If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to grow your team full of talented IT professionals, look no further than Mexico. This country has made a conscious effort to support and grow its tech industry, investing in education and resources for software engineers, software developers, and more. The country’s tech ecosystem has a rich pool of remote developers ready to work on innovative opportunities.
Large and small companies have established tech teams or hired remote talent in this region to support their continued growth. Notable names such as Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and LinkedIn work with software developers in Mexico, while startups are beginning to do the same.
Several cities in Mexico, such as Guadalajara (nicknamed “Mexico’s Silicon Valley”), have developed into well-respected IT hubs, with talent levels increasing. The benefits of hiring in Mexico are numerous, including:
- Reduced costs. Currently, the cost of living in Mexico is almost 300% less than in the United States. This means that software developers in Mexico have a little economic need, often being paid 40-60% less than developers in the U.S.
- Proximity to the U.S. With more than 300 flights each day between the U.S. and Mexico, hiring software developers in this country is an easy way for organizations to build a talented team without worrying about the distance.
- Similar time zones. Mexico shares a maximum two-hour difference in time zones compared to the U.S. This makes it easy for teams to grow with one another, not worrying about missing deadlines.
- Cultural similarities. The similarities between Mexico and North America far outweigh the differences, especially when comparing work styles in Asian countries. Both Mexico and the U.S. celebrate a strong work ethic, workplace hierarchies, and an emphasis on technology.
- Growing talent. Mexico has more than 130,000 tech graduates each year – a number that continues to increase. With the rise of specialized tech programs and training opportunities, this country has invested in its tech talent. This means there’s no shortage of talented software developers for growing companies.
So, which cities take the cake when it comes to where to hire? There are five notable areas that your company will want to focus on should you want to hire remote developers in Mexico. We further detail these cities and their respective salaries for IT professionals in our 2022 tech salaries report.
Guadalajara
Given Guadalajara’s popularity amongst tech firms, both the Mexican Government and MIT chose it to be the home of their “Digital Creative City” project, investing a large sum of funds in building its infrastructure and truly developing it as Mexico’s Silicon Valley. Since then, it has become the core of Mexico’s IT software industry.
IT giants such as Amazon, Intel, HP, Oracle, and IBM have offices in Guadalajara. With an investment in its tech scene, Guadalajara is an excellent place for companies to hire top talent without breaking their budget.
More than 600 tech companies and counting in Guadalajara have attracted over 115,000 IT workers. The city has a high density of full-stack developers, UX/UI designers, front-end developers, back-end developers, and mobile developers. Learn more about their respective salaries here.
Guadalajara also has:
- An excellent engineering school, the University of Guadalajara, which graduates more than 10,000 highly qualified engineers every year.
- The top software-producing city in Mexico.
- A creative, vibrant culture full of professionals looking to make an impact.
- A less than a 5-hour flight from New York or Seattle and 2 hours or less from Los Angeles and Texas.
The average salary in Guadalajara, Jalisco for IT professionals is $40,325 MXN per month ($1,993 USD).
Monterrey
Closer to the U.S., Monterrey is Mexico’s second-largest industrial center, with the highest per capita income in the country. The city is similar to Guadalajara because it’s focused on tapping into the tech market, taking time to invest in various aspects of the IT industry.
However, Monterrey aims to form a multifaceted industrial base known for its focus on innovation, design, and investment. Companies such as IBM, Neoris, Alfa, and Cemex have a presence here as well.
Monterrey is also known for:
- A high concentration of Full Stack Developers, Back End Developers, Quality Assurance Engineers, and Solution Architects.
- Its vast industrial sector.
- Its proximity to the U.S. allowing for greater collaboration between countries (shared culture and cross-border knowledge).
- Elite universities such as Tec de Monterrey, University of Monterrey, and the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon.
- Attracting a variety of tech giants and car manufacturers.
The average salary in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon for IT professionals is $44,592 MXN per month ($2,204 USD).
Mexico City
In Mexico’s capital city, the tech industry has grown more than 300% in the previous five years. It also houses more than 60% of the fintech startups in Mexico. Home to 21 million people and thousands of businesses, Mexico City is known as a high-energy, fast-paced city that’s no stranger to change and innovation.
This growth in IT is attributed to its adaptive economy, investments in technology similar to Guadalajara, government initiatives, and its reputation as a lucrative private investment hub. In addition, Mexico City is commonly seen as a gateway to the rest of Latin America, which is why companies such as Uber, Google, and Facebook have made their mark in this area.
Mexico City also has:
- More than half of the total IT workforce in Mexico, with plenty of full-stack developers, back-end developers, mobile developers, project managers, and web developers.
- An economy focused on financial and professional services.
- The renowned IT school, Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN).
- A bridge from North to South America for easier access to Latin America.
- A vast amount of public and private tech initiatives.
The average salary in Mexico City for IT professionals is $42,000 MXN per month ($2,076 USD).
Merida
Though a less popular spot for hiring tech talent, Merida is quickly emerging as a growing tech center due to its support for the IT industry, high density of trained talent, and robust network of incubators. In fact, the city has invested in six high-impact incubators, four accelerators, four technology transfer offices, and at the Polytechnic University of Yucatan, where three careers focus on meeting the tech industry’s needs: big data, data analysis, and robotics.
Merida graduates almost 2,000 professionals per year and attracts senior talent from crowded cities looking for a higher quality of life. The city is notable due to its:
- High concentration of NodeJs Developers, UX/UI Designers, CSS, and iOS Developers.
- Higher education, The Autonomous University of Yucatan, which is considered one of the top five public universities in Mexico, and one of the Top 100 in Latin America.
- Large base of more than 4,000 IT professionals in executive and commercial roles.
- Low turnover rates.
The average salary in Merida, Yucatan for IT professionals is $41,242 MXN per month ($2,038 USD).
Tijuana
The closest city to the actual Silicon Valley, Tijuana shares the same time zone as California, making it easy for U.S. companies to hire remote developers in this area. The city also boasts a high supply of young bilingual IT professionals.
Typically known for its party scene, Tijuana has made a conscious effort to become an industrial center. The Financial Times notes that the city has used its prime location to take advantage of investment opportunities and become a strategic partner of the U.S. and its tech industry. Tijuana also has:
- A high density of full-stack and back-end developers.
- The Autonomous University of Baja California and the Polytechnic University of Baja California, home to most of the IT graduates in the city.
- A significant gateway to the U.S., with a more affordable cost of living.
The average salary in Tijuana, Baja California for IT professionals is $38,000 MXN per month ($1,878 USD).
In the last decade, the technology industry in Mexico has grown three times faster than the world average. States such as Yucatán and Monterrey have positioned themselves as leaders in the technology scene due to their trained talent, geographic accessibility, and low cost of living.
Hiring Remote Developers in Mexico
At CodersLink, we’ve helped 90+ growing companies fill essential tech roles through hiring in Mexico. So whether you’re looking for a full-time, long-term employee or seeking to fill a temporary part-time position, our educated, experienced developers are ready to join your team.
CodersLink has partnered with several companies such as Amazon, PayStand, and OneInc, providing their organizations access to 12,000+ specialized tech consultants throughout Latin America. With us, you’ll gain access to the following benefits using external talent:
- The ability to assess candidates before hiring them as internal employees.
- Various developers with specialized, high-demand skillsets to choose from.
- An increase in your workforce capabilities and efficiencies.
- Staffing specific projects and initiatives without adding more to your schedule.
We aim to simplify companies’ recruitment and hiring process while connecting qualified, highly-trained software developers with the right opportunities. In addition, we’re dedicated to studying and building relationships with new talent pipelines in Mexico – a growing tech talent hub – and forming connections between them and U.S companies looking to grow, scale, or staff their operations.
Most businesses can’t afford to take the chance on bad hires. We’re here to help with that. Connect with us today to find out more.
