For the fifth consecutive year, the Baltic Institute of Technology has topped the National Employment Agency's employability rankings. In 2025, it achieved a record-high employment rate of 94%, up from 91% the previous year. Additionally, the institute continues to make a significant economic impact, with graduates experiencing an average salary increase of nearly 50% after completing their vocational courses.
The average salary of programmers and other IT specialists who completed Employment Service-funded studies at the Baltic Institute of Technology (BIT) between 2016 and 2024 has increased by nearly 50%. This is according to a study commissioned by BIT and conducted by the consulting and research company "Strategy Labs" from the Lewben Group in October of this year. The data shows that nearly half of BIT graduates have seen an 80% increase in their earnings recently, with the highest salary growth observed in smaller regions of the country.
The study conducted by "Strategy Labs" analyzed the salary changes of nearly a thousand IT specialists who graduated from BIT. The figures reflecting these changes account for inflation. Information on salary changes was provided by the Employment Service and "Sodra," which agreed to disclose the data of all graduates funded by the institutions and employed under a labor contract within 24 months.
The study revealed that the salaries of BIT graduates, including programmers and other IT specialists, grew by an average of 37.4%. This growth is compared to the average salary that graduates from educational institutions earned during the last six months before enrolling in Employment Service-funded studies. Based on the most recent available data on the average salary of BIT graduates after completing their studies, 49% of IT specialists earned more than an 80% increase in their salary. More than 10% of the graduates earned between 40% and 80% more, comments Ignas Aničas, associate partner at "Strategy Labs."
However, according to him, the available data not only shows a significant increase in BIT graduates' salaries but also reveals that nearly 72% of those who completed the courses found employment in a field related to their studies. The remaining BIT graduates, according to the study, found jobs either partially related or unrelated to their specialty.
"By observing salary growth in the country's IT sector, we can see that specialists' earnings begin to rise most rapidly 3 to 4 years after retraining. Since the study analyzed a 24-month period after employment, it doesn't reflect the main salary growth curve of our graduates. While the current changes in their earnings are promising, it is likely that the salaries of BIT course graduates, including programmers and other IT specialists, will experience even greater growth," says BIT Director Algirdas Sabaliauskas.
This view is shared by representatives of the Employment Service. While they note that no comprehensive analysis has yet been conducted on salary growth after completing vocational training programs at all educational institutions for IT specialists, BIT's contribution is significant.
By funding retraining studies, the Employment Service is interested in preparing a qualified workforce for employers. We also view positively the employment of our former clients at significantly higher wages and place special emphasis on the development of new skills within organizations. Therefore, we believe that the quality of IT training programs and teaching at the Baltic Institute of Technology directly contributes to the growth of national wages," comments the Employment Service.
Interestingly, when analyzing the entire study sample and excluding the effects of inflation, the highest salary growth for IT specialists (74.2%) was observed in the regions. However, employees of IT companies located in these areas mostly work remotely. Therefore, the salary changes for these specialists can be compared to the wage growth in the larger cities of the country, such as Vilnius and Kaunas.
According to Rūta Račkauskė, head of the talent acquisition team at Danske Bank Lithuania, this is particularly significant as recent years have shown slower overall wage growth.
In 2023, a wave of mass layoffs in the technology sector occurred worldwide, briefly disrupting the long-standing imbalance between the high demand and supply of specialists. Despite this, the demand for IT specialists in Lithuania remains one of the highest. The sector also sees very high salaries. Although the annual growth rate of these salaries has certainly decreased compared to previous years," notes Rūta Račkauskė.
However, she adds that "Danske Bank" in Lithuania, where BIT graduates also work, continues to plan expansions in its IT divisions, as the need for digitalization remains.
"It must be acknowledged that, considering economic forecasts, hiring decisions have been somewhat more cautious this year. However, the IT sector in Lithuania remains strong, and the profession of programmer continues to be attractive and in demand in the market," emphasizes Rūta Račkauskė.
According to Kristina Astrauskienė, Head of the HR Department at SEB Bank in Lithuania, the organization’s team includes graduates from various educational institutions. While the company does not track how many of them are graduates of the Baltic Institute of Technology (BIT), it is likely that some former BIT students have been employed.
"We pay a lot of attention to digital solutions. Therefore, more than 1,300 product development and technology specialists work in SEB companies in Lithuania and the Baltic States. When it comes to compensation, it depends on the complexity of the work, the field in which the employee works, their experience, and competencies. However, overall market analysis shows that specialists in certain fields, including technology, earn higher salaries than those in other positions of similar work complexity," says K. Astrauskienė.
This, adds A. Sabaliauskas, indicates that the country's IT sector remains one of the most financially attractive. However, he notes that not everyone can earn above the market average. According to A. Sabaliauskas, although 7 out of 10 applicants are accepted into BIT, one-third are told "no."
"Our training is quite intensive. After completing their studies, students join the ranks of major market IT companies. In order to maintain our impeccable reputation, we offer some applicants the option to study elsewhere, as based on various evaluation criteria, we see that studying with us might be too challenging or the field may not be suitable for them. We are particularly excited to welcome students who are ready to change professions and have the mindset for an intensive learning process. Our studies not only prepare them for one of the most attractive IT professions on the market, but also offer the prospect of highly competitive compensation," emphasizes A. Sabaliauskas.