Hire Remote Talent in Colombia
English: MediumSame timezone as US East Coast Calculate hiring costs, compare salaries, and start hiring compliantly.
Timezone
UTC-5
Employer Costs
+29.5%
Workweek
47 hours
Paid Leave
15 days
Colombia Scorecard
Multi-factor hiring assessment
| Factor | Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Savings | 76/100 | Good |
| English | 60/100 | Good |
| Timezone Overlap | 85/100 | Excellent |
| Tech Ecosystem | 65/100 | Good |
| Regulatory Simplicity | 65/100 | Good |
Colombia scores highest in timezone overlap (85/100) and lowest in english (60/100). Medium English proficiency means technical roles work well, but consider communication assessments for client-facing positions. The growing tech ecosystem offers strong value with competitive rates and an expanding talent pool.
Timezone Overlap
US Eastern Time vs Colombia (UTC-5)
US (ET)
Colombia
Overlap
8h
Daily Overlap
9am-5pm
Best Meeting Window (ET)
Colombia operates at UTC-5, which is the same as US Eastern Time. With 8 hours of daily overlap, your Colombia team can attend all standard US business meetings, join daily standups, and collaborate in real-time on code reviews, client calls, and urgent issues. This level of overlap is ideal for roles requiring frequent synchronous communication.
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Why Hire in Colombia?
- Same timezone as US East Coast
- Growing tech hubs (Bogotá, Medellín)
- Strong startup ecosystem
- Cost savings of 55-65% compared to US
- Cultural alignment with US business practices
Popular Roles to Hire in Colombia
Software Developer
tech
Software developers design, build, and maintain software applications. They write code, debug programs, and collaborate with teams to deliver technical solutions.
Mid-Level Salary
$26,000/year
Key skills:
Virtual Assistant
admin
Virtual assistants provide remote administrative support including calendar management, email handling, data entry, travel arrangements, and general office tasks.
Mid-Level Salary
$13,000/year
Key skills:
Accountant
finance
Accountants manage financial records, prepare financial statements, ensure tax compliance, and provide financial analysis and reporting for businesses.
Mid-Level Salary
$17,000/year
Key skills:
Customer Support Specialist
support
Customer support specialists handle customer inquiries, resolve issues, and provide product assistance through various channels including phone, email, and chat.
Mid-Level Salary
$12,000/year
Key skills:
Data Scientist
tech
Data scientists analyze complex data sets using statistical methods and machine learning to extract insights, build predictive models, and drive data-driven decisions.
Mid-Level Salary
$32,000/year
Key skills:
DevOps Engineer
tech
DevOps engineers bridge development and operations, managing CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, monitoring systems, and ensuring reliable software deployments.
Mid-Level Salary
$30,000/year
Key skills:
QA Engineer
tech
QA engineers ensure software quality through testing strategies, automated test frameworks, bug tracking, and quality assurance processes throughout the development cycle.
Mid-Level Salary
$22,000/year
Key skills:
UI/UX Designer
creative
UI/UX designers create user-centered digital experiences through research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design for web and mobile applications.
Mid-Level Salary
$20,000/year
Key skills:
Content Writer
creative
Content writers create engaging written content for websites, blogs, marketing materials, social media, and other digital platforms to drive engagement and conversions.
Mid-Level Salary
$15,000/year
Key skills:
Project Manager
management
Project managers plan, execute, and oversee projects from initiation to completion, coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring deliverables meet requirements.
Mid-Level Salary
$24,000/year
Key skills:
Employment Laws in Colombia
| Minimum Wage | ~$320/month |
| Standard Workweek | 47 hours |
| Paid Leave | 15 days/year |
| Probation Period | 2 months |
| Severance | ~4 weeks per year of service |
*Labor law data based on official government sources. Regulations may vary by region and contract type. Last updated January 2026.
Employer Costs in Colombia
Employer Cost Breakdown: Colombia vs United States
Mandatory employer contributions added on top of base salary
| Cost Category | Colombia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 12% | 7.65% |
| Health Insurance | 8.5% | 10% |
| Pension | 0% | 5% |
| Other Benefits | 9% | 7.35% |
| Total Employer Burden | 29.5% | 30% |
Employers in Colombia pay an additional 29.5% on top of each employee's base salary for mandatory contributions: 12% for social security, 8.5% for health insurance, and 9% for other statutory benefits. This is 1 percentage points lower than the US employer burden of 30%, which includes Social Security/Medicare (7.65%), employer health insurance (~10%), and 401(k) matching plus other benefits (~12.35%). For a mid-level role with a Colombia median salary, this adds approximately $7,670 per year in employer costs, compared to ~$23,400 for the equivalent US position.
* These percentages are added on top of the base salary as mandatory employer contributions.
Compare with Other Countries
Related Outsourcing Guides
FAQs: Hiring in Colombia
The total cost of employment in Colombia goes beyond base salary. Employers must budget for mandatory contributions totaling approximately 29.5% on top of gross salary. This breaks down to: 12% for social security, 8.5% for health insurance, and 9% for other mandatory benefits. For a $50,000/year employee, expect total costs of approximately $64,750. Colombia mandates several bonuses: "Prima" (one month salary paid in June and December halves), "Cesantías" (severance fund deposited yearly), and "Intereses sobre cesantías" (12% interest on severance). The workweek is reducing from 48 to 42 hours by 2026.
Data compiled from official government sources, industry surveys, and employment reports. Last updated January 2026.
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