Tecla.io is a marketplace‑style staffing partner that pairs U.S. companies with vetted software engineers across Latin America. You get senior‑level talent working in your time zone without setting up a foreign subsidiary or juggling multiple local vendors. That nearshore convenience, however, comes with a price structure that you need to understand before committing your budget.
In 2025, finance teams are under pressure to extract more productivity from every dollar. Knowing whether Tecla’s “all‑in” hourly or monthly rate actually saves you money, or simply moves costs around, is the first step to making an informed decision.
This guide breaks down Tecla.io’s pricing blocks, highlights expenses not listed on the marketing page, and walks through a real-world cost scenario for a popular engineering role.
By the end, you’ll know exactly where Tecla fits among your hiring options, and whether its advantages outweigh the trade‑offs for your team.
Tecla.io Pricing Overview
Tecla’s pricing boils down to one all‑inclusive hourly (or equivalent monthly) rate for each professional you hire.
In 2025, the rate typically ranges between $15 and $70 per hour, which translates to roughly $2,400 to $11,200 per month if the person works a full 160-hour schedule. The spread reflects seniority (junior, mid, senior), tech stack scarcity, and country‑specific labor costs.
Once you submit a role description, Tecla’s platform generates a quote and shortlists matching candidates. You pay nothing until you extend an offer and the engineer accepts. There are no sign-up fees, deposits, or subscription charges included in the process.
What the hourly rate already covers
- 360° vetting: English fluency, soft‑skill screening, and in‑depth technical tests
- White‑glove matching: a dedicated team curates the shortlist instead of algorithmic self‑service
- Employer‑of‑Record (EOR) compliance: Tecla handles contracts, local labor law, and tax withholdings
- Payroll & benefits administration: salaries, paid time off, holidays, basic health coverage, and retention perks
- Ongoing account management: performance check‑ins, replacement guarantees, and escalation support
How are you invoiced? Tecla combines the engineer’s salary and its margin into one consolidated monthly invoice in U.S. dollars, so finance sees a single predictable line item. You can end the engagement with standard notice (usually 14–30 days) without extra exit fees; confirm the exact term in your contract.
In short, Tecla’s model trades à‑la‑carte add‑ons for a flat, upfront rate. Your job is to pin down where within that $15–$70 band your specific hire will land before you lock in the budget.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Tecla promotes an “all‑inclusive rate, no other fees” promise, and their pricing page backs that up. That transparency is genuine on the platform side, but a few extra expenses still land on your own ledger once the contract kicks off:
Currency Conversions & International Wires
Invoices arrive in U.S. dollars, yet Tecla pays your engineer locally. If you reimburse in another currency, or the bank touches your funds in transit, you’ll eat the spread. Typical outgoing international wires run $5–$75 plus a markup on the exchange rate.
Ramp‑Up Overlap
Plan on one to two weeks of parallel work while your new hire absorbs code bases, accesses dev environments, and pairs with existing staff. You’ll effectively pay double during that hand‑off period.
Equipment, SaaS & Security Stack
Laptops, monitors, specialty software, VPN licenses, and MFA tokens rarely come bundled with nearshore engagements. Budget an extra $150–$300 per month (or a one‑time hardware stipend) to keep a senior engineer productive and compliant with your InfoSec policy.
Retention Perks & Annual Raises
High performers in Latin America expect spot bonuses, conference stipends, or incremental pay bumps, especially when U.S. inflation pushes up local living costs. Build 5–10% per year into your forecast so your star developer isn’t poached midway through the project.
Early Termination Notice
Tecla doesn’t charge a cancellation fee, but contracts typically require 14–30 days’ written notice. If you end a project suddenly, you’ll still pay for that notice window. Clarify the exact term before signing.
What You’d Really Pay by Hiring on Tecla.io
For a senior full‑stack developer (React + Node), third‑party reviews put Tecla’s all‑inclusive rate at about $45 per hour, the high end of its public $25–$49/hr band.
At 40 hours a week, that’s roughly $7,200 a month, or ≈ $86,400 a year. By comparison, senior engineers hired directly in Latin America typically earn an annual salary of $45,000–$48,000, depending on the country.
You’re therefore paying a premium of about US $38k for Tecla’s vetting, payroll, and compliance wraparound. Stack that against the U.S. market, where the exact role commands ≈ $168,700 before benefits.
Even after adding Tecla’s margin, you still save close to 50% versus a domestically hired developer, while avoiding entity setup and time‑zone headaches.
Advantages of Hiring on Tecla.io
Massive, Pre‑Vetted Talent Network
Tecla maintains a pool of 40,000 + senior engineers across 18 LATAM countries, all screened for English fluency and technical depth, a reach that rivals many global platforms while staying region‑focused.
Turnkey Compliance via Employer of Record
Tecla acts as the Employer of Record, handling local contracts, payroll taxes, and labor‑law compliance, so you avoid setting up legal entities or juggling multiple vendors across borders.
Same‑Time‑Zone Collaboration
Developers work in U.S.‑aligned time zones, making real-time stand-ups and pair-programming sessions as easy as if they were down the hall. The company’s own site emphasizes this match for seamless communication.
Disadvantages of Hiring on Tecla.io
Pricing Still Requires a Sales Call
Tecla publishes a wide $15–$70/hour band but goes silent on the exact dollar figure until you book a call with their team or fill out the “Get Instant Quote” form. That extra step can slow down approvals and make accurate apples‑to‑apples vendor comparisons tricky.
Premium Margin vs. Direct LATAM Hiring
Because Tecla bundles vetting, payroll, and EOR compliance into one invoice, you’ll pay a markup of roughly US $30k–$40k a year above a self‑managed hire in the same country. For teams comfortable running their own local entities, that premium can feel steep.
Occasional Support Lag
User reviews note delays in customer support response times and sporadic platform sluggishness. While not deal‑breaking, these hiccups can matter when you’re scaling fast and need real‑time help.
Transparent Pricing: South vs. Tecla.io
Growing your team means every cost must be crystal clear. South’s straightforward model eliminates uncertainty, putting you in full command of your budget.
Skip the deposits, subscriptions, and hazy mark‑ups. We charge one flat monthly rate, easy to grasp, painless to forecast, and precisely aligned with what it takes to keep your remote specialist performing at their best.
Here’s the process: you pay your professional through South with a single, consolidated invoice that already includes our service fee. One payment, no hidden extras, no mid‑cycle shocks. Because the amount never fluctuates, you can plan expenses, compare talent options, and scale with total assurance.
Right from the outset, you’ll see a clean breakdown of where every dollar goes: what compensates your talent and what funds our support. Nothing is ambiguous. Count on us to benchmark compensation, uncover top candidates, and interpret market shifts.
Check out our salary guide covering remote Latin American talent by role and sector. Need specific numbers for your upcoming hire? Schedule a free consultation for a custom quote; you’ll only pay when you decide to bring someone on board.
The Takeaway
Tecla.io can be a smart bridge between U.S.‑level skills and LATAM‑level pay, especially if you value nearshore time zones and turnkey compliance. Still, the real‑world math shows you’ll pay a sizeable premium over hiring directly in Latin America.
Before you lock in a budget, weigh the convenience Tecla offers against the margin you’ll absorb, and remember to account for the “off‑invoice” costs like equipment, ramp‑up overlap, and retention perks.
If total cost clarity is your top priority, South was built for you. Our single, flat monthly fee folds salary and service into one predictable invoice, so you always know exactly where every dollar goes.
No deposits, no hidden mark‑ups, and no surprises, just pre‑vetted Latin American talent working in your time zone, backed by a partner who treats your growth goals as our own.
Ready to compare transparent numbers side‑by‑side? Book a quick call with us today and see how straightforward hiring abroad can be.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does Tecla.io’s pricing model work?
Tecla quotes a single, all‑inclusive hourly (or equivalent monthly) rate that already bundles the engineer’s salary, payroll taxes, local benefits, and Tecla’s service margin. Published figures span $15–$70 per hour, with junior talent at the lower end and senior specialists at the top.
What is the typical hourly rate for a senior engineer?
Client reviews on Clutch list Tecla’s average bill rate at $25–$49 per hour, but senior developers often land near the upper‑40s or low‑50s, depending on tech stack and country.
Is there a minimum contract length?
Tecla focuses on engagements of at least six months, yet all agreements are technically month‑to‑month, so you’re not locked into a fixed term, but shorter stints may command higher rates.
What if my hire isn’t a fit?
The platform offers a 7‑day risk‑free period and a 90‑day replace-anytime guarantee; you can swap or disengage a developer within those windows without penalty.
Can I hire part‑time through Tecla.io?
Yes, although the service is optimized for full‑time staffing. Their intake form allows commitments of less than 40 hours per week; however, part-time roles may carry higher hourly rates.
