by Athenaworks | JAN 15 . 2026
This report offers a side-by-side comparison of Latin American countries and leading U.S. tech hubs, helping you cut through the noise with actionable insights.
Designed for senior executives, tech leaders, and business strategists, this report sheds light on critical factors like developer availability, compensation, and tech expertise across regions.
As companies expand engineering teams globally, understanding regional cost benchmarks is essential for strategic workforce planning.
The comparison below highlights average engineering rates across key LATAM countries alongside major U.S. tech hubs. The data helps illustrate why many organizations are exploring nearshore models to balance quality, scalability, and cost efficiency.
| Role | LATAM Avg Hourly (2025) | U.S. Avg Hourly (2025) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning (ML/AI Engineer) | $105/hr | $145/hr | +38% more |
| Data Engineer | $95/hr | $135/hr | +42% more |
| DevOps / Platform / SRE | $100/hr | $140/hr | +40% more |
| Backend Engineer | $55/hr | $115/hr | +109% more |
| Frontend Engineer | $52.5/hr | $110/hr | +110% more |
| Full Stack Developer | $65/hr | $120/hr | +85% more |
| UX Designer | $47.5/hr | $95/hr | +100% more |
| UI Designer | $41/hr | $90/hr | +120% more |
| Software Architect | $110/hr | $155/hr | +41% more |
| Mobile Developer | $65/hr | $110/hr | +69% more |
| Tech Lead | $115/hr | $150/hr | +30% more |
| Role | LATAM Avg Hourly (2025) | U.S. Avg Hourly (2025) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning (ML/AI Engineer) | $105/hr | $145/hr | +38% more |
| Data Engineer | $95/hr | $135/hr | +42% more |
| DevOps / Platform / SRE | $100/hr | $140/hr | +40% more |
| Backend Engineer | $55/hr | $115/hr | +109% more |
| Frontend Engineer | $52.5/hr | $110/hr | +110% more |
| Full Stack Developer | $65/hr | $120/hr | +85% more |
| UX Designer | $47.5/hr | $95/hr | +100% more |
| UI Designer | $41/hr | $90/hr | +120% more |
| Software Architect | $110/hr | $155/hr | +41% more |
| Mobile Developer | $65/hr | $110/hr | +69% more |
| Tech Lead | $115/hr | $150/hr | +30% more |
