OfferZen Report: SA Developers Prefer Flexibility over Pay

In Short

• OfferZen says most South African developers prioritise flexibility over higher pay.
• Remote and hybrid work are now standard, but fully remote roles are declining in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
• The report also points to falling entry-level salaries, which it links to AI taking on some junior tasks.

What Happened: OfferZen Data On Remote Work And Flexible Hours

OfferZen published its State of SA’s Developer Nation 2026 report, based on a survey of its community run in February 2026. The platform received 3,500 responses, and 2,270 were considered valid for analysis.

The headline result is about workplace flexibility. 57% of developers said remote work and flexible working hours mattered more than pay increases when assessing a role. “Flexible hours” means choosing when you work, for example shifting focus time outside the typical 8-to-5 day.

The report says remote and hybrid work are the norm. Only 15% of developers work full time from an office. Demand remains high, with 92% saying they want hybrid or remote setups.

At the same time, fully remote work is losing momentum in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Companies are leaning more toward hybrid models, which mix home and office days for in-person collaboration.

Cape Town still looks more flexible than Johannesburg. In Cape Town, 54% of companies were hybrid, 37% fully remote, and 9% office-based. In Johannesburg, 60% were hybrid, 28% fully remote, and 13% office-based.

Why It Matters: Hiring Senior Developers And Supporting Juniors

For senior hires, flexibility looks like a competitive lever. The preference strengthens with experience, 55% of senior developers chose flexibility over a pay rise, versus 37% of junior developers.

There are gaps in support. Only about 10% of developers said they receive help for home-office equipment like monitors, ergonomic chairs, or reliable internet.

The report also flags a tension between remote work and mentorship. Only around 10% of developers said they receive mentorship or career coaching, even though 29% listed it as a top perk.

Separate salary data in the same report suggests entry-level pay is falling. OfferZen links this to AI absorbing some junior tasks, with average monthly fintech entry-level pay down 26% to ZAR 27,777, and SaaS junior pay down nearly 24% to ZAR 16,470.