of software roles
40% of women in tech report bias in promotions
DEI programs in 85% of software companies
15% increase in diverse hires since 2020 in tech
30% of software firms have ERGs for inclusion
LGBTQ+ representation at 8% in software
55% of HR prioritize neurodiversity hiring
Gender pay gap in software is 6%
25% of tech underrepresented minorities feel excluded
70% of software HR track diversity metrics
Latinx employees 6% of software workforce
45% increase in women in leadership roles since 2019
Bias training reaches 80% of tech HR teams
12% of software devs are Asian women
60% of firms report improved innovation with diversity
Veteran hiring in software at 3%
50% of HR say DEI boosts retention in tech
Disability representation 4% in software

Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

The software industry's diversity data paints a picture of a sector earnestly hanging up "Under New Management" signs in its HR departments, yet the old, exclusionary floor plan is frustratingly still evident in who actually holds the keys, codes, and corner offices.

Recruitment and Hiring

82% of software companies report difficulty hiring skilled developers in 2023
75% of tech HR leaders say attracting top talent is their biggest challenge
Average time to hire a software engineer is 42 days
60% of software firms use AI in recruitment processes
70% of developers apply to jobs via referrals
45% of tech job postings receive no qualified applicants
Campus hiring accounts for 25% of software engineer hires
90% of software companies prioritize coding tests in hiring
Remote hiring increased by 300% post-pandemic in tech
65% of HR in software uses LinkedIn for sourcing
Cost per hire for software roles averages $4,200
55% of tech hires come from employee referrals
78% of software firms face skills gap in hiring
Diversity hiring goals met by only 30% of tech HR
50% increase in contract hiring for software roles
68% of HR use video interviews for software positions
Applicant tracking systems used by 95% of software companies
40% of tech recruiters report ghosting by candidates
Internal mobility fills 20% of software vacancies
85% of software HR prioritize soft skills in hiring

Recruitment and Hiring Interpretation

Despite the industry's fervent embrace of every high-tech recruitment tool and metric available, the paradox remains that hiring a software developer is less a precise science and more a frantic, forty-two-day game of chance where everyone is playing, but the house—and the qualified candidates—seem to have left the building.

Retention and Turnover

72% of software HR turnover rate is 13.2% annually
45% of developers leave due to lack of career growth
Average tenure of software engineers is 2.5 years
60% of tech employees cite burnout as reason to quit
Retention bonus offered by 70% of software firms
35% voluntary turnover in software industry vs 19% average
50% of HR say work-life balance key to retention
Exit interviews show 40% leave for better pay in tech
65% of software companies track engagement for retention
Remote work reduces turnover by 25% in software
55% of devs stay longer with mentorship programs
48% turnover cost equals 1.5x salary in tech
70% of software firms increased retention focus post-2022 layoffs
38% of engineers leave due to poor management
Annual churn rate in software HR is 18%
62% retention improves with flexible hours
25% of tech turnover linked to DEI issues
Software companies with high retention have 21% higher profit
52% of HR use pulse surveys for retention
Women in software have 20% higher turnover

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

While the industry obsessively tracks the dizzying 13.2% churn of its own HR departments and the 1.5x salary cost of replacing a developer, the clearest path to the 21% higher profits that come with high retention seems to be simply listening to the 50% of employees screaming for work-life balance, the 45% pleading for career growth, and the 38% fleeing poor management, because slapping a retention bonus on a burning platform is a tragically expensive way to ignore the obvious.

Training and Development

68% of software HR invest in upskilling
90% of devs want more training opportunities
Average training budget $1,200 per employee
75% use online platforms like Coursera
Leadership training for 40% of mid-level staff
60% report skills obsolescence in 2 years
Mentorship programs in 70% of software companies
50% completion rate for internal training
AI/ML training demand up 300%
82% of HR tie training to promotions
Certification reimbursements in 65%
45% use microlearning for devs
Diversity training mandatory for 80%
55% ROI on training investments in tech
Hackathons for skill dev in 60% firms
70% of software HR use LMS systems
Soft skills training gap in 65% of teams
Conference attendance budget $3k avg
38% increase in cloud training enrollments
Peer learning programs in 50%

Training and Development Interpretation

The software industry is locked in a comical arms race where HR, armed with modest budgets and a love for online platforms, is desperately trying to upskill a workforce of developers who are voraciously hungry for training, acutely aware their skills are expiring, and are often only halfway through the last course before demanding the next one.

Sources & References

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