Latin American Software Development Landscape
The quality of services Latin American software developers provide is so high that experts already refer to this region as the next Silicon Valley. For several years, LATAM countries have been an attractive destination for US tech companies and this trend is just going to continue. According to recent studies, the technical market of Latin America is predicted to grow 6.5% yearly until at least 2030.
Below, you’ll find information on how the region is likely to expand in the nearest years. This information is presented in millions USD and segmented by the most developed IT hubs.
| 2019 | 2030 | |
| Mexico | 3,172.92 | 5,710.24 |
| Colombia | 1,222.87 | 2,044.22 |
| Argentina | 572.03 | 981.07 |
| Brazil | 7,130.27 | 12,569.17 |
| Chile | 1,110.74 | 1,982.52 |
Source: Statista
As presumed from the table above, software development in Latin American countries will grow significantly by 2030. For US businesses, this means that hiring developers from Latin America could be one of their top recruitment strategies for 2025.
Will Big Tech Hire Latin American Developers in 2025?
The short answer is yes. In addition to the generally flourishing LATAM market, there are other reasons that nudge tech companies to consider Latin America as their software development destination.
So what makes countries like Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and other LATAM tech hubs attractive for US businesses?
Constant flow of new tech professionals
Quality higher education is one of the distinctive features of Latin American software engineers. Here are some clear facts that prove a substantial level of LATAM developers’ tech preparation:
- 68% of Colombian developers have either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree;
- higher education in Mexico is largely focused on STEM disciplines with separate Mexican universities taking the leading positions in LATAM University rankings;
- Brazil generates an outflow of 475,000 software graduates a year, considerably increasing the South American software engineers’ talent pool.
Government initiatives to support the IT sector
In addition to the widespread investment in the educational systems, many LATAM governments are actively fostering the growth of their IT sectors through various initiatives. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia have introduced tax incentives and simplified regulations for tech companies, making it easier for businesses to hire and retain skilled developers. The startup ecosystem in LATAM is also thriving, with increased venture capital funding and government-backed incubators supporting early-stage tech companies.
Cost-effective software development
The price tag for South American software developers’ services has always been more affordable if compared to North American ones, making the region an attractive option for companies looking to optimize their budgets. In 2025, this cost advantage still remains strong, as LATAM developers offer competitive rates without compromising on quality. I will outline the salary ranges for developers with various tech stacks in the next section, so stay tuned!
Geographical proximity and cultural similarity
Last but not least, when US businesses hire Latin American developers, they invest in effective and productive cooperation. The minimal time zone differences — often just a few hours — allow for real-time collaboration, seamless communication, and faster project turnaround compared to outsourcing in regions with larger time gaps. Additionally, most LATAM professionals are familiar with U.S. business practices, workplace expectations, and even cultural nuances, making integration into existing teams much smoother.
LATAM Software Developer Portrait
LATAM software engineers have some common traits that define the peculiarities of working with these professionals. Let’s see what you can expect if you decide to hire software developers from Latin America.
- Higher education. LATAM software developers have a strong educational foundation, so if you’re looking for tech talent with a diploma in the technology field, you’ll definitely find this in LATAM.
- Work-life balance. Developers in Latin America value their private lives and strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance. While they are dedicated to their projects and committed to delivering high-quality results, they also appreciate flexible work environments that allow for personal time, ultimately leading to higher job satisfaction and longer-term retention.
- Innovative mindset. Software developers in Latin America are known for their adaptability and problem-solving skills, often bringing creative solutions to complex challenges. With a growing startup ecosystem and exposure to global tech trends, professionals in these regions are usually proactive in learning new technologies and staying ahead of industry developments.
Latin American Software Developers’ Salaries in 2025
If you do decide to hire LATAM software developers, the following is what you can expect to pay for their services. Of course, the amount of compensation depends on the seniority level of every developer, their tech stack, location, and other factors. Let’s outline a general picture of South American developers’ income levels.
- Seniority level is the first factor that impacts salary range: the more experience developers have, the higher salary they can command. Junior developers in LATAM earn on average $25,800 a year. The average annual income of a Middle-level specialist is $39,000 while Senior developers make about $54,000.
- Location is another important factor that you should keep in mind when planning your software engineering budget. For example, the average salary of software engineer in Mexico is $46,300 a year. The Colombian software developer salary starts from $13,600 and can reach up to $72,000. Argentinian developers offer the most budget-friendly services with an average annual check of $35,500.
- Finally, developers’ proficiency with a tech stack also determines their income.
Depicting examples of Senior positions in top LATAM tech hubs, this table shows how salaries can differ:
| Technology | Gross annual salary range in USD for a Senior position | ||
| Colombia | Mexico | Argentina | |
| Python | $51,600 - $63,600 | $48,000 - $66,000 | $48,000 - $60,000 |
| PHP | $42,000 - $60,000 | $48,000 - $60,000 | $42,000 - $60,000 |
| Java | $51,600 - $63,600 | $54,000 - $66,000 | $48,000 - $60,000 |
| JavaScript | $45,600 - $57,600 | $48,000 - $66,000 | $43,200 - $55,200 |
| .NET | $51,600 - $63,600 | $42,000 - $54,000 | $48,000 - $60,000 |
| C# | $51,600 - $63,600 | $54,000 - $66,000 | $48,000 - $60,000 |
| Ruby | $54,000 - $66,000 | $54,000 - $72,000 | $51,600 - $66,000 |
| .NET, Angular/React | $54,000 - $72,000 | $54,000 - $72,000 | $51,600 - $66,000 |
| Python/Java, JavaScript | $48,000 - $69,600 | $54,000 - $72,000 | $51,600 - $66,000 |
| Kotlin | $51,600 - $66,000 | $42,000 - $54,000 | $36,000 - $54,000 |
| Swift | $50,400 - $63,600 | $42,000 - $54,000 | $42,000 - $57,600 |
Sources:
- https://www.glassdoor.com/
- https://www.salaryexpert.com/
- https://www.erieri.com/
- Huntly’s internal research
IT Outsourcing to LATAM vs Hiring
When working with software engineers from Latin America, US companies can either outsource their projects or create an in-house software development team. Which option is better? Let’s compare and see.
Outsourcing
Deciding to nearshore software development tasks to tech specialists from neighboring countries provides businesses with a number of advantages. Fast time to hire is the first benefit that comes to mind. You don’t have to spend months assembling a team for your project, as an outsourcing agency will do everything for you. If you don’t want to deal with bureaucracy, this option is also highly beneficial. As you don’t have to officially employ each team member, you can just sign a contract with a company and that’s it!
On the other hand, outsourcing doesn't provide you with full control over the development process. You would normally discuss your requirements with an outsourcing agency project manager and have regular sync-ups to see intermediate results. However, you aren’t involved in the development process all the time, which means increased chances of misunderstandings and needs to clarify requirements (and constantly making adjustments along the way). This can lead to delays or additional costs if expectations aren’t aligned from the start. One more thing that might give you hesitation from collaborating with outsourcing agencies is that they usually have several ongoing projects ‒ this could mean less dedication and longer development cycles.
Hiring
On the other hand, if you decide to hire in-house staff members, you get developers who are fully dedicated to your product. This means they’re more deeply involved, motivated, and committed to building something great. Plus, as their direct manager, you have more control over the development process, making it easier to align the team with your vision.
A major drawback though is that hiring in-house developers takes time, often more than a month just to fill one tech role (which can stretch out even longer for more specialized positions). And if you're building a product from scratch, you’ll likely need several developers, plus a UI/UX designer and a product manager. That means months of hiring before you even start development.
Another thing that complicates hiring LATAM developers is the necessity to comply with local employment laws. While it’s a normal practice, you will have to spend more time and resources exploring legal cooperation options in each country.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Outsourcing | Fast time to hire No legal hassle | Minimum control over development Your project isn’t exclusive |
| Hiring | Dedicated team More control over development | Longer recruitment process Need to deal with local laws |
Recruitment with Huntly
There’s also a third option, which is hiring LATAM developers with Huntly. This option best fits small American businesses or startups that need to scale fast and effectively at a reasonable cost. With over 700 IT recruiters in Latin America, Huntly has some strong expertise in finding tech talent at your request.
This was exactly the case with one of our clients. A sales startup in Delaware, USA, was looking for a Senior Mobile Developer in LATAM. With Huntly's innovative approach to tech recruitment, we were able to present our client with 15 top candidates, one of whom accepted their offer (and everything in just 21 days).
Huntly — A Tech Recruitment Platform
Expanding your development team with skilled engineers from Latin America can be a strategic move, but finding the right talent efficiently can be a challenge. Huntly simplifies the process by providing access to a wide network of pre-vetted developers while streamlining hiring timelines and costs.
How the hiring process works
With Huntly, hiring developers from LATAM follows a structured yet flexible approach:
- Posting your job. Companies list their open positions on the Huntly platform, specifying required skills, experience, and other key criteria.
- Sourcing candidates. Our global community of recruiters identifies top developers within their networks and submits their CVs.
- Verification & screening. Each candidate profile goes through two levels of validation: first, Huntly’s AI system scans and filters out CVs based on the job requirements; secondly, our internal recruitment team manually reviews and ensures candidate suitability.
- Receiving matched candidates. Once verified, the most relevant profiles are sent to you, typically within 72 hours.
- Interview & selection. You review the candidates, conduct interviews, and make your hiring decision.
Benefits of hiring with Huntly
One of Huntly’s key advantages is its cost-effectiveness and low-risk hiring model. Employers define their own recruitment fee and only pay after a successful hire. Additionally, if a candidate doesn’t meet expectations, Huntly offers a money-back guarantee within three months.
By leveraging a vast recruiter network and AI-powered screening, Huntly provides a fast and efficient way to access top tech talent in LATAM and beyond.
Being a global platform, Huntly can help you hire anywhere in the world! Whether you want to offshore software development services and hire Romanian developers (or other European specialists), just let us know. We carefully peruse your hiring needs and offer the best strategies to recruit top software engineers!
