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Average Salaries in Latin America: Comparison of Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil

Expanding your business into Latin America opens the door to a diverse talent pool, but understanding salary expectations is key to building a competitive and compliant global workforce. Whether you’re a business leader planning to hire remotely or an HR professional managing payroll across borders, knowing the average salaries in Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil helps you make informed decisions and attract top talent. This guide breaks down the latest salary data, highlights regional differences, and explains how Ontop’s global payroll solutions simplify hiring and payments in these dynamic markets.

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Map showing average salaries in Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil for 2025.

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Ontop Team

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Key Takeaways
Why Salary Data Matters for Global Teams
Salary Comparison: Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil
- Peru
- Argentina
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Brazil
Minimum Wage Trends in 2025
How Ontop Simplifies Global Payroll and Compliance
FAQ: Latin American Salaries & Payroll

Key Takeaways

Salaries in Latin America vary widely by country, city, and industry.
Minimum wages in 2025 range from $200 to $400 USD per month in most countries.
Major cities like Lima, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogotá, and São Paulo offer higher salaries than rural areas.
Ontop provides a compliant, efficient way to manage payroll and payments for remote teams in over 150 countries.

Why Salary Data Matters for Global Teams

Hiring in Latin America offers access to skilled professionals at competitive rates, but salary expectations differ sharply between countries and even within regions. For global companies, understanding these differences is crucial for:

Setting fair and attractive compensation packages
Staying compliant with local labor laws
Managing payroll efficiently across multiple jurisdictions

With Ontop, you can avoid the complexity of entity setup and ensure your payroll is always compliant, no matter where your team is based.

Salary Comparison: Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil

The following table summarizes average, median, and minimum monthly salaries in each country, based on the latest available data for 2025.

Country	Average Salary (USD)	Median Salary (USD)	Minimum Wage (USD)	Key Sectors
Peru	$600–$1,200	$500–$800	~$300	Mining, manufacturing, IT
Argentina	$800–$1,500	$600–$1,000	~$400	Agriculture, tech, finance
Mexico	$800–$1,500	$600–$1,000	$200–$300	Manufacturing, IT, finance
Colombia	$600–$1,200	$500–$800	$250–$300	Oil, mining, services
Brazil	$1,000–$2,000	$800–$1,200	$200–$300	IT, engineering, finance

Note: Salaries are higher in major cities and for specialized roles. All figures are monthly and in USD equivalents[1][2][3][4].

Peru

Average Salary: $600–$1,200 USD per month for professionals in finance, IT, and engineering.
Median Salary: $500–$800 USD per month.
Minimum Wage: Around $300 USD per month.
Lima offers the highest salaries, especially in technical and managerial roles.

Argentina

Average Salary: $800–$1,500 USD per month in Buenos Aires for finance, tech, and legal professionals.
Median Salary: $600–$1,000 USD per month.
Minimum Wage: Approximately $400 USD per month[1][3].
Senior executives and specialized professionals can earn $3,000–$5,000 USD or more.

Mexico

Average Salary: $800–$1,500 USD per month in major cities for IT, finance, and engineering roles.
Median Salary: $600–$1,000 USD per month.
Minimum Wage: $200–$300 USD per month, varying by region[1][4].
Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara lead in salary levels.

Colombia

Average Salary: $600–$1,200 USD per month for healthcare, tech, and finance professionals.
Median Salary: $500–$800 USD per month.
Minimum Wage: $250–$300 USD per month[4].
Bogotá and Medellín offer the highest salaries, especially in oil, mining, and services.

Brazil

Average Salary: $1,000–$2,000 USD per month for IT, engineering, and finance professionals.
Median Salary: $800–$1,200 USD per month.
Minimum Wage: $200–$300 USD per month[3][4].
São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília are the top-paying cities.

Minimum Wage Trends in 2025

Minimum wages in Latin America remain relatively low compared to North America and Europe, but they are rising in response to inflation and labor market pressures. In 2025:

Argentina: Minimum wage is about $400 USD per month, but economic volatility affects real earnings[3].
Brazil: Among the lowest in the region, at $200–$300 USD per month[3][4].
Mexico: Ranges from $200 to $300 USD per month, depending on the region[4].
Colombia and Peru: Both hover around $250–$300 USD per month[4].

Uruguay and Chile have the highest minimum wages in South America, but are not included in this comparison[4].

How Ontop Simplifies Global Payroll and Compliance

Managing payroll across multiple Latin American countries can be complex, with each country enforcing its own labor laws, tax requirements, and payment systems. Ontop’s platform is designed to solve these challenges for businesses of all sizes.

Ontop’s Key Features

Multi-country payroll: Pay your team in over 150 countries, including all major Latin American markets.
Compliance management: Ontop handles contracts, documentation, and local labor law compliance, reducing your legal risk.
Instant USD payments: Workers receive payments instantly, with the option to use the Ontop Visa card for global spending.
Financial benefits: Employees can access global money movement capabilities, making cross-border payments simple.

With Ontop, you avoid the need for local entity setup and can focus on building your global workforce strategy with confidence.

FAQ: Latin American Salaries & Payroll

How do salaries in Latin America compare to the US?
Salaries in Latin America are generally lower than in the US, but vary widely by country, city, and industry. This makes the region attractive for companies seeking skilled talent at competitive rates[5].

What factors influence salary differences in the region?
Key factors include cost of living, industry demand, city size, and economic stability. Major cities and specialized sectors pay more.

How can I pay international contractors compliantly?
Using a global payroll solution like Ontop ensures you meet local compliance requirements, manage contracts, and pay workers in their preferred currency.

What is the best way to manage payroll for remote teams?
A centralized platform that handles multi-country payroll, compliance, and instant payments is the most efficient approach. Ontop offers these features, making it easier to scale your remote team.