Hire Remote Talent in Portugal
English: HighEU membership with stable legal framework Calculate hiring costs, compare salaries, and start hiring compliantly.
Timezone
UTC+0
Employer Costs
+26.75%
Workweek
40 hours
Paid Leave
22 days
Portugal Scorecard
Multi-factor hiring assessment
| Factor | Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Savings | 57/100 | Moderate |
| English | 90/100 | Excellent |
| Timezone Overlap | 55/100 | Moderate |
| Tech Ecosystem | 65/100 | Good |
| Regulatory Simplicity | 68/100 | Good |
Portugal scores highest in english (90/100) and lowest in timezone overlap (55/100). High English proficiency makes Portugal suitable for client-facing roles and real-time collaboration. The growing tech ecosystem offers strong value with competitive rates and an expanding talent pool.
Timezone Overlap
US Eastern Time vs Portugal (UTC+0)
US (ET)
Portugal
Overlap
3h
Daily Overlap
9am-12pm
Best Meeting Window (ET)
Portugal operates at UTC+0, which is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. With 3 hours of daily overlap, you can schedule key meetings, daily standups, and sync sessions within the shared working window. Plan async handoffs for tasks that need to continue outside this window. Many distributed teams operate effectively with this level of overlap using tools like Slack, Loom, and Linear.
Calculate Hiring Costs in Portugal
Hiring Cost Calculator
Calculate your savings hiring globally
Select a country and role to see hiring costs
Why Hire in Portugal?
- EU membership with stable legal framework
- Excellent English proficiency
- Growing tech hub (Lisbon, Porto)
- Same timezone as UK (GMT/WET)
- Cost savings of 30-40% vs Western Europe
Popular Roles to Hire in Portugal
Software Developer
tech
Software developers design, build, and maintain software applications. They write code, debug programs, and collaborate with teams to deliver technical solutions.
Mid-Level Salary
$45,000/year
Key skills:
Virtual Assistant
admin
Virtual assistants provide remote administrative support including calendar management, email handling, data entry, travel arrangements, and general office tasks.
Mid-Level Salary
$25,000/year
Key skills:
Accountant
finance
Accountants manage financial records, prepare financial statements, ensure tax compliance, and provide financial analysis and reporting for businesses.
Mid-Level Salary
$32,000/year
Key skills:
Customer Support Specialist
support
Customer support specialists handle customer inquiries, resolve issues, and provide product assistance through various channels including phone, email, and chat.
Mid-Level Salary
$26,000/year
Key skills:
Data Scientist
tech
Data scientists analyze complex data sets using statistical methods and machine learning to extract insights, build predictive models, and drive data-driven decisions.
Mid-Level Salary
$52,000/year
Key skills:
DevOps Engineer
tech
DevOps engineers bridge development and operations, managing CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, monitoring systems, and ensuring reliable software deployments.
Mid-Level Salary
$50,000/year
Key skills:
QA Engineer
tech
QA engineers ensure software quality through testing strategies, automated test frameworks, bug tracking, and quality assurance processes throughout the development cycle.
Mid-Level Salary
$38,000/year
Key skills:
UI/UX Designer
creative
UI/UX designers create user-centered digital experiences through research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design for web and mobile applications.
Mid-Level Salary
$40,000/year
Key skills:
Content Writer
creative
Content writers create engaging written content for websites, blogs, marketing materials, social media, and other digital platforms to drive engagement and conversions.
Mid-Level Salary
$30,000/year
Key skills:
Project Manager
management
Project managers plan, execute, and oversee projects from initiation to completion, coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring deliverables meet requirements.
Mid-Level Salary
$45,000/year
Key skills:
Employment Laws in Portugal
| Minimum Wage | ~$960/month |
| Standard Workweek | 40 hours |
| Paid Leave | 22 days/year |
| Probation Period | 6 months |
| Severance | ~2 weeks per year of service |
*Labor law data based on official government sources. Regulations may vary by region and contract type. Last updated January 2026.
Employer Costs in Portugal
Employer Cost Breakdown: Portugal vs United States
Mandatory employer contributions added on top of base salary
| Cost Category | Portugal | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 23.75% | 7.65% |
| Health Insurance | 0% | 10% |
| Pension | 0% | 5% |
| Other Benefits | 3% | 7.35% |
| Total Employer Burden | 26.75% | 30% |
Employers in Portugal pay an additional 26.75% on top of each employee's base salary for mandatory contributions: 23.75% for social security, 0% for health insurance, and 3% for other statutory benefits. This is 3 percentage points lower than the US employer burden of 30%, which includes Social Security/Medicare (7.65%), employer health insurance (~10%), and 401(k) matching plus other benefits (~12.35%). For a mid-level role with a Portugal median salary, this adds approximately $12,038 per year in employer costs, compared to ~$40,500 for the equivalent US position.
* These percentages are added on top of the base salary as mandatory employer contributions.
Compare with Other Countries
Related Outsourcing Guides
FAQs: Hiring in Portugal
The total cost of employment in Portugal goes beyond base salary. Employers must budget for mandatory contributions totaling approximately 26.75% on top of gross salary. This breaks down to: 23.75% for social security, 0% for health insurance, and 3% for other mandatory benefits. For a $50,000/year employee, expect total costs of approximately $63,375. Portugal offers "tech visa" programs for non-EU workers. Employment contracts default to permanent unless specifically fixed-term. The 2023 "right to disconnect" law prohibits employer contact outside work hours. Companies with 10+ workers must have internal whistleblowing channels.
Data compiled from official government sources, industry surveys, and employment reports. Last updated January 2026.
Start hiring talent in Portugal
Deel handles payroll, compliance, and benefits. No local entity needed.