The cities of Mexico with the best opportunities for digital talent

Jobs in the information technology (IT) industry continue to be among the best paying. In Mexico, most jobs in this sector are in the range between 25,000 and 65,000 pesos per monthaccording to him TI Salary Report 2023 from CodersLink. But salary is not everything.

He cost of living in the different cities of the country can absorb a good part of that income and the professional development of those who work in the sector may be hampered by the lack of infrastructure in some locations.

In other words, the connectivity and digital services that cities have make them more attractive for IT professionals “who seek to work in an innovative and connected environment”. Security and economic stability are other elements to take into account.

According to the investigation of the job market specialized in the IT sector, the four best cities to grow professionally in this type of job and have a better quality of life are: Guadalajara, Monterrey, Querétaro and Guanajuato“since they offer competitive salaries and an environment conducive to the development of skills and innovation in the technology sector.”

In this group was left out the Mexico City, because in the balance between salaries and the cost of living in the capital of the country in various ways, the result is not so profitable. Especially if there are other options.

How much is your salary enough for?

Several factors influence the salaries offered by organizations, such as experience in the position, technical skills, level of English, the sector of the company and the origin of the company. but also the country region in which the work is generated.

The average salary for those who are starting to work in this sector is 16,000 pesos per month, notes the CodersLink document. While only 4% of the total working people in the country earn 18,000 pesos, according to data from the latest National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE).

Average IT salaries, based on years of experience, are:

• entry level. Between 1-2 years of experience, 20,000 pesos.
• Medium level. Between 3 and 5 years of experience, 25,000 pesos.
• Semi senior level. Between 6 and 10 years of experience, 36,500 pesos.
• Level senior. Between 11 and 15 years of experience, 45,000 pesos.

The relationship between salaries, costs in the different entities and the quality of life in each of the regions “has become a key point to understand how the labor market trends have changed from 2022 to 2023, together with the movements of the industry professionals linked to the increase in remote work, ”says the platform.

The most likely salary range in Mexico is between 25,000 and 65,000 pesos per month, according to CodersLink. To estimate how much those amounts yield, the platform presents three levels of spending monthly per person, “depending on geographic location, needs and services”:

• Basic: 9,790 pesos
• Media: 14,536 pesos
• Advanced: 29,910 pesos

So, for someone who earns 25,000 pesos and has to pay only basic expenses, they would have an extra 15,210 pesos left over. If you assume average expenses, you would have 10,464 left at the end of the month. But it is not enough to cover advanced expenses. However, people who earn more and even having the responsibility of making advanced payments, would have a remainder of 35,090 pesos per month.

“The disparity between the costs of living and wages makes analyzing this issue a challenge,” the document notes. “Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City present higher costs of living compared to the national average.

However, the mean wages in the Mexico City (30,000 pesos) is less than that of Guadalajara (40,000 pesos), Querétaro (36,000 pesos) and Monterrey (35,000 pesos), according to the study.

CodersLink maintains that “the quality of life in the center of the country is lower than in the north”, since only “26.5% of the inhabitants have a home with more than 4 rooms, the number of homeowners being even lower ”.

Why are they the best cities?

“Guadalajara It is considered the Silicon Valley of Mexico, with a large presence of technology and telecommunications companies, which generates many job opportunities in these sectors,” the document states.

For CodersLink, this city offers better professional development opportunities for its creative industry: cinema, animation and design. “Although it is the second largest city in Mexico, the cost of living in Guadalajara is lower compared to Mexico City.”

In the case of Queretaro, growth in the aerospace, automotive and manufacturing industries opens job opportunities for IT specialists. “It is considered one of the safest cities in Mexico, which makes it attractive for professionals and their families.”

GuanajuatoMeanwhile, it has diversified its economy, according to the analysis of the job search platform. “It has a solid network of small and medium-sized companies, which generates job opportunities in various sectors.”

While Monterrey It is known as a city with a strong focus on the manufacturing, steel and construction industries, as well as the financial and business services sector.

“It has a dynamic and constantly growing economy, which offers a great deal of Job opportunities in various sectors. It has some of the best universities and research institutions in the country, which attracts highly qualified professionals and fosters innovation.”