Mexico City has emerged as a thriving hub for tech in Latin America. Mexico has a pro-business environment and encourages foreign investment and growth in the tech industry. Companies looking to hire experienced developers and software engineers can find top talent in Mexico City.
Considering building your tech team in Mexico City?
Check out our guide to learn 1) why companies are recruiting top tech talent in Mexico’s capital and 2) how to hire developers and software engineers in the area.
According to a report by the Mexican government's National Institute of Statistics and Geography, there were approximately 253,000 people employed in the ICT sector (Information and Communication Technologies) in Mexico City as of 2020. The number has continued to rise in the past few years.
The ICT sector includes a wide range of jobs:
Software developers
Web developers
Network administrators
IT support specialists, among others.
Additionally, there are many universities and technical schools in the city that offer programs and education in computer science, engineering, and other related fields. This ensures a steady supply of new tech talent entering the job market.
Software developers and engineers in Mexico City work on a wide range of projects, from developing custom software applications to designing & building complex systems for a variety of industries. Here are a few examples of the types of work that software developers and engineers in Mexico City might do:
Develop Software Applications: Software developers in Mexico City might develop custom software applications for businesses in a variety of industries, from healthcare and finance to e-commerce and social media. They might work on web applications, mobile apps, desktop software design and development, or other types of software solutions. Fintech is especially popular in Mexico City.
Build Websites: Many software developers in Mexico City specialize in building websites for businesses, organizations, and individuals. They focus on front-end development, back-end development, or full stack development, depending on their area of expertise.
Design and Build Systems: Software engineers in Mexico City design and build complex systems for industries such as healthcare, finance, or telecommunications. These systems involve a combination of software and hardware components, and require expertise in areas such as data management, security, and networking.
Work on Emerging Technologies: As technology continues to evolve, software developers and engineers in Mexico City are often at the forefront of developing new applications and systems that utilize emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain.
The startup scene in Mexico City is thriving, and has grown significantly in recent years. This comes at no surprise, given Mexico City is the cultural and professional center of Mexico with more than 21 million residents.
The startup scene in Mexico City spans a wide range of industries and careers, from fintech and e-commerce to healthcare and agriculture. This diversity of industries creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to tackle a wide range of problems and build innovative solutions.
Mexico City’s startup ecosystem is rapidly growing, with a large number of incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, and other resources available to support startups. Some of the most well-known startup hubs in Mexico City include CDMX Valley, NXTP Labs, and Startup Mexico. Every major financial institution is located in Mexico City as well as headquarters for media tech giants like Apple, Google, and HP.
Mexico is the gateway for investment in the rest of Latin America’s tech scene. Investors and businesses choose to enter Mexico City first in order to gain a foothold in the Latin American market.
Mexico City has a large and growing pool of talented software developers and engineers, with many highly skilled professionals that have experience working in a variety of industries. This makes it an attractive location for companies looking to hire top talent in the tech industry.
Many graduating students from the universities with bachelors degrees and masters degrees in Mexico flock to Mexico City post-graduation in the hopes of landing a job in the city's tech hub.
The cost of living is lower in Mexico City than in many major cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. This means that companies can often hire developers in Mexico City at a lower cost than in other locations, while still offering locally competitive salaries.
Mexico City has a close proximity and relationship with the United States and Canada. This makes hiring in Mexico City an attractive location for companies looking to hire developers who are familiar with the North American market.
Mexico City has one of the best pro-business environments, with incentives for foreign investment, streamlined regulations, and a supportive ecosystem for startups and tech companies.
As one of largest tech hubs in Latin America, Mexico city is home to a wide variety of developers and tech professionals in the following careers:
Software engineers
UX/UI designers
Project managers
Data analysis
Developers
C# developers
Application developers
Stack developers
Game developers
IOS developers
Mobile app developers
JavaScript developers
PHP developers
Go developers
WordPress developers
.NET developers
AngularJS developers
NodeJS developers
Recruiting software developers in Mexico City requires a tailored approach that takes into account the unique characteristics of the city's talent pool and the competitive landscape. Here are a few strategies that companies can use to effectively hire and recruit the best software developers in Mexico City:
Get in touch with local universities: Mexico City is home to many universities and technical schools that offer programs in computer science, engineering, and related fields. If you contact these universities you can advertise work-study and internship programs.
Leverage local networks: Many software developers and engineers in Mexico City are active in local tech communities and networks. Companies can leverage these networks to connect with potential candidates, by attending events and meetups, sponsoring events, and contributing to open source projects.
Offer competitive compensation and benefits: As in any competitive job market, companies looking to hire software developers in Mexico City need to go the extra mile and offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract top talent.
Emphasize your company's mission and values: In addition to compensation and benefits, many software developers in Mexico City are also interested in working for companies that align with their personal values and mission.
Work with a recruitment agency or EOR: Finally, companies can work with a recruitment agency or an EOR partner that specializes in tech talent to help them identify and recruit top software developers in Mexico City. These agencies often have a deep understanding of the local talent landscape, and can help companies navigate the recruitment process and find the right candidates.
Salary range for software developers and engineers in Mexico City will vary depending on several factors, including years of experience, type of company, and specific skills and expertise.
Junior Software Developer/Engineer: $10,000-$23,000 USD per year or around $36,000 per year as a contractor
Intermediate Software Developer/Engineer: $13,000-$20,000 USD per year or around $45,000 per year as a contractor
Senior Software Developer/Engineer: $11,000-$48,000 USD per year or around $63,000 per years a contractor
Team Lead/Manager: $51,000- $80,000USD per year or around $70,000 per years as a contractor
Here’s a look at average developer salaries by programming language:
$13,000-$26,000 USD per year for NodeJS developer
$10,000-$28,000 USD per year for JavaScript developers
$9,000-$25,000 USD per year for AngularJS developers
$9,000-$24,000 USD per year for PHP developers
$7,000-$27,000 USD per for WordPress developers
If you’re starting to think about hiring full-time developers and software engineers in Mexico City but don’t want to waste time or resources setting up an entity, you may have considered partnering with an EOR service provider like Via.
Companies that partner with an EOR recruit and build their teams. The EOR simply takes care of the paperwork, including onboarding, offboarding, payroll, benefits, taxes, employment contracts, ongoing compliance, and all other HR processes.
As your strategic partner abroad, an EOR can help you determine the right salary to offer candidates abroad to ensure that your compensation package is locally competitive. Learn more here.
As a global EOR provider, Via makes hiring Mexican talent and building your global team seamless. Instead of having to learn every specific nuance in every province, you can focus on finding the talent that fits your company. Whether you need to hire remote workers or independent contractors in Mexico, we support you throughout the entire process. Via helps you manage local HR processes for direct employment such as work visas & permits, benefits, payroll, background checks, and more. Our team of local labor lawyers and on-the-ground experts ensure that your company remains compliant while expanding abroad. As your employer-of-record/entity in Mexico, Via assumes responsibility for employment liability, so that you can focus on what matters: recruiting and managing your team.