What Is the Average Salary in Colombia?

For hiring managers interested in Colombia, the first question about the country’s talent landscape is simple. What does a typical full-time salary actually look like in Colombia right now?

In 2026, a reasonable benchmark for the national average is around 4.5 million pesos (COP) per month, or roughly COP 54 million per year across roles and industries. That equates to about US$1,240 dollars per month, or about US$14,900 per year, depending on currency fluctuations.

The 2026 minimum wage was sharply raised as part of a larger effort to boost household purchasing power. These average salaries are well above that. At the same time, they still put Colombia below more expensive South American countries like Chile and Brazil and above some less expensive neighbors in the area. For global employers, Colombia is a dynamic hiring market because of its mix of competitive salaries and skilled workforce.

Average salary in Colombia by job type

Depending on the job you need to fill, the salary expectations will vary widely. Skilled tech roles pay significantly more than administrative or entry-level BPO jobs. Knowing where average salaries sit for these roles will help you create realistic budgets and competitive offers.

Here are the average annual salaries for important roles when hiring in Colombia:

• Software Developer/Engineer. COP 75,000,000 (US$20,700)
• IT Project Manager. COP 106,000,000 (US$29,300)
• Data Analyst. COP 60,000,000 (US$16,600)
• UX/UI Designer. COP 68,000,000 (US$18,800)
• Call Center Agent/BPO Professional. COP 31,000,000 (US$8,550)
• Accountant. COP 62,000,000 ($US17,150)
• Marketing Specialist. COP 54,000,000 (US$14,900)
• HR or Talent Acquisition Professional. COP 55,000,000 (US$15,200)
• Sales Representative. COP 46,000,000 (US$12,700)
• Administrative Assistant. COP 31,000,000 (US$8,550)

Bilingual professionals typically earn more than monolingual candidates in Colombia. According to Christian Mejia, Founder of Eurocentres Colombian Academic Center, “A study conducted by the Ministry of Labor of Colombia found that professionals who speak English earn an average of 25% more than those who do not, clearly demonstrating the positive impact of English proficiency on a person’s career.”

Those extra earnings are important for customer-facing roles and for technical roles that work with clients in other countries. The level of experience also makes a big difference in each role.

Salary differences by region or city

The average salary a hiring manager can expect to pay in Colombia depends on where they seek to hire talent. In some of these big cities, wages are higher than the national average because tech companies are fighting for talent, and the cost of living is higher. Smaller towns and emerging hubs often have lower salary ranges, but they still deliver strong talent pools.

Bogotá

Bogotá is the country’s leading talent hub, and the average monthly salary there is about COP 5,450,000 (US$1,500). It has more than 8 million residents, making it the capital and largest city. Bogotá is also home to most of Colombia’s corporate offices, governmental centers, and multinational operations. Higher demand for skilled workers and a higher cost of living push up pay here.

Medellín

With an average monthly salary of COP 5,390,000 (US$1,490), Medellín ranks just slightly behind Bogotá. The city is known as Colombia’s science and technology hub. It has a thriving innovation and tech startup ecosystem with a high concentration of software developers and designers. Medellín is a great place to hire due to its modern infrastructure and abundance of talent.

Cali

In Cali, salaries are considerably lower, with an average of COP 4,410,000 per month (US$1,220). The city is becoming a substantial BPO and customer service hub, particularly for bilingual jobs that support North American businesses. Cali has lower salaries than Bogotá or Medellín, but it still has a strong pool of professionals at competitive wages.

Barranquilla

The average monthly income in Barranquilla is about COP 4,840,000 (US$1,340). Barranquilla is a major port city in the Caribbean, and it’s become strong in business services, logistics, and trade. The town combines coastal culture with a growing business infrastructure, making it a strong alternative to inland hubs.

Other notable regions

There are new tech scenes emerging outside the main four markets mentioned above. Bucaramanga is a growing tech hub with an average monthly salary of COP 4,590,000(US$1,270). This is in large part thanks to a strong education system and government investment in tech parks. Cartagena and smaller cities like Manizales have even lower salary ranges, making them attractive locations for outsourcing and remote work arrangements.

Elements that affect pay in Colombia

It’s not uncommon for different positions to have very different salaries, even when the positions themselves are identical. Several factors determine how much an individual will actually earn, ranging from the industry to linguistic capabilities.

Industry

The tech and financial sectors have the most competitive wages, as do software developers and IT employees, who earn some of the highest salaries compared to other industries. Customer service, BPO, and other similar roles are at the bottom of the pay scale. However, if those individuals speak other languages, it can greatly increase their earnings potential.

Education and work history

Experience and education can directly impact a professional’s projected pay range. Across most job roles, average salaries in Colombia often correlate directly with education level and work history. For example, a software engineer with over eight years of experience can earn nearly twice as much as a junior developer at the same company, regardless of location.

Urban vs. rural location

In urban areas such as Bogotá and Medellín, employees can expect to earn 15–25% more than their peers in rural areas or smaller cities. The difference in salary is attributed to the number of large corporate employers in urban locations and the increased cost of living in those areas.

Language proficiency (especially English)

As mentioned above, bilingual employees can expect to earn more than their non-bilingual counterparts. In Bogotá, bilingual customer service roles can earn 30–50% more. Proficiency in English enables a professional to work with international companies. Multilingual skills, especially, open the door to remote work with companies based in the U.S./Europe.

Global vs. local employer

Remote work is mainstream across different parts of Colombia, and foreign employers are keen on LATAM hiring due to attractive compensation expectations. For instance, U.S. employers can save between 40% and 70% on total employment costs when they hire remote workers in Latin America. In turn, many Colombian professionals opt to find remote work with North American and European companies.

Size and age of the company

Larger companies and well-funded start-ups tend to offer more competitive base salaries and attractive benefit packages than smaller companies or scrappy start-ups. Multinational companies that are established and stable often use global benchmarks for compensation, whereas smaller companies or young start-ups tend to be aligned with the domestic economy.

How Colombian salaries compare to global markets

Colombia ranks in the mid-pack when you stack up LATAM countries next to each other. Mexico usually has slightly higher average salaries, while Argentina’s salaries vary widely depending on local economic and governmental factors. That said, Colombia is known to have stable pay scales and hiring processes that are easier for foreign companies to navigate.

This positioning makes it highly appealing to globally expanding companies. You can hire highly educated, bilingual professionals for around half of what you’d pay for similar talent in the U.S. Employers in the U.S. are in the same time zone as Colombia, making working together in real time with distributed teams possible. Cultural compatibility and a strong work ethic among Colombian hires make for smooth onboarding.

Remote work has shifted expectations in Colombia. Professionals with international experience now benchmark their worth against global rates rather than strictly local markets. As remote work becomes more common, skilled Colombians can ask for salaries closer to regional LATAM standards or negotiate hybrid pay models with foreign employers. While this trend leads Colombians to expect higher salaries, it still leaves significant savings for companies hiring abroad.

FAQs

When it comes to employers’ perceptions of how salaries work in Colombia, many questions arise. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we see from employers.

What is the minimum salary in Colombia in 2026?

As of January 2026, the minimum wage is COP 1,750,905 per month (US$485), an increase of almost 23% from 2025. With the addition of the mandatory transportation subsidy of COP 249,095, the total minimum compensation is COP 2 million per month (US$550).

Is Colombia affordable for international hiring?

Yes, especially for employers located in North America or Europe. Colombia’s salaries are 40% to 70% lower than those for equivalent positions in the U.S., yet it can attract highly qualified, bilingual employees. The combination of cost, time zone alignment, and available talent pool makes Colombia one of the strongest and most attractive markets for global expansion.

Do tech workers in Colombia earn more than the national average?

Yes, software developers and IT professionals tend to receive an annual compensation of approximately COP 75 million as opposed to the national average of approximately COP 54 million. Technical fields are compensated at a premium due to both the high demand and the specific skill requirements of these jobs.

Are salaries paid monthly or biweekly in Colombia?

Salaries are typically paid monthly in Colombia. Employees receive their salary either at the end of the month or within the first week of the following month.

What is considered a good salary in Colombia?

A salary of COP 6 million per month (approximately COP 72 million per year or nearly US$20,000) places an individual well above the national average and into the middle class. Competitive salaries for technical and specialty fields begin at COP 5–7 million per month (about US$1,400–1,900) and increase with experience and language proficiency.

Ready to hire in Colombia?

Understanding salary benchmarks is one thing. Actually setting up compliant payroll, navigating labor laws, and onboarding international employees is another challenge entirely.

At Pebl, our global EOR services, which span 185+ countries, cover things like employee benefits and global payroll. We remove the administrative complexity so you can focus on finding the right talent and building your team, whether that’s in Bogotá, Medellín, or anywhere else in the world. Ready to hire in Colombia? Let’s chat.

This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.

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