Introduction

Colombia has rapidly emerged as a top destination for nearshore tech talent. Its thriving tech scene, growing workforce, and favorable time zones make it an attractive option for US startups and mid-sized tech companies.

Colombia’s tech sector has been growing steadily, and salaries remain significantly lower than in the US, making remote hiring cost-effective. Plus, its well-educated workforce and US-friendly time zone make collaboration easy and effective.

Why is Colombia popular for tech hiring?

Colombia is popular for tech hiring due to its strong, growing talent pool of skilled developers, significant cost savings, close time zones for seamless collaboration, cultural alignment with Western business practices, and supportive government initiatives, making it a strategic nearshoring destination for US companies seeking quality tech talent affordably.

Boasting a large, young population, over 300 universities, and a focus on STEM, Colombia produces thousands of tech graduates annually, with hubs in Bogotá and Medellín. These cities are also fostering vibrant startup scenes and innovation, supported by government programs, and the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement boosts trade, making it an attractive spot for US investment in IT.

How many developers are in Colombia?

Colombia has a rapidly growing developer population, with estimates ranging from around 85,000 to over 150,000 skilled software developers, with sources from 2024-2025 suggesting figures like 150,000+ or 165,000 tech professionals, driven by significant tech sector expansion and government initiatives like Misión TIC.

Top cities to hire developers in Colombia

The leading cities for hiring tech professionals in Colombia include:

• Bogotá: Colombia’s primary tech hub, with the largest concentration of IT companies like IBM as well as startups, and thousands of skilled professionals.
• Medellín: Known as a vibrant innovation capital, it boasts a thriving startup scene, creative developers, and strong university ties, often with slightly lower costs than Bogotá.
• Cali: A rising tech center, attracting giants like Google and Amazon and offering a growing talent pool with competitive salaries.
• Barranquilla: A significant port city with an emerging tech ecosystem of incubators and startups.
• Cartagena: Another growing city with a developing tech scene, part of Colombia’s expanding IT landscape.

How does Labor Law work in Colombia?

Key laws and clauses related to Colombia’s labor laws to note include:

• Fixed-term or project-specific contracts can be used but come with restrictions (for example, consecutive fixed-term hires beyond two years create an implicit indefinite contract).
• Under Law 2121, contracts for remote workers may be formed and signed electronically.
• Employers must register remote employees with Colombia’s social security system just like any local hire. This includes mandatory contributions to healthcare (EPS), pension (AFP), occupational risk insurance (ARL), and family compensation funds.
• Colombian law explicitly grants remote workers a “right to disconnect”—that is, they are not obligated to respond to work communications outside agreed hours.
• Employers pay roughly 30% of payroll in mandatory social charges, including contributions to healthcare, pension, and risk insurance.
• The employer must accrue severance pay equal to one month’s salary per year of service.
• Employees receive two extra salary payments per year (usually half the monthly wage paid in June and half in December), commonly called “prima de servicios”.
• Workers earn 15 paid working days of vacation per year.

Colombian Labor Law can be difficult to navigate for US companies looking to hire in Colombia without the support of a specialist firm like HireDevelopers.com.

Is it hard to hire a developer in Colombia?

As a major tech hub, it can be hard to find highly skilled developers in Colombia that fit your budget. Colombia has a highly competitive tech talent market, with startups and small businesses struggling to compete with the salaries and benefits offered by major players in the region.

Talent retention can also be a challenge, with many developers looking to start their own companies as a result of Colombia’s strong startup culture.

As a result, many companies are turning to dedicated tech hiring platforms like HireDevelopers.com to simplify the process of hiring developers and tech talent across Colombia. These platforms offer a faster alternative to traditional hiring, offering thousands of pre-vetted engineers currently looking for new opportunities.

How much does it cost to hire a developer in Colombia?

Glassdoor reports an average base salary of $18,000 to $24,000 annually for mid-level software engineers in Colombia, with a range of 4M to 9M COP.

With pre-vetted platforms like HireDevelopers.com, companies can save up to 80% on salaries and hiring costs when hiring Colombian developers.

How to hire a developer in Colombia

The first step to hiring a developer in Colombia is to decide on a hiring method. Traditional hiring methods include local job adverts, LinkedIn job posts and using your professional network to identify potential candidates.

However, these methods are often time consuming and can be expensive. The median time to hire a developer is around 41 days, with the slowest 10% taking up to 82 days and 38% of companies reporting project delays due to recruitment problems, according to the Linux Foundation’s 2024 State of Tech Talent Report.

Alternatively, many companies are now turning to services like HireDevelopers.com to cut costs and speed up the hiring process. With HireDevelopers.com, you can hire Colombia-based developers at any price point and in just 24 hours.

You should also consider using coding challenges alongside a traditional interview during the hiring process – if you’re using a pre-vetted talent pool like HireDevelopers.com, this has already been done for you. Coding challenges allow you to assess problem-solving skills and coding expertise in a realistic, real-time environment.

If you need help putting together a job description or conducting a job interview, you can check out our helpful and comprehensive guides below. Alternatively, to cut your time-to-hire by 90% and unlock savings of up to 80%, get in touch and book your free HireDevelopers.com consultation today.

Why hire Colombian developers with HireDevelopers?

Hiring the right Colombian developer for your team is a huge undertaking, and the process can be intimidating, especially for startups and small businesses.

At HireDevelopers.com, our pre-vetted, global tech talent marketplace streamlines your hiring journey and cuts time-to-hire by over 90% without compromising on quality or stretching your budget. Receive a custom shortlist of top developers at any seniority level and at any price point within just 24 hours of your consultation.

Plus, we’ll handle all payroll, legal compliance and HR completely for free, giving you more time to start building with your new Colombia-based dev.

Get in touch today and start hiring top-notch Colombian developers in just 24 hours with HireDevelopers.com