If you're budgeting for engineering hires in Argentina, you need numbers you can actually put into a spreadsheet, not vague "competitive rates" language. Argentina has become one of the most compelling nearshore hiring markets for US tech companies, and the compensation data backs that up.
This guide breaks down verified 2025–2026 salary ranges, employer-side costs, EOR pricing, and total cost-of-hire models so finance and engineering leaders can build accurate budgets. Every figure is sourced, and where ranges exist, you'll see them.
Table of contents
- Argentina software engineer salary ranges by experience level
- Employer costs and contributions in Argentina
- Mandatory benefits in Argentina
- EOR (Employer of Record) costs in Argentina
- All-in yearly cost per engineer in Argentina
- Cost comparison: Argentina vs. US
- Nearshore software development costs
- Recruitment and hiring costs
- Argentina tech talent market overview
- Frequently asked questions
- Building your 2026 Argentina hiring budget
Argentina software engineer salary ranges by experience level
Salary data below reflects USD-denominated compensation, which has become standard practice for Argentine developers working with international companies. The ranges draw from multiple 2025 surveys and verified employer data.
Junior developer salaries
Junior software developers in Argentina earn approximately $21,000–$28,000 annually, with true entry-level positions starting around $12,000. Monthly averages land near $1,366 for developers with less than two years of professional experience. Some sources place the upper bound for entry-level roles at $38,514, though those figures typically reflect candidates with strong portfolios or in-demand stack specializations.
Mid-level developer salaries
Mid-level developers command $34,000–$45,000 per year, with specialized roles pushing toward $72,279. The wide spread reflects how much technology stack and domain expertise influence compensation at this level.
Senior developer salaries
Senior engineers earn $46,000–$82,530 annually, with a median around $51,000 across multiple sources. The top end of that range applies to senior engineers with niche specializations or leadership responsibilities. Howdy's benchmark data, drawn from 12,500+ developers, places Argentina's average software engineer salary at $63,000, reflecting the upward pressure of USD-denominated contracts with US companies.
Salary by technology stack
Stack specialization creates meaningful pay gaps. Blockchain, Python, and Golang developers earn $41,000–$48,000 annually, while mobile development averages $36,000. Cloud and DevOps engineers sit at $35,000–$60,000.
At the high end, senior AI/ML specialists reach $85,000–$100,000, Go and Rust developers earn $80,000–$100,000, and full-stack React/Node engineers land at $65,000–$85,000. Full-stack developers specifically average $72,588 annually.
Salary by location in Argentina
Buenos Aires draws more than 85% of the country's developers and pays accordingly, with salaries ranging from $15,000 to $70,000 depending on seniority and stack. Remote tech professionals in Buenos Aires frequently earn in USD when working for international companies. Córdoba, the country's second tech hub, averages $21,000 annually, though that figure skews toward mid-level roles and is climbing as more international firms recruit there.
Employer costs and contributions in Argentina
Base salary is only part of the picture. Argentina's labor code adds significant mandatory costs that must be factored into any hiring budget.
Mandatory social security contributions
Employer Social Security Tax runs 26.4% for services/trade companies exceeding regulatory thresholds, and 24% for all other companies. There is no cap on monthly compensation. Other sources place the effective range at 26.91%–29.91% when all programs are included, covering pension schemes, health insurance, and social programs. These contributions are due monthly by the 15th.
On the employee side, the total contribution rate is 17% of gross salary (11% pension fund, 3% healthcare, 3% social services), withheld by the employer.
Health insurance: how it fits within social security
A common budgeting mistake is double-counting health insurance. The employer's 6% healthcare contribution funds medical and dental coverage through union-arranged private providers for the employee and immediate family. This 6% is already embedded within the broader 26%–30% employer social security rate described above. If you're using the all-in employer contribution percentage for your budget model, do not add 6% on top of it. The 6% figure is useful when breaking down where the money goes, but it's a component of social security, not a separate line item.
Additional employer costs
Beyond social security, employers must pay for Aseguradora de Riesgos del Trabajo (ART) workers' compensation insurance, with rates varying from 0.5% to 5% of payroll based on industry risk level. Software companies typically fall at the lower end. Union dues, where applicable, add 1%–3% of salary.
Total loaded cost calculation
A reliable rule of thumb: budget approximately 50% beyond base salary for all mandatory contributions and benefits combined. That 50% includes social security (26%–30%), aguinaldo (8.33%), workers' compensation insurance, and standard benefit overhead. For a developer earning $50,000 base, plan for $75,000 fully loaded.
Mandatory benefits in Argentina
13th month salary (Aguinaldo)
All employees receive a mandatory 13th-month salary paid in two installments on June 30 and December 18. Each installment equals 50% of the highest monthly wage earned during the preceding six-month period. Standard social security contributions apply to aguinaldo payments.
Paid leave entitlements
Annual leave is seniority-based: 14 calendar days for employees under 5 years of service, 21 days for 5–10 years, 28 days for 10–20 years, and 35 days for over 20 years. These are calendar days, not business days.
Workers' compensation insurance
Currency risk and compensation denomination
Argentina's persistent inflation and currency volatility make compensation denomination a strategic decision, not just an administrative one. Bloomberg reports that Argentina's economy is increasingly dollarized, with companies offering developers USD-denominated salaries to compete for talent and help employees manage cost-of-living pressures.
Practical budgeting guidance:
Denominate offers in USD whenever legally and structurally feasible. Most international companies hiring through EOR providers or direct entities already do this. Many companies include contractual clauses to adjust USD salary bands if local inflation exceeds 10% in a given period, protecting both sides from sudden purchasing-power shifts.
When modeling costs, build in an FX buffer of 3%–5% on top of your loaded salary estimates. EOR providers typically apply their own foreign exchange margins (more on that below), so the buffer accounts for rate fluctuations between your approval date and actual payroll disbursement. If you're paying through a direct entity, work with your payroll provider to lock favorable conversion windows and avoid peak volatility periods around Argentina's central bank announcements.
Employer of record (EOR) costs in Argentina
If you're hiring fewer than 10 engineers, an EOR is the fastest path to compliant employment in Argentina. Here's what the pricing looks like.
EOR pricing models
Most EOR providers in Argentina charge $299–$599 per employee per month, depending on scope and team size. Some providers start at $599/month per employee, covering payroll, local compliance, benefits, and HR support. The fully loaded monthly cost to employ a software engineer through an EOR in LatAm ranges from $5,900–$7,150, inclusive of salary, benefits, and provider fees.
Howdy is a white-glove workforce partner that recruits and employs full-time engineers in LatAm, handling compliance, payroll, benefits, and retention. Howdy charges a 15% fee on top of take-home salary that covers benefits, equipment, workspace access, and ongoing support, with a 98% retention rate across its portfolio.
Hidden EOR costs
Base monthly fees rarely tell the full story. Watch for setup fees for onboarding and compliance checks, off-boarding fees for exit paperwork, foreign exchange margins of 2%–10%, and add-on charges for background checks and visa support. For context, two employees at $650/month each means $15,600 in annual EOR fees before any extras.
EOR vs. direct entity setup
Direct hiring becomes more cost-effective at 10–15+ employees per country. Entity setup in Argentina typically takes 30–60 days and costs upwards of $15,000, with ongoing maintenance running $2,000–$3,000 monthly for payroll filings, legal compliance, and labor inspections. For teams smaller than 10, the math almost always favors an EOR or a partner like Howdy that bundles employment infrastructure with recruiting.
All-in yearly cost per engineer in Argentina
These models apply the 50% loaded-cost multiplier to base salary ranges, giving you budget-ready figures.
Junior engineer total annual cost
Base salary of $21,000–$28,000 plus approximately 50% in loaded costs equals $31,500–$42,000 total annual expense. Add EOR fees ($3,600–$7,200/year) if using an external employment provider.
Mid-level engineer total annual cost
Base salary of $34,000–$45,000 with full benefits and tax overhead brings the total to $51,000–$67,500 per year. Specialized mid-level roles (AI/ML, DevOps) may push the base higher, reaching $72,000+ before loaded costs.
Senior engineer total annual cost
A senior engineer earning $51,000–$82,530 base translates to $76,500–$123,795 fully loaded annually. The EOR-based monthly range of $5,900–$7,150 aligns with this, producing annual figures of $70,800–$85,800 through that channel.
Total cost for 10 senior full-stack engineers
Full-stack developers in Argentina earn $72,588 base on average. Applying the 50% loaded cost multiplier brings each engineer to roughly $109,000 annually. Ten senior full-stack engineers cost approximately $1,090,000 per year fully loaded, before EOR or recruiting fees.
Cost comparison: Argentina vs. US
Direct salary comparisons
Argentine software developer salaries run 2.5–3x lower than US equivalents. The average US software engineer earns roughly $105,000 in base salary, while Argentina's range sits at $35,000–$51,000 for comparable mid-to-senior roles. Even after loading Argentine salaries with the full 50% employer cost overhead, the gap remains substantial.
Total savings estimates
Companies save $35,000–$64,000 per Argentina hire compared to US-based recruitment, achieving 35%–65% cost reduction. The total annual cost per senior engineer drops from $170,000+ in the US to $85,000–$95,000 in Argentina. According to the US Small Business Administration, total US employee cost runs 1.25–1.40x base salary, meaning the gap tightens slightly when you compare fully loaded costs on both sides, but savings of $50,000+ per senior developer remain achievable.
Nearshore software development costs
These rates apply when engaging Argentine developers through nearshore development partners, as opposed to direct full-time employment.
When engaging Argentine developers through nearshore partners rather than direct employment, hourly rates break down as follows:
| Seniority | Hourly Rate (Argentina) | Hourly Rate (US) |
| Junior | $20-$35 | $50-$75 |
| Mid-level | $40-$60 | $75-$120 |
| Senior | $65-$90 | $120-$180 |
| Specialized (AI, DevOps, Cloud) | $90-$125 | $150-$250+ |
Average development costs
Argentina averages approximately $40/hour through nearshore partners, representing 50%-70% savings versus US rates depending on skill set and experience level. Senior AI/ML engineers charge $75-$95/hour (compared to $200+ in the US), and DevOps specialists earn $70-$90/hour (versus $140+ domestically).
Recruitment and hiring costs
Beyond salary and benefits, the recruitment process itself carries real costs. The average engineering hire consumes 65 hours of business time, translating to $22,750 in internal costs at $350/hour for the team members involved (hiring managers, interviewers, HR coordinators).
Argentina tech talent market overview
Talent pool size
Argentina boasts over 160,000 developers and more than 430 IT firms listed on Clutch. The developer population grows by nearly 1,000 per year, and GitHub ranks Argentina as the fastest-growing software developer community in South America.
The IT sector features established companies like Mercado Libre alongside major international players including SAP, IBM, and Oracle. IT services market revenue is projected to reach $3.745 billion by 2029.
English proficiency and time zone
Argentina ranks first in LatAm on the EF English Proficiency Index (2023), with Buenos Aires scoring 567 out of 800. The country sits just 1-2 hours ahead of the US East Coast, providing near-complete overlap with standard business hours. For West Coast teams, the 2-3 hour difference still allows 5-6 hours of synchronous collaboration daily.
Educational quality
Argentina ranks 4th in the region and 30th globally for technological skills according to the Coursera Global Skills Index 2023, with particularly strong performance in Data Science (2nd in LatAm). The country places 7th in the Americas on the IMD World Digital Competitiveness ranking, and 14.15% of all tertiary graduates specialize in STEM fields.
Frequently asked questions
What is the all-in yearly cost per engineer in Argentina in 2026?
Fully loaded costs range from $70,800 to $123,795 annually depending on seniority and employment model. Through EOR services, the monthly cost runs $5,900-$7,150 per engineer. Direct employment through owned entities costs $8,000-$9,000 monthly but offers lower per-head costs at scale.
How much do companies save hiring in Argentina vs. the US?
Companies save $35,000-$64,000 per hire, achieving 35%-65% total cost reduction versus domestic recruitment. Even after accounting for employer contributions, mandatory benefits, and EOR or partner fees, the total annual cost per senior engineer in Argentina stays well below $130,000 compared to $170,000+ in the US.
What are employer payroll taxes in Argentina?
What mandatory benefits must employers provide in Argentina?
Employers must provide a 13th-month salary (Aguinaldo) in two installments, 14-35 days of paid vacation based on tenure, health insurance covering the employee and immediate family, and workers' compensation insurance. These benefits are non-negotiable under Argentine labor law.
How do EOR costs compare to setting up a legal entity in Argentina?
EOR services cost $299-$599 per employee monthly. Direct entity setup exceeds $15,000 in initial costs plus $2,000-$3,000 in monthly maintenance. The breakeven point typically falls at 10-15 employees, after which direct employment becomes more economical.
What is the cost difference between junior, mid-level, and senior engineers?
Expect approximately $21,000 base for junior, $34,000 for mid-level, and $51,000 for senior engineers before loaded costs. After applying the 50% multiplier for employer contributions and mandatory benefits, the ranges become $31,500, $51,000, and $76,500 respectively.
What are nearshore hourly rates for Argentina developers?
Rates range from $20-$35/hour for junior developers, $40-$60 for mid-level, $65-$90 for senior engineers, and $90-$125 for specialized roles in AI, DevOps, and cloud engineering.
Building your 2026 Argentina hiring budget
Argentina offers a compelling combination of technical talent, cost efficiency, and operational alignment for US companies building distributed engineering teams. The 35%-65% cost savings versus domestic hiring are real, but the strategic value goes beyond labor arbitrage. High English proficiency, near-identical time zones, and a growing pool of 160,000+ developers make Argentina one of the most practical nearshore destinations available.
The key to accurate budgeting is accounting for the full picture: base salary plus the 50% loaded cost factor for mandatory contributions and benefits, plus your chosen employment model's fees. Whether you hire through an EOR for a small team or invest in a direct entity for 15+ engineers, the all-in numbers remain significantly below US benchmarks.
For companies that want to move quickly without sacrificing quality or compliance, working with a partner that combines recruiting, employment infrastructure, and physical offices in-country reduces both cost and risk. Book a demo with Howdy to start vetting top-tier Argentine engineering talent within 24 hours.