With the explosion of AI integration across the tech world and beyond, U.S. companies are turning to Latin America to fill key roles on their conversational chatbot engineering rosters.

Many LatAm nations have bet big on tech, implementing educational, legislative, and infrastructural reforms to produce record numbers of engineers, many of whom specialize in artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML).

With Latin American nations bullish on AI development, research, and adoption, the region is poised to become the next big hub of AI talent. Read on to learn about the average salaries for conversational chatbot engineers in Latin America and discover why U.S. companies are tapping into this dynamic workforce.

Conversational chatbot engineers in Latin America

Over the past decade, U.S. companies have increasingly turned to their southern neighbors to meet growing demand for tech talent. With widespread English fluency, overlapping work hours and strong cultural compatibility, LatAm engineers are well-equipped to fill key roles in US-based AI teams.

Countries in the LatAm region continue to invest heavily in STEM education, professional training, and internet infrastructure, resulting in a workforce skilled in the most sought-after roles in tech, including machine learning technologies and conversational design. A United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report noted several countries in the region show improving human talent, infrastructure and innovation in the realm of AI, with Brazil, Chile and Uruguay singled out as “pioneers” in the global field.

What do conversational chatbot engineers do?

Conversational chatbot engineers design AI-driven systems that understand and respond to natural, conversational language. They develop specialized chatbots that communicate directly with client bases in a wide array of roles — from customer service to e-commerce to healthcare and beyond.

A chatbot engineer’s responsibilities may include include:

• Training chatbots using natural language process (NLP) techniques.
• Integrating chatbots with customer relationship management and backend systems.
• Tweaking bot performance in response to analytics and user feedback.
• Ensuring secure handling of private data.

Average monthly salaries for conversational chatbot engineers in Latin America

The cost of hiring conversational chatbot engineers in Latin America varies by country and experience level. Below is a review of average salaries across major LatAm countries, as well as the cost of comparable workers in the United States.

These salary averages are based on Howdy.com salary data. Our numbers are all-inclusive, encompassing benefits, taxes, equipment, and additional costs associated with onboarding and retaining quality staff.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in the United States?

• Mid-level salary: $11,023
• Senior salary: $13,962

Conversational chatbot engineers in the U.S. are in high demand, drawing in competitive salaries due to their specialized skill set. Major companies in nearly every sector are implementing some form of conversational AI, making it difficult for smaller players to draw in top talent from the pool of U.S. based tech workers.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Colombia?

• Mid-level salary: $4,000
• Senior salary: $5,500

Colombia is a rising star in the AI sector. Cities like Bogotá and Medellín host a growing number of professionals skilled in chatbot frameworks and NLP libraries. English proficiency is common in Colombia, and its shared time zone East Coast facilitates smooth collaboration with U.S. partners.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Uruguay?

• Mid-level salary: $4,700
• Senior salary: $6,000

Uruguay is known for its advanced education system and innovative tech ecosystem, and the above-mentioned ECLAC report ranked it as the top LatAm country in AI-friendly infrastructure. Uruguayan chatbot engineers specialize in secure, scalable conversational AI systems and have plenty of experience working with global teams.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Argentina?

• Mid-level salary: $4,100
• Senior salary: $5,800

Argentina has a well-established tech culture nearly 15 years in the making. Today, major cities like Buenos Aires are home to engineers proficient in cutting-edge AI technologies. In 2024, Global Finance noted Argentina as a rising star in LatAm AI integration and development due to its mature tech sector and quality education institutions.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Mexico?

• Mid-level salary: $4,200
• Senior salary: $5,700

Mexico’s extensive tech talent pool includes professionals with expertise in AI, ML, and chatbot development. Mexico City, in particular, has emerged as one of the leading tech hubs in Latin America. In 2023, Mexico’s government was ranked third among LatAm nations in a UNESCO analysis of AI Readiness.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Peru?

• Mid-level salary: $4,000
• Senior salary: $5,600

Peru’s burgeoning tech sector focuses on scalable AI solutions, with engineers specializing in chatbot architecture and integration. Peru has demonstrated solid collaboration between its public and private sectors in the field of AI development and training, and continues to be an exciting front for new talent and innovation-minded engineers.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Chile?

• Mid-level salary: $4,200
• Senior salary: $6,100

Chile is a leader in Latin America’s tech industry, with ECLAC ranking it number one in the region for AI development. Bolstered by high government investment in infrastructure and training programs, Chilean conversational chatbot engineers are skilled in creating customer-centric bots optimized for performance.

How much does it cost to hire a conversational chatbot engineer in Brazil?

• Mid-level salary: $4,500
• Senior salary: $5,800

Brazil’s chatbot engineers are well-versed in building AI-driven systems for high-traffic industries like banking and e-commerce. As mentioned above, Brazil has emerged as a regional leader in AI, and its government has recently poured billions into the goal of making the country a global contender in the field.

Partner with top-tier LatAm talent

Looking to hire top-tier conversational chatbot engineers in Latin America? Howdy.com specializes in connecting U.S. companies with LatAm’s best AI and NLP professionals. From sourcing and interviews to onboarding and compliance, we streamline the hiring process to help you build your dream team.

Join hundreds of companies already leveraging LatAm's talent. Book a free demo today to learn more!