Based on data from over 4,000 real Revelo placements.

Salary by seniority

All-in employer cost & savings vs. US

All-in cost includes payroll, benefits, and compliance handled through Revelo.

• Mid-level all-in employer cost: about $83,000 per year.
• Senior all-in employer cost: about $94,000 per year.
• Roughly 59% below a comparable US-based senior hire (~$160,000).

What drives software engineer salaries across Latin America

Comp varies a lot by country, role, and seniority, but the structural story is consistent: engineers based in Latin America earn market-rate salaries for their region while costing US companies 30 to 50% less than comparable US hires. That gap isn't explained by lower quality. It's purchasing power, local market rates, and a currency differential that works in your favor.

Based on data from over 4,000 real Revelo placements, the spread across the top-5 LATAM markets reflects genuine differences in local talent density, cost of living, and demand. Brazil and Argentina tend to anchor the higher end; Colombia, Peru, and Mexico sit close behind, with strong senior talent at attractive all-in rates.

The talent pool

Revelo's network covers 400,000+ pre-vetted engineers across 18 countries in Latin America. Of actual placements, 73.1% are senior-level, 24.6% mid-level. The network skews junior in raw composition, but the hiring bar filters that out fast. You're seeing a senior-weighted shortlist because that's what companies at scale actually need.

Major hubs sit within 0 to 2 hours of US Eastern time. Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador run on UTC-5 year-round, identical to US Eastern Standard Time. Mexico City runs UTC-6. Brazil and Argentina are UTC-3, which puts them 1 to 2 hours ahead of Eastern depending on the season. The practical upshot: a full shared workday, no heroic schedule compromises required.

How to hire with Revelo

You send Revelo your requirements. Within 72 hours you get a shortlist of pre-vetted engineers, each with a candidate dossier and recorded intro video so you can assess communication style before a single calendar invite goes out. Average time to hire is 14 days. The engagement starts with a risk-free 14-day trial: if the fit isn't right, you owe nothing.

Pricing is published and transparent. The all-in monthly rate covers engineer compensation, PEO protections, benefits, and Revelo's margin. No surprise placement fees, no long-term contracts, no cancellation penalties. See current role-specific figures at revelo.com/pricing.

Ready to see who's available? Revelo can have a vetted shortlist in your inbox within 72 hours. Get started at revelo.com.

Compliance and payroll

Revelo operates as a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) across all 18 LATAM countries where it places engineers. That means payroll, tax compliance, and benefits are handled by one vendor under native co-employment structure. Engineers sign NDAs and IP assignment agreements on day one. For a deeper look at how LATAM payroll works, Revelo's documentation covers country-specific requirements in detail.

Methodology

Figures are medians of signed Revelo placements, based on data from over 4,000 real Revelo placements, in a US-remote employment context. We use the median (robust to outliers), trim implausible values, and only publish a seniority band or role breakdown where the underlying sample is deep enough to be reliable. Salaries are the engineer's compensation; all-in employer cost layers Revelo's payroll, benefits, and compliance on top.

Verified 2026-07-11.

Figures are medians of signed Revelo placements, based on data from over 4,000 real Revelo placements, in a US-remote employment context. We use the median (robust to outliers), trim implausible values, and only publish a seniority band or role breakdown where the underlying sample is deep enough to be reliable. Salaries are the engineer's compensation; all-in employer cost layers Revelo's payroll, benefits, and compliance on top.

Verified 2026-07-11.

How much can a US company save by hiring engineers based in Latin America?

Most companies see 30 to 50% savings compared to equivalent US hires. The exact figure depends on role, seniority, and country. Revelo publishes an all-in Salary Guide and a live pricing calculator at revelo.com/pricing so you can model the numbers before committing to anything.

Are these engineers available during US business hours?

Yes. The major LATAM engineering hubs sit within 0 to 2 hours of US Eastern time. Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador are on UTC-5 year-round (same as Eastern Standard Time). Mexico City runs UTC-6. Brazil and Argentina are UTC-3, putting them 1 to 2 hours ahead of Eastern depending on the season. A full shared workday is realistic with any of these markets.

How long does it take to hire through Revelo?

Revelo delivers a vetted shortlist within 72 hours of receiving your requirements. The average time from search start to hire is 14 days. Each shortlisted candidate comes with a dossier and recorded intro video, so you can evaluate communication style before scheduling interviews.

What does 'pre-vetted' actually mean?

Revelo's network of 400,000+ engineers was screened before your search starts, not during it. The top 2% of applicants make it through. For senior roles, deeper technical screening by Revelo's engineers is available on request. The placement data reflects this: 73.1% of actual hires are senior-level.

Who handles payroll, taxes, and compliance for placed engineers?

Revelo operates as a PEO across 18 LATAM countries, so payroll, local tax compliance, and benefits are managed by one vendor under a native co-employment structure. Engineers are paid in local currency. There's no need to set up a local entity or coordinate multiple vendors.

Is there a long-term contract or upfront fee?

No long-term contract and no cancellation penalty. The engagement begins with a refundable security deposit equal to one month of the engineer's payment, credited against your final invoice. There's also a 14-day risk-free trial: if the engineer isn't the right fit in the first 14 days, you owe nothing for that period.