Croatia is rapidly embracing digital transformation, propelled by €1.1 billion in Recovery and Cohesion funding (≈1.5% of GDP), which is focused on expanding broadband, public-sector digitalisation, and SME(small and medium-sized enterprises in the technology sector) tech adoption. Many SMEs still lag in deploying advanced technologies, leaving space for tremendous growth opportunities.

As Croatian companies, including startups and large firms in finance, healthcare, and telecom, ramp up digital initiatives, the demand for Digital Transformation Managers has surged. This 2025 article provides a comprehensive overview of salary expectations for Digital Transformation Managers in Croatia. You’ll find salary benchmarks by region and experience to know how much do digital transformation managers make in Croatia.

Understanding the Role: Who Is a Digital Transformation Manager?

A Digital Transformation Manager (DTM) is a strategic leader responsible for guiding an organisation through the full lifecycle of digital modernisation from vision setting to execution and impact tracking.

Let’s have a look at the core responsibilities that define the role:

1. Core Functions & Responsibilities

Several factors, including experience, industry, company size, and project complexity, influence the Digital Transformation Manager Salary in Croatia.

The role itself is multifaceted and includes the following key responsibilities:

• Project Leadership

  • Leading digital projects from planning to full implementation.
  • Managing budgets, timelines, and resources efficiently.
  • Coordinating with vendors and external partners when needed.

• Cross-Functional Coordination

  • Aligning efforts across IT, marketing, operations, HR, and customer service teams.
  • Ensuring that all departments work towards unified digital outcomes.

• Change Management

  • Driving adoption of digital initiatives through strong communication and training.
  • Promoting a digital-first culture across the organisation.

• Technology Integration

  • Assessing and piloting new technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and robotic process automation (RPA).
  • Ensuring seamless and secure integration into existing systems.

• Performance & Risk Management

  • Monitoring key digital performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Reporting progress to stakeholders regularly.
  • Identifying and mitigating risks such as data privacy issues, system disruptions, and change fatigue.

How does it compare to a Digital Transformation Specialist?

These roles share common goals in implementing digital change across the business. However, a Digital Transformation Manager drives strategy, alignment and culture shift, while other digital roles often focus on specific platforms or execution tasks.

Here’s how Digital Transformation Managers differ from other digital roles in strategy, leadership, and business impact:

Role	Scope & Focus
Digital Transformation Manager	Leads full-scale, enterprise-level transformation: strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, governance, and broad coordination.
Digital Transformation Specialist	Often project- or domain-specific. Handles components like data analytics, process improvements, or user design. Supports planning and execution rather than owning the entire transformation.

In summary, the DTM plays the role of architect and orchestrator of digital change, translating strategy into measurable business outcomes. Specialists, in contrast, dive deeper into specific domains and feed insights, initiative ownership, and execution back into the broader transformation engine. Digital Transformation Manager salary in Croatia reflects this strategic scope and leadership responsibility, positioning these professionals among the top earners in the country’s digital economy.

Why Is Digital Transformation a High‑Demand Career in Croatia?

Croatia’s drive towards a modern digital economy is powered by robust public policy, strong sectoral growth, and a growing demand for transformational leadership.

Let’s look at the key reasons why digital transformation is becoming one of the most in-demand career paths in Croatia:

 1. Strong Policy & Funding Momentum

Croatia’s alignment with EU digital agendas has unlocked substantial public funding and policy support for broadband expansion, cloud adoption, and public-sector digital services.

Here’s how strong policies and funding are driving digital growth in Nigeria:

• As part of the EU’s Digital Decade PolicyProgramme, Croatia has allocated millions towards digital transformation measures covering infrastructure, public services, and cloud & AI adoption.
• These measures are institutionalised under national frameworks like the Digital Croatia Strategy 2032, supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan and aligned with EU targets.

 2. Expanding Digital Workforce & Skills Gap

Rapid growth in Croatia’s tech sector has increased demand for digital professionals, yet many organisations still struggle to fill roles requiring advanced skills in cloud, AI, and analytics.

Here’s how Nigeria’s growing digital workforce and skills gap are shaping opportunities:

• In 2023, 4.3 % of Croatia’s employed workforce were ICT specialists, just below the EU average of 4.8 % but growing steadily from ~3.7 % the year before.
• Despite rising digital proficiency, 59 % of the population has at least basic digital skills (versus 55.6 % EU average). Croatia still faces significant gaps in SME adoption of cloud, AI, and analytics.

 3. ICT Sector & Startup Ecosystem Growth

Croatia’s ICT sector is expanding rapidly, driven by rising demand for software, cloud, and AI solutions across industries.

Here’s how the booming ICT sector and startup ecosystem are driving digital transformation in Nigeria:

• IT-related exports are steadily increasing: from 1.51% of GDP in 2018 to 2.14% in 2022, with projections positioning the digital economy at 15% of GDP by 2030.
• Success stories like Infobip Croatia’s first unicorn, along with rising activity in fintech, AI, and health tech, attract both venture capital and demand for transformational leadership roles.

 4. Labour Market Pressures & Upskilling Demand

Croatia faces demographic headwinds, an ageing population and workforce migration just as technology adoption accelerates across industries.

Labour shifts and rising skill demands are reshaping Nigeria’s digital workforce:

• Migration and an ageing population are reshaping Croatia’s workforce landscape, reducing the labour pool. The World Bank projects a need for 300,000 additional green and digital workers by 2035.
• McKinsey estimates that up to 140,000 Croatian workers may need to switch occupations by 2030 due to automation and shifting economic structure, championing digital skills and transformation roles.

Read More On: What is Digital Transformation? Learn the Importance and Benefits

Salary Outlook for a Digital Transformation Manager in Croatia for 2025

Digital Transformation Manager Salary in Croatia can be calculated by using closely related roles, especially those at similar levels of strategic and technical scope, to derive realistic salary benchmarks. 

Comparable Role

Benchmarking against similar positions, such as Digital Platforms Specialists or IT Project Managers, helps contextualise the scope and pay scale of a Digital Transformation Manager.

Below are the salary figures for similar roles: 

• Digital Platforms Specialist (Zagreb)

A Digital Platforms Specialist in Zagreb earns HRK 186,000–203,900/year total pay (base + bonus), with a median HRK 179,000/year (~HRK 15,500/month).

Given that Digital Transformation Managers often carry broader responsibilities and strategic leadership mandates, the average digital transformation manager salary in Croatiawould likely exceed this benchmark.

• Digital Marketing Manager (All Croatia)

A Digital Marketing manager has a salary of HRK 7,000–14,000/month, median HRK 9,000/month (~HRK 104,000/year) for Digital Marketing Managers nationally. This reflects mid-level management within digital functions, but has a typically less strategic scope compared to transformational leadership.

Estimated Salary Ranges for a Digital Transformation Manager

Based on these benchmarks, and assuming a percentage premium over Digital Platforms Specialist figures due to the added strategic remit and cross-functional scope, we can estimate a reasonable salary range. 

Variations between Zagreb and national averages provide a more accurate representation of the digital transformation manager salary in Croatia.

1. Estimated Gross Annual Salary (HRK) 

Below is the step-by-step math behind each of the Zagreb ranges, all based on the Digital Platforms Specialist baseline of HRK 86,000–203,9001 and applying incremental “transformation-leadership” premiums.

The following rounded ranges align with market norms in Zagreb’s digital/tech sector. A Digital Transformation Manager’s salary in Croatia is likely to be HRK 150k–250k/year and HRK 186k–320k/year in Zagreb. These figures are informed by real data on the adjacent role of Digital Platforms Specialist salaries in Zagreb, Croatia, plus a plausible uplift for strategic leadership positions. They offer a more reliable foundation than generic modelling.

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Certifications & Upskilling: Impact on Compensation

Certifications such as Agile/Scrum credentials, and cloud or data-focused certificates are widely recognised indicators of expertise and leadership potential in managerial and digital transformation roles. 

1. Global and Industry Perspective

Industry studies consistently show that certified professionals tend to secure more strategic roles and command higher compensation in digital and IT sectors.

Here’s how the Digital Transformation Manager role in Croatia aligns with global salary trends and industry demand across sectors:

• Demonstrated Expertise: Holding an industry-standard certification signals that you’ve mastered established methodologies and best practices, which employers view as proof of your ability to lead complex initiatives.
• Market Differentiation: Certified professionals often stand out in recruitment processes, securing roles with broader scopes or higher levels of responsibility.

2. Strategic Role Advantages

Certifications lend immediate credibility in cross-functional leadership roles, equipping you with shared frameworks to manage complex digital initiatives.

The points below highlight why the Digital Transformation Manager role offers unique strategic advantages in today’s evolving business landscape:

• Leadership Credibility: In transformation roles where you coordinate across departments, manage technical roll-outs, and align projects to strategic goals, certifications provide a shared language and framework that earns stakeholder trust.
• Adoption of Modern Practices: Credentials in Agile, Scrum, or cloud platforms show prospective employers that you can steer iterative development and leverage emerging technologies effectively.

3. A Generic Upskilling Framework

An upskilling framework begins with a solid foundation of proven methodologies and progresses through targeted certifications that match your career stage.

Below is a simple framework to guide your upskilling journey in digital transformation:

1. Baseline (no certification): Candidates rely on demonstrated experience and informal training to get an entry-level salary of a digital transformation manager in Croatia.

2. With One Major Certification: With this, you reinforce your candidacy for senior or strategic roles, often opening doors to positions with an expanded remit and a higher digital transformation manager salary in Croatia.

3. With Multiple Certifications: A suite of credentials combining project management, agile methods, and technical specialities can further distinguish you, positioning you for leadership tracks and cross-functional initiatives.

4. Why Certifications Matter?

Certifications signal to employers that you’ve mastered recognised best practices and are equipped to lead high-stakes transformation projects.

Here’s why earning certifications can boost your digital transformation career:

1. Credibility Across Borders: Globally recognised certifications carry weight with domestic and international employers alike.

2. Structured Learning Path: Certification programs guide you through comprehensive curricula, ensuring you cover both theory and real-world application.

3. Career Mobility: They often unlock access to broader networks, advanced roles, and new industry sectors, accelerating both lateral moves and upward progression.

By focusing on credentials that align with your career goals, whether in project management, agile delivery, cloud architectures, or data strategy, you not only reinforce your existing strengths but also signal to employers that you’re committed to continuous learning and capable of driving large-scale digital transformation, ultimately boosting your Digital Transformation Manager salary in Croatia. Check out our Certification Course in Digital Transformation, which is for professionals aiming to build relevant expertise.

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Conclusion 

Croatia is firmly on the path towards becoming a digital-first economy supported by substantial EU funding, national strategy, and expanding digital infrastructure. Investments under the Digital Decade and Croatia’s NRRP programmes, like the €634 million digital roadmap and the World Bank-backed DIGIT initiative, are accelerating the adoption of cloud, AI, and digital services across sectors.

With Croatia’s population ageing and shrinking, the World Bank projects a need for 300,000 additional green and digital workers by 2035. This structural shift places Digital Transformation Managers in a strategic position not only to implement change, but to shape resilience and competitiveness in key industries that are offering the best Digital Transformation Manager salary in Croatia.

Digital Regenesys offers a certificate course in Digital Transformation designed to equip professionals with the strategic frameworks, implementation tools, and real-world project experience needed to excel in transformation roles.

Enrol today to deepen your skills in digital strategy, leadership, agile execution, and innovation so you can lead change confidently and make an impact in Croatia’s evolving digital economy.

Digital Transformation Manager Salary in Croatia – FAQs