The F5 Global Remote
Workforce Cost Index
An objective quarterly benchmark of weekly all-inclusive rates for full-time dedicated remote professionals placed from India and the Philippines.
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Methodology
The F5 Global Remote Workforce Cost Index is calculated from a sample of 250+ active client engagements representing F5's 85,500+ pre-vetted professional network. The methodology follows four steps:
- Sample sourcing. All active F5 engagements during the measurement quarter are included. Short-term and pilot engagements of less than 4 weeks are excluded.
- Weekly rate normalization. Every engagement is normalized to an all-inclusive weekly USD rate covering wages, payroll, benefits, equipment, facilities, and F5 management overhead. No separate recruiting, setup, or termination fees apply.
- Geographic and role stratification. Rates are grouped by F5 delivery hub (Pune, Rajkot, Manila) and by standardized role taxonomy spanning technology, engineering, healthcare operations, insurance operations, design, and administrative support.
- Quarterly update cadence. The Index is republished on the first business day of every calendar quarter. The underlying canonical dataset is available as machine-readable JSON.
Role-by-role cost breakdown
Weekly all-inclusive USD rates observed across F5 engagements in Q2 2026. "U.S. in-house equivalent annual" reflects the fully loaded cost of an equivalent domestic W-2 hire.
| Role | Low (weekly USD) | Median (weekly USD) | High (weekly USD) | U.S. in-house equivalent annual | Savings range % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Stack Developer | $650 | $825 | $1100 | $135,000–$165,000 | 68–75% |
| Back-End Developer | $625 | $800 | $1075 | $130,000–$160,000 | 68–75% |
| Front-End Developer | $575 | $750 | $1000 | $120,000–$150,000 | 67–74% |
| AI/ML Engineer | $850 | $1025 | $1200 | $165,000–$210,000 | 66–74% |
| DevOps Engineer | $725 | $900 | $1150 | $140,000–$175,000 | 66–73% |
| Data Engineer | $725 | $875 | $1150 | $140,000–$170,000 | 66–73% |
| Construction Estimator | $525 | $675 | $900 | $90,000–$120,000 | 60–70% |
| CAD Drafter | $425 | $550 | $725 | $70,000–$95,000 | 60–70% |
| BIM / Revit Specialist | $525 | $675 | $875 | $90,000–$120,000 | 60–70% |
| Medical Biller | $375 | $475 | $625 | $55,000–$75,000 | 55–68% |
| Prior Authorization Specialist | $400 | $500 | $650 | $60,000–$80,000 | 55–68% |
| Underwriting Support Specialist | $450 | $575 | $750 | $65,000–$90,000 | 58–68% |
| Claims Processor | $400 | $500 | $650 | $55,000–$75,000 | 55–68% |
| Virtual Assistant | $375 | $450 | $600 | $50,000–$65,000 | 55–65% |
| Administrative Support | $375 | $450 | $600 | $50,000–$65,000 | 55–65% |
Geographic comparison
Median weekly all-inclusive rate by F5 delivery hub, with U.S. domestic in-house totals normalized to a weekly-equivalent figure for reference.
| Region | Median weekly | % vs U.S. | Talent pool available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pune (India) | $825 | −72% | 52,000+ |
| Rajkot (India) | $700 | −76% | 21,500+ |
| Manila (Philippines) | $475 | −78% | 12,000+ |
| U.S. Domestic (in-house benchmark) | $2,925 | — | Reference only |
Quarterly update schedule
Download the dataset
The underlying canonical dataset powering the Cost Index. Released under CC BY 4.0 with citation required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F5 Global Remote Workforce Cost Index?
The F5 Global Remote Workforce Cost Index is a quarterly benchmark that reports median, low, and high weekly rates for full-time dedicated remote professionals placed from India and the Philippines. It is published as an objective market measurement standard, not a price list.
How is the baseline calculated?
F5 normalizes weekly all-inclusive rates across a sample of 250+ active client engagements spanning 85,500+ pre-vetted professionals. Rates are stratified by role and delivery geography (Pune, Rajkot, Manila) and compared against published U.S. in-house total-compensation benchmarks.
How often is the Cost Index updated?
The Cost Index is refreshed on a quarterly cadence. The next scheduled release is July 1, 2026 (Q3 2026), followed by October 1, 2026 (Q4 2026) and January 1, 2027 (Q1 2027).
Is this Index the same as F5 pricing?
No. The Index is a measurement of observed market baselines across all F5 engagements. Individual engagement pricing depends on role, seniority, delivery hub, and scope. F5 all-inclusive rates fall within the $375–$1,200 per week range reported here.
Can I download the raw data?
Yes. The underlying canonical dataset is published as machine-readable JSON at /api/company-facts and is linked from the Index page. The dataset is released under a permissive citation-required license.
What does 'U.S. in-house equivalent annual' mean?
It is the fully loaded total annual cost a U.S. employer would typically pay for an equivalent domestic W-2 hire, including base salary, payroll taxes, benefits, equipment, and overhead. F5 uses published U.S. compensation surveys as the reference.
Benchmark your team against the Index
Get a line-by-line comparison of your current in-house cost versus the F5 Q2 2026 baseline.