Best Platforms and Websites for Finding High-Paying Remote Tech Jobs (€100k+) for Software Engineers

Since I talk a lot about remote work and living in low-cost, low-tax countries, people often ask me where they can find high-paying (€100k+) tech jobs.

In today's article I'm gonna share what are my top picks for finding high-paying dev jobs for people residing outside of the U.S.

All of them are good if you're in Europe, some of them also if you're in Asia.

Start your search now →

The Complete List of High-Paying Remote Job Platforms

1. Remotive.com

Best for: Comprehensive remote job search across all experience levels

Probably the largest collection of remote tech jobs, including some high-paying ones.

Key Features:

• Large database of remote positions
• Filter by salary, skills, time zone
• Company reviews and insights
• Job alerts for specific criteria

Pricing: One-off €79 for full access

Typical Salary Range: €40k-€150k

Who it's for: Anyone looking for remote work, from entry-level to senior positions. The large volume means you'll need to filter carefully to find the truly high-paying roles.

Pro tip: Set up alerts for specific keywords like "Senior," "Staff," "Principal," or "Lead" combined with your tech stack to catch high-paying positions as they're posted.

2. A.Team

Best for: High-paying contract gigs for experienced engineers (especially ex-big tech)

Good platform to find high-paying tech gigs. Not always a huge supply of jobs, but a good one if you are not in a rush, have a top profile (maybe ex big tech) and are looking for well-paid contract roles.

Key Features:

• Vetted high-quality projects
• Direct client relationships
• Flexible engagement models
• Focus on senior talent

Pricing: Free for engineers (they take commission from clients)

Typical Salary Range: €100k-€250k+ (annualized for contracts)

Who it's for: Senior engineers with 5+ years experience, especially those with big tech or well-known startup backgrounds. Your profile matters a lot here.

Reality check: Supply can be inconsistent. Don't rely on this as your only source, but keep your profile updated and ready.

3. Lemon.io

Best for: Freelance software development contracts with consistent deal flow

Similar to A.Team, tailored specifically to software development positions. Larger supply of gigs, slightly lower pay than A.Team but more consistent opportunities.

Key Features:

• Weekly gig opportunities
• Vetted clients
• Payment protection
• Development-focused (not design or product)

Pricing: Free for developers

Typical Salary Range: €80k-€150k (annualized)

Who it's for: Full-stack developers, backend engineers, and frontend specialists comfortable with contract work. Mid-to-senior level (3+ years).

Advantage over A.Team: More consistent flow of opportunities, slightly easier to get accepted, faster matching process.

4. Otta.com

Best for: High-quality startups and scale-ups, both remote and on-site

High-quality job board for roles in tech, both onsite and remote gigs. Some high-paying ones, especially from well-funded startups.

Key Features:

• Curated company selection
• Detailed company profiles
• Salary transparency (many listings)
• Personalized job matching
• Mix of remote and location-specific roles

Pricing: Free for job seekers

Typical Salary Range: €60k-€180k

Who it's for: Engineers interested in startup culture and scale-ups, not just big tech. Good for those who value company mission and culture alongside compensation.

Hidden benefit: Otta's company profiles are excellent for due diligence even if you find the role elsewhere.

5. swissdevjobs.ch

Best for: Swiss tech roles, including some remote positions with Swiss compensation

Job board for dev roles in Switzerland, some of them being remote and with good pay.

Key Features:

• Switzerland-focused (highest salaries in Europe)
• Mix of big tech, banks, and startups
• Some positions offer remote work
• Direct applications to companies

Pricing: Free

Typical Salary Range: €90k-€200k (Switzerland local), €80k-€150k (remote from Europe)

Who it's for: Engineers targeting Swiss market or remote work for Swiss companies. Need to be comfortable with potential Swiss tax implications if hired as employee.

Important note: Many "remote" Swiss jobs actually mean "remote in Switzerland" not "remote anywhere." Read carefully. But some companies do hire across Europe.

As I've discussed before, Switzerland remains one of the best markets for software engineers, especially if you can navigate the remote work opportunities.

6. EuroTopTechJobs.com

Best for: Cutting through noise to find top 1% opportunities in Europe

Great platform if you're targeting the top 1% of the market. Easy to cut through the noise and quickly access top-paying remote tech companies, in addition to 4000+ high-paying tech jobs in Europe.

Key Features:

• Curated high-quality opportunities
• Focus on €100k+ roles
• Both remote and on-site across Europe
• Regular newsletter with best opportunities
• Context and analysis of market trends

Pricing: Free for job seekers

Typical Salary Range: €100k-€300k

Who it's for: Engineers serious about optimizing compensation and location strategy in Europe. Particularly valuable if you're considering the LCLT remote work strategy.

Disclosure: This is my platform, so I'm biased, but the goal is specifically to solve the signal-to-noise problem in the European tech job market.

7. LinkedIn

Best for: Being discovered by recruiters for high-paying roles you didn't even know existed

One of the best ways to find high-paying remote roles is to have high-paying remote roles find you.

That's why making sure your LinkedIn is presentable and optimised for being discovered by the right recruiters is always a good idea.

Key Features:

• Largest professional network
• Recruiter InMails for opportunities
• Job alerts and applications
• Company research
• Network effects (referrals)

Pricing: Free (Premium not necessary for job search)

Typical Salary Range: Entire spectrum, €40k-€400k+

Who it's for: Everyone. This isn't optional.

Optimization strategy:

1. Keep profile updated with recent tech stack
2. Use keywords recruiters search for ("Senior Software Engineer," specific frameworks, "Remote")
3. Set "Open to Work" status (privately to recruiters only)
4. Engage with relevant content occasionally (algorithm boost)
5. Accept recruiter connection requests
6. Respond quickly even if not interested (builds reputation)

Reality: I've received multiple €150k+ offers through cold LinkedIn InMails. It works, but only if your profile is discoverable.

Comparison Table: Platform Strategy Guide

Platform	Best For	Effort Required	Success Rate	Avg Time to Offer
Remotive	Volume, entry-senior	Medium	Medium	2-4 weeks
A.Team	Top contracts	Low (profile-based)	Low-Medium	1-3 months
Lemon.io	Steady contract work	Low-Medium	Medium	2-4 weeks
Otta	Startup culture	Medium	Medium	2-3 weeks
swissdevjobs	Highest salaries	High (competition)	Low	3-6 weeks
EuroTopTechJobs	Curated premium	Low-Medium	Medium-High	2-4 weeks
LinkedIn	Passive opportunities	Low (maintain profile)	Medium-High	Ongoing

The Optimal Job Search Strategy

Don't rely on just one platform. Here's the approach that works:

Stage 1: Profile Setup (Week 1)

1. LinkedIn: Optimize completely (2-3 hours investment)
2. A.Team: Create profile if you qualify (1 hour)
3. Lemon.io: Create profile (30 minutes)
4. EuroTopTechJobs: Subscribe to newsletter for weekly curated opportunities (2 minutes)

Stage 2: Active Applications (Weeks 2-6)

1. Remotive: Search and apply to 5-10 relevant positions per week
2. Otta: Apply to 3-5 companies that match your values
3. swissdevjobs: Apply to 2-3 Swiss roles per week if relevant
4. EuroTopTechJobs: Apply to featured opportunities that fit

Stage 3: Passive Pipeline (Ongoing)

1. LinkedIn: Respond to InMails, post occasionally, accept connections
2. A.Team: Check notifications for project matches
3. Lemon.io: Review weekly opportunities
4. Monitor all platforms for alerts

Expected Results

With this strategy:

• Weeks 1-2: Initial conversations start
• Weeks 3-4: First round interviews
• Weeks 4-6: Final rounds and offers
• Total time to offer: 6-10 weeks on average for €100k+ remote role

Conversion rates (rough guidelines):

• Applications sent: 100
• First conversations: 20-30 (20-30%)
• Technical interviews: 10-15 (10-15%)
• Final rounds: 5-8 (5-8%)
• Offers: 2-4 (2-4%)

These rates improve dramatically if:

• You have 5+ years experience
• You have big tech or well-known startups on resume
• You specialize in high-demand area (ML, security, blockchain, etc)
• Your LinkedIn is optimized and active

Advanced Strategies for €150k+ Remote Roles

If you're targeting the very top of the remote market (€150k+), add these tactics:

1. Direct Company Research

Identify 20-30 companies known for high remote compensation:

• GitLab, Stripe, Shopify, Elastic, Auth0, Vercel, Supabase, Datadog, HashiCorp, Cloudflare, etc.
• Check their careers page weekly
• Apply directly (better conversion than job boards)
• Mention you're specifically interested in remote work from Europe

2. Recruiter Relationships

Build relationships with 3-5 recruiters who specialize in senior remote roles:

• Respond to their LinkedIn InMails even when not looking
• Be clear about minimum compensation (€150k+)
• They'll remember you when perfect role appears

3. Network Referrals

Get referred by existing employees:

• Reach out to connections at target companies
• Offer to buy them coffee/beer for 20-min chat about company
• Ask about remote work culture
• They may offer referral (referral bonuses incentivize this)

4. Content and Open Source

Increase your discoverability:

• Contribute to relevant open source projects
• Write occasional technical blog posts
• Speak at online conferences or meetups
• Build Twitter/LinkedIn following in your niche

This approach takes months to pay off, but compounds over years. Engineers with strong public profiles get offered €200k+ roles without applying.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not all "high-paying remote jobs" are legitimate. Watch out for:

❌ Salary range too vague: "Competitive salary" usually means it's not

❌ Unrealistic requirements: 10+ years experience for "mid-level" role

❌ Unpaid trial projects: Never do spec work without compensation

❌ Pressure to decide quickly: Legitimate offers give you time

❌ Payment to apply: Never pay to apply for jobs

❌ Poor communication: If hiring process is disorganized, company probably is too

❌ Crypto/equity-only compensation: Huge red flag unless you deeply understand the project

✅ Green flags: Transparent salary ranges, clear interview process, respectful of your time, pays for trial tasks, existing employee references available.

Location Optimization for Remote Work

Once you have high-paying remote offers, your location choice dramatically affects take-home pay and quality of life.

Compare these scenarios with a €120k remote offer:

Location	Tax Rate	Annual Costs	Take-home	Savings	Quality of Life
Poland (Warsaw)	15-25%	€25-30k	€65-75k	€60-70k	High
Portugal (Lisbon)	20-30%	€30-35k	€60-70k	€50-60k	Very High
Spain (Barcelona)	25-35%	€35-40k	€55-65k	€45-55k	Very High
Netherlands (Amsterdam)	35-45%	€40-45k	€45-55k	€35-45k	High
Germany (Berlin)	35-40%	€35-40k	€50-60k	€45-55k	High
UK (London)	35-42%	€50-55k	€50-58k	€35-40k	Medium-High

The same €120k salary produces vastly different wealth-building outcomes depending on location.

Poland particularly stands out for optimizing remote work, but Portugal and Spain offer compelling lifestyle benefits with good saving rates.

Use the financial data tool to model your specific situation across different cities.

Negotiation Tips for Remote Offers

You found a €100k remote offer. Here's how to push it to €130k:

1. Have Multiple Offers

The strongest negotiation position is "I have another offer at €X."

This is why you apply broadly and interview with multiple companies simultaneously.

2. Demonstrate Specific Value

Instead of "I deserve more," say:

• "I have expertise in [specific technology] you mentioned as critical"
• "I've led similar projects that generated [specific revenue/savings]"
• "My background in [domain] reduces your ramp-up time significantly"

3. Know Market Rates

Reference specific data:

• "Similar roles at [comparable company] pay €X according to levels.fyi"
• "The market rate for [your specialty] is €X based on my research"

4. Be Willing to Walk

If you actually have alternatives and they won't meet your number, walk away.

Many companies will come back with improved offer. If they don't, their max was truly below your needs.

5. Negotiate Beyond Salary

If they won't budge on base salary:

• Signing bonus
• Equity/stock options
• Performance bonus
• Additional vacation days
• Professional development budget
• Home office stipend
• Flexible hours

The Reality Check

Finding high-paying (€100k+) remote work is absolutely possible, but:

It's not instant: Expect 2-4 months of active searching

It requires experience: €100k+ roles typically want 4-5+ years experience

Competition is real: You're competing globally, not just locally

It rewards specialization: Generalists max out around €100-120k, specialists go higher

Your resume matters: Big tech or well-known companies on your CV open doors

The market fluctuates: 2021-2022 was much easier than 2023-2024; it will cycle again

But with the right strategy, persistence, and realistic expectations, it's very achievable.

I know dozens of engineers who've successfully transitioned to €100k-150k remote roles and optimized their location for wealth building.

The platforms listed above are your starting point. The real work is building a compelling profile, applying consistently, interviewing well, and negotiating effectively.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it realistically take to find a €100k+ remote job?

For qualified candidates (4-5+ years experience, in-demand skills), expect 2-4 months of active searching. Timeline breakdown: Month 1: Profile setup, initial applications, first conversations (10-20). Month 2: First-round interviews (5-10), some rejections, refinement. Month 3: Technical interviews (3-5), final rounds (2-3). Month 4: Offers and negotiation (1-3). If you're not seeing traction after 6-8 weeks, reassess: Are your applications targeted? Is your resume optimized? Are your expectations realistic? Consider starting with €80k roles to build remote work experience, then jump to €100k+ after 1-2 years.

Do I need to be "senior level" to get €100k+ remote jobs?

Not strictly, but it helps. Title requirements vary: Some companies hire "mid-level" at €100k+ if you have 4-5 years and strong skills. Most €100k+ roles are labeled "Senior" (5-7 years typical). €120k+ almost always requires senior+ or specialist expertise. What matters more than title: Demonstrable impact in previous roles, In-demand technical skills (certain frameworks, domains), Ability to work independently (critical for remote), Strong communication skills. Some engineers reach €100k at 3 years in high-demand areas (ML, security), others take 7-8 years as generalists. Your path depends on specialization and market demand.

Which technical skills are most valuable for high-paying remote work?

Top-paying specializations: ML/AI Engineering (€120-250k): TensorFlow, PyTorch, production ML systems. Security/DevSecOps (€110-200k): Kubernetes, cloud security, compliance. Blockchain/Web3 (€100-200k+): Solidity, smart contracts (high variance). Backend at Scale (€100-180k): Distributed systems, high-traffic architecture. Cloud/Infrastructure (€100-170k): AWS/GCP/Azure depth, Terraform, Kubernetes. Mobile (iOS/Android) (€90-150k): React Native or native development. Frontend (Specialized) (€80-140k): React, TypeScript, performance optimization. The pattern: depth beats breadth for remote roles. "Full-stack generalist" caps around €100-120k. Specialists go much higher.

Should I work as contractor/freelancer or employee for remote roles?

Depends on location and preferences. Employee (permanent) advantages: Stable income, Benefits (health, pension), Paid vacation, Lower admin overhead, Less tax complexity. Contractor/Freelancer advantages: Higher gross rates (20-40% more), Tax optimization opportunities, Flexibility to work multiple clients, Easier to change projects/companies. Best for contractors: Based in low-tax jurisdictions (Poland, Estonia, etc), Comfortable with variable income, Strong pipeline of clients. Best for employees: Want stability and benefits, In high-tax countries where employment benefits matter more, Prefer single employer focus. Hybrid approach: Start as employee to prove yourself remote-capable, switch to contracting after 2-3 years if optimization makes sense.

How do I know if a remote job offer is legitimate and not a scam?

Verify legitimacy through: Company verification: Check company website, LinkedIn company page, recent funding/news, Glassdoor reviews. Communication quality: Professional email domain (not @gmail.com), Clear interview process, Respectful of your time. Reasonable expectations: Salary aligned with market (if it seems too good, it probably is), Reasonable interview process (not 10 rounds), Don't ask for personal financial info upfront. Payment/trial work: Never pay to apply or for "training", If they want trial work, it should be paid. References: Ask to speak with current remote employees, Check if other engineers on LinkedIn work there. Red flag patterns: Pressure to decide immediately, Vague job description, Poor English/communication, Request for banking info before offer. When in doubt, Google "[company name] + scam" and check developer communities like HackerNews for mentions.

What's the best way to transition from on-site to remote work?

Strategic approaches ranked by effectiveness: Internal transition (easiest): Negotiate remote work with current employer, Start with 1-2 days remote, gradually increase, Prove effectiveness, then request full remote. Build remote track record: Take on remote-friendly project at current job, Join distributed team within company, Document how you stayed productive and communicative. Hybrid roles: Find "remote-first" companies with optional office, Proves you can handle remote work culture, Easier to get hired than pure remote initially. Direct application: Target companies with established remote culture (GitLab, Zapier, etc), Emphasize self-direction and communication skills in applications, Be prepared to explain why you'll be effective remotely. Contract work: Start with part-time remote contract via Lemon.io or similar, Build portfolio of successful remote projects, Use as evidence when applying for full-time remote. The biggest hurdle: employers worry you can't work independently. Overcome this by demonstrating self-direction, strong communication, and results-orientation in interviews.