Software dev from Europe working in LATAM? | Hacker News Reader

Software dev from Europe working in LATAM?

7 pointsneteyes9 comments

Hi!

I'm from Europe, working as a consultant for a web agency, doing mostly .NET backend and React/App dev.

My girlfriend and I are looking to maybe move back to her home country in Central America within a year or two.

I'm thinking then, that should work pretty well seeing as I'll be in a US timezone, so remote work for a US based company should be possible, rather than trying to find a job in-country with my poor Spanish. I'd probably get paid more as well.

This comes with it's own set of special problems of course, I'll probably have to open a company in the country itself to receive money from the US based company, otherwise I'm sure the banks will give me problems for loans etc. in the future.

Anyway, my question is this: Would you as a US based company hire a software dev from Latam? Are there any gotchas that make this process difficult?

If you're a company and you have hired devs in that part of the world, what is the usual compensation levels you're looking at? Going by my salary here in Europe, and the economy in the country I'm planning to move to, I'd be happy around $80k, but what is a good number to ask should I get in contact with companies?

Thanks!

As a software dev in LATAM, you could get compensation anchored to "LATAM standards" for a multinational or nearshore company but you can even get over $80K+ USD compensation. Anecdotally the highest I have seen been willing to paid has been like 160K USD. Going over that has been difficult, what I have seen is that over that range is expected you work on higher roles, let's say CTO and there might be some condition that you move to the US at some point in the future.

You do need to sell yourself well, great technical and communication skills but possible.

Additionally, there's an additional consideration: Will they hire you as a contractor or employee? Contractor would open these rates. Employee hires is easier to get you caged to LATAM rates, why? Because they would hire you with a LATAM subsidiary and they incur additional costs that may be transparent for you (but still there might be benefits for you even with the rate cut). Not all companies have the expertise and appetite to have a LATAM subsidiary or a third party doing this for them. The same with contracting, some companies will have the appetite of doing certain type of arrangements.

It would be really rare they hire you as an "employee" for US based company as you would need US work authorization plus you would be "simulating" that you live in the US.

There are downsides and upsides in contracting vs being an employee, local laws requirements, obligations, rights so you would need to do this research.

There may be even immigration considerations to consider in both scenarios.

By the way, central america is too general to make specific recommendations.

Hey, I just moved out from Germany! and I'm an iOS Developer working remotely in Brazil for US Company, the salary range is totally doable as a contractor so you need to take care of your taxes, check these companies and set up a profile there: - TECLA https://www.tecla.io/ ( I got a position with that company, pretty smooth to deal with them and very professional) - Turing https://www.turing.com/ - Revelo https://www.revelo.com.br/ (focused on Brazilian devs but there are openings from USA and Canada to work remotely from all Latam) - X-Team - https://x-team.com/

I have profile in all of them and ended getting offers from most! I hope this helps you.

For several of the companies I do hiring for, we focus on how well a person fits for the job. We're not concerned about the location of the person, as long as no time zone issues or legal issues with payment come up.

That being said, that's not always the case. Lot's of companies can still only pay staff in their own country, or just a few countries. Some companies also want local work authorizations, even if the person is working remote. (An unfortunate situation, yet common).

So your search will be very different depending on if you have a US work authorization, and depending on how the company is able to pay you.

Another option is to setup a small company in the US to sell your consulting services and do your billing on a B2B basis.

I would suggest starting now, to network with people on LinkedIn, who are in your target locations and industries. With a 1-2 year lead time you can definitely figure everything out and have some good options organized.

If a company is hiring someone/a company in LATAM, they'll expect to pay LATAM level wages, which are considerably lower than $80k USD.

The numbers I'm aware of, put the highest paid employees in LATAM at around half your expectations (of course, it's very country dependent).

Entering a foreign country with the intention of self-employment usually requires a work-visa. You'll need to sort that out. Opening a company in that country will likely require proof that you are authorized to be self-employed.

Even if you open the company in Europe, but do the work in LATAM will likely pose tax obligations from the country in LATAM as you'll be (likely) residing there.

I think that's the biggest hurdle you'll have to sort out, and what I'd focus on first.

I expect it to be difficult, but could be worth it! Good luck!

> If a company is hiring someone/a company in LATAM, they'll expect to pay LATAM level wages, which are considerably lower than $80k USD.

That's not true.

In my experience, SV caliber talent pretty much goes for SV price.

Typical rates are $5-7k/month. So your assessment is definitely within range.

Not in LATAM

I'm in Latam and I'm from here (Brazilian) and I get 10k a month, is doable and I know a lof folks making similar numbers.

I’m recruiting engineers in LATAM right now.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com