Complete guide

How to find software developers in Bogota

Bogota
February 22, 2023
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Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia. Located in the center of the country, Bogotá is a vibrant, diverse city with a population of over 8 million people. It is a major economic and cultural hub, with a thriving business sector, world-class universities and museums, and plenty of parks and green spaces. It is known for its lively nightlife, its colonial architecture, and its many parks and outdoor activities. It is also home to the world-famous Salt Cathedral. Bogota is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Bogota are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Bogota you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Bogota, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Bogota is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Bogota

According to the most recent statistics, there are currently more than 50,000 tech professionals in Bogota, Colombia. This number is expected to increase to more than 80,000 by the end of 2021. The Bogota tech sector is growing rapidly, with more than 2,000 startups and over 500 tech-focused companies.In addition, Bogota is home to several leading universities and colleges, such as Universidad de los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Universidad Externado de Colombia, making it an attractive destination for tech talent.The average salary for tech professionals in Bogota is around $37,000 USD per year. This is higher than the national average, which is around $25,000 USD.

The tech ecosystem in Bogota

The tech ecosystem in Bogota is rapidly growing, with many startups, venture capitalists, and top-tier tech companies setting up shop in the city. The city is home to a vibrant tech community, with a variety of meetups, hackathons, and other events taking place throughout the year. Colombia’s universities are also producing a steady flow of tech talent, and the government is investing heavily in the development of the tech sector. The city is also home to a number of accelerators and incubators, which provide support to early-stage startups and encourage innovation.

Best tech meetups in Bogota

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Bogota Tech Meetup
2. Big Data & Machine Learning Colombia Meetup
3. Blockchain Bogotá
4. Bogotá DevOps Meetup
5. Bogota React Meetup
6. Bogota Python Meetup
7. Bogota JavaScript Meetup
8. Bogota UX Meetup
9. Bogota Cloud Computing Meetup
10. Bogota Agile Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Bogota

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use job boards and online recruitment websites: There are a number of job boards and online recruitment websites that can be used to source software development talent in Bogota. Popular sites include Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn.

2. Leverage social media networks: Social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can be used to connect with potential software developers in Bogota.

3. Attend relevant events: Attending relevant events such as hackathons, meetups, and conferences can be an effective way to source software development talent in Bogota.

4. Rely on referrals: Relying on referrals from current employees or contacts is a great way to source software development talent in Bogota.

5. Utilize freelance websites: Utilizing freelance websites such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr can be an effective way to source software development talent in Bogota.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Bogota is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Bogota

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Professional Associations
4. Job Fairs
5. Social Media
6. Networking Events
7. Employee Referrals
8. Online Job Boards
9. Headhunters/Recruitment Agencies
10. College and University Career Centers

Best remote job boards to find developers in Bogota

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. FlexJobs
2. Upwork
3. Freelancer
4. Remote.co
5. Hubstaff Talent
6. LinkedIn
7. WeWorkRemotely
8. AngelList
9. RemoteOK
10. Virtual Vocations

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Bogota

The average salary for a junior developer in Bogota, Colombia, is approximately COP$3,428,872 per year. This amount translates to an hourly rate of COP$1,637. In USD, this equates to an annual salary of $1,096 and an hourly rate of $5.25.Junior developers in Bogota typically have between one and three years of experience in the software development industry. They are responsible for developing, testing, and debugging code and software applications. They are also responsible for documenting and maintaining code, as well as working with other developers to ensure that applications run properly. Additionally, junior developers may be tasked with researching and analyzing new technologies to determine their use and feasibility in the company.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Bogota

The average salary for a senior developer in Bogota is COP$6,592,476 per year. This is equivalent to approximately $1,865 USD per month. Senior developers typically have 5+ years of experience in software development and have a deep understanding of computer programming languages and development tools. They are responsible for designing, coding, testing, and debugging programs, as well as providing technical support for existing software. Senior developers are often in charge of managing other junior developers and may be responsible for overseeing a team's progress.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Bogota. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Bogota. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Bogota.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider that acts as an employer on behalf of a company in a foreign country. It is responsible for payroll, taxes, hiring and firing, and other HR-related tasks. In Bogota, an EOR can be used to help companies expand their operations into Colombia without having to set up a local entity or hire local staff.

1. Choose an experienced EOR provider:
The first step is to find an experienced EOR provider in Bogota. Look for a provider that has a proven track record in providing services in Colombia and has a good understanding of local laws and regulations.

2. Establish a contract:
Once you have chosen an EOR provider, the next step is to establish a contract with them. This will include details such as wages, job duties, working hours, and other terms and conditions. It’s important to read and understand the contract before signing it.

3. Register with the local authorities:
The EOR provider will then be responsible for registering the company with the local authorities and obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. This is an important step and should not be overlooked.

4. Hire employees:
Once the registration process is complete, the EOR provider will be responsible for hiring employees. They will also be responsible for managing payroll, taxes, and other HR-related tasks.

5. Monitor the performance of the EOR:
Once the EOR provider is in place, it’s important to monitor their performance to ensure that they are meeting the company’s expectations. This will involve regular reviews of payroll and taxes, as well as other HR-related tasks.

Using an Employer of Record (EOR) in Bogota can be a great way to expand a business into Colombia without having to set up a local entity or hire local staff. By following the steps outlined above, companies can ensure that they are working with a reliable and experienced EOR provider.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
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