The short answer
Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are one or two hours behind New York and one or two hours ahead of San Francisco, depending on US daylight saving time. Companies without a Mexican entity usually hire engineers there as independent contractors who invoice every month, or through an employer of record for full-time roles. Boecia Talent recruits for both and never employs the engineers.
Time difference with the US
Mexico ended daylight saving time in 2022, so the main tech cities stay on UTC−6 all year. Some municipalities on the US border still change their clocks with the US. In each cell, the first value is during US summer time (second Sunday of March to first Sunday of November) and the second during US winter time.
| City | UTC offset | Compared with New York | Compared with San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | UTC−6 | 2 h behind / 1 h behind | 1 h ahead / 2 h ahead |
| Guadalajara | UTC−6 | 2 h behind / 1 h behind | 1 h ahead / 2 h ahead |
| Monterrey | UTC−6 | 2 h behind / 1 h behind | 1 h ahead / 2 h ahead |
A team on US Eastern or Pacific time shares at least six hours of a 9 to 5 day with these cities. More cities in Latin America and US time zones.
Where the engineers are
Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are the main tech cities. Guadalajara has a long history in electronics and software, and Monterrey is a few hours by road from Texas. Public and private universities such as UNAM, the Instituto Politécnico Nacional and Tecnológico de Monterrey train many of the country's engineers.
How companies hire engineers in Mexico
Without a company in the country, there are two common ways to hire. The general comparison is in contractor or employee in Latin America.
- As an independent contractor. The engineer signs a services agreement, invoices you and pays their own taxes. Mexican invoices are electronic documents called CFDI, issued through the tax authority, the SAT.
- Through an employer of record. The EOR employs the engineer under the Ley Federal del Trabajo and runs payroll and social security. Among other things, the law requires a year-end bonus (aguinaldo) of at least 15 days of salary, paid before 20 December (article 87), and paid vacation that starts at 12 days after the first year (article 76).
Your own local company makes sense once you have a larger team in the country, with local legal and accounting advice.
Things to agree before you hire
- The currency of the contract: US dollars or Mexican pesos (MXN). Payroll through an employer of record runs in pesos.
- A CFDI invoice from a contractor every month, so your accountant has a clear record.
- Public holidays. Mexico's mandatory rest days are listed in article 74 of the Ley Federal del Trabajo and differ from US holidays.
How we help
Tell us about the role. We speak with each engineer about it before we share their profile, and you receive a shortlist of vetted engineers. You only pay when you hire, and if the hire leaves within 90 days, we find a replacement for free.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so check with a lawyer or accountant in the country before you sign.
Sources
Labor rules: the Ley Federal del Trabajo, published by Mexico's Chamber of Deputies. Time zones: the IANA time zone database.
Questions companies ask
Is Mexico City on the same time as Chicago?
During US winter time, yes: both are on UTC−6. During US summer time, Mexico City is one hour behind Chicago, because Mexico no longer changes its clocks.
Can I hire a Mexican engineer as a contractor?
Yes. The engineer signs a services agreement, sends you a CFDI invoice and pays their own taxes. If they work fixed hours under your direction for you alone, Mexican law can treat the relationship as employment, so an employer of record suits that kind of role better.
Do I pay anything if I do not hire?
No. Companies pay Boecia Talent only when they hire someone it introduced. The fee depends on the role and is given in the quote before any work starts, and a hire who leaves within 90 days is replaced for free.
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