What is the Average Salary of a Machine Learning Engineer in Latin America?

Machine learning (ML) engineers are the masterminds behind artificial intelligence (AI) systems that learn from data. As businesses increasingly embrace the power of AI, demand for these skilled engineers is soaring. The profession is forecasted to grow by 40% — translating to around 1 million new jobs — over the next five years.

Salaries for AI and ML engineers are skyrocketing alongside demand. ML and other AI software engineers in the US rake in an average salary of nearly $300,000 — around $100,000 more than other software developers.

The hunger for ML engineers will only grow as brands race to develop the world’s latest and greatest AI technologies. To find qualified ML professionals, many US companies are turning to Latin America.

Machine learning engineers in Latin America

Forecasted by many to be the next "Silicon Valley", Latin America is catching the eye of US companies seeking ML specialists. LatAm’s tech scene is thriving as many countries in the region invest in education and digitization initiatives, creating a growing pool of talent.

And the abundance of tech talent isn't the region's only draw. US brands are also beginning to realize the many benefits of hiring in the LatAm, including time zone alignment, strong communication skills, and cultural compatibility.

ML engineers from Latin America come from cultures where creativity and experimentation are encouraged. They also tend to have strong “soft skills,” which often means they have problem-solving skills and adapt well to US teams.

Average monthly salaries for machine learning engineers in LatAm

Generally speaking, hiring in Latin America can be more cost-effective than in North America or Europe, where demand and salaries for ML talent are higher. But how much does it actually cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Latin America?

To help businesses get a sense of what they can expect to pay, we've compared average ML engineer salaries in major LatAm countries below.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Colombia?

• Average mid-level salary $3,800
• Average senior salary: $5,900

Fueled by strong governmental support for digital transformation, Colombia offers access to a well-educated and booming tech workforce. Colombia's time zone aligns with US Eastern Standard Time (EST), empowering real-time collaboration.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Uruguay?

• Average mid-level salary: $4,500
• Average senior salary: $7,000

Uruguay is celebrated for its stable economy and skilled engineers, making it a smart base for machine learning innovation and long-term investment. In addition, Uruguay is only two hours ahead of EST, allowing near-synchronous working hours with US teams.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Argentina?

• Average mid-level salary: $4,600
• Average senior salary: $5,700

Argentina’s cultural affinity with Western countries makes it easier for Argentine developers to integrate into US teams. In addition, the country's time zone alignment is two hours ahead of EST, facilitating communication with US teams.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Mexico?

• Average mid-level salary: $4,000
• Average senior salary: $7,000

Mexico's strong tech education infrastructure and ballooning talent pool allow companies to hire qualified machine learning engineers with minimal communication delay. Mexico's four time zones time zones in the contiguous US.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Peru?

• Average mid-level salary: $5,000
• Average senior salary: $6,900

Peru’s emerging tech ecosystem and competitive labor costs make it a compelling location for machine learning development. Peru shares the same time zone as US Eastern Time.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Chile?

• Average mid-level salary: $4,000
• Average senior salary: $7,100

Known for political and economic stability, Chile actively promotes tech development. In addition, the country's small time zone difference from EST makes it convenient for coordination.

How much does it cost to hire a machine learning engineer in Brazil?

• Average mid-level salary: $3,500
• Average senior salary: $7,000

Brazil is home to a diverse talent pool and strong engineering programs. The country spans several time zones that align closely with EST and Central Standard Time (CST) in the US.

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At Howdy.com, we help US companies source, hire, and onboard the top 1% of LatAm tech professionals — including highly skilled machine learning engineers. We can connect you with LatAm ML engineers who are not only talented but also the right fit for your company and culture.

Howdy.com is your key to unlocking access to a vast network of highly skilled ML engineers across Latin America. Book a free call to learn more.