According to Glassdoor, the median total pay for a Shell Script Developer in the United States is $111,641 per year, with a base salary around $84,506 per year (25th–75th percentile range: $85K–$148K). In contrast, Latin American Bash/ Shell scripting developers earn significantly less: Brazilian developers average R$11,688 (~$29,650) per month (R$140,256 per year), Argentine developers earn about $2,925 per month on average ($35,100 per year) for mid-level roles, and Colombian developers average around COP 75,000,000 per year ($18,600). Hiring LatAm talent can therefore offer U.S. companies substantial cost savings without sacrificing scripting expertise.

Refer to our Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer Hiring Guide for more information on hiring the best Bash/ Shell talent from Latin America.

1. What’s the Average Annual Pay (USD) for a Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer?

Source	Average Annual Salary (USD)	Notes
Glassdoor	$111,641	Median total pay; base salary $84,506 per year (25th–75th percentile: $85K–$148K).
DevJobsScanner	$133,000	Average Bash salary globally, based on job postings and market demand.
Comparably	$160,418	Average Unix Shell Script Developer salary, including total compensation (Feb 2025 data).

Because different platforms collect and process data uniquely, salary figures vary. Companies should consider multiple sources when benchmarking Bash/ Shell scripting compensation, especially if targeting candidates in high-cost regions such as Silicon Valley or New York City.

2. Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer Salaries Around the World

Region	Average Annual Salary (USD)
North America (US)	$111,641 (Median total pay)
Western Europe (UK)	$60,000 (£49,029 per year)
Eastern Europe (Poland)	$30,000 (Poland average)
Asia (India)	$19,000 (?15.9 L per year)
LatAm (Brazil)	$29,650 (R$140,256 per year)
LatAm (Argentina)	$35,100 (mid-level)
LatAm (Colombia)	$18,600 (?COP 75 M per year)
Africa (South Africa)	$17,000 (R 308,362 per year)

This global view underscores the significant disparity between U.S. rates and those in many emerging markets. For companies in the U.S., engaging LatAm talent can reduce labor costs by 60–85% without sacrificing quality.

Learn more about Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer Hourly Rates here.

3. Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer Salaries in Latin America vs. the United States

Brazil

• Average Monthly Salary: R$11,688 (~$29,650 per year) for Bash/Shell developers, based on developer-reported data. 
• Experience Breakdown (TechJobsBrazil estimates): 
  • Junior (0–2 yrs): R$70,000–R$90,000 (~$15K–$18K) per year. 
  • Mid-level (3–5 yrs): R$90,000–R$130,000 (~$18K–$27K) per year. 
  • Senior (6+ yrs): R$130,000–R$180,000 (~$27K–$38K) per year. 

Argentina

• Average Monthly Salary (Talently): 
  • Junior (1–2 yrs): $2,250/month ($27,000/yr). 
  • Mid-level (2–5 yrs): $2,925/month ($35,100/yr). 
  • Senior (5+ yrs): $3,600/month ($43,200/yr). 

Colombia

• Bash Developer Job Postings (BuscoJobs): COP 5,000,000–6,000,000 per month (?COP 60 M–72 M per year) ? $16,900–$20,300 annually. 

Comparison: LatAm vs. U.S.

Role/Experience Level	United States (USD)	Brazil (USD)	Argentina (USD)	Colombia (USD)
Entry-Level (0–2 yrs)	$60,000 – $80,000	$15,000 – $18,000	$24,000 – $30,000 (est.)	$16,900 – $20,300
Mid-Level (3–5 yrs)	$85,000 – $110,000	$18,000 – $27,000	$27,000 – $35,100	$17,500 – $22,500
Senior (6+ yrs)	$110,000 – $140,000	$27,000 – $38,000	$35,100 – $43,200	$20,300 – $25,000

By comparing these figures, U.S. companies can see that hiring a mid-level Bash/ Shell scripting developer in Brazil or Argentina may cost 70–85% less than hiring the same talent in the U.S., even after adjusting for differing living costs.

4. Industry and Location Variations within the U.S.

By Industry

Industry	Average Bash/Shell Developer Salary (USD)
Financial Services	$120,000 – $135,000
Technology/Software	$110,000 – $125,000
Healthcare	$95,000 – $110,000
E-commerce	$90,000 – $105,000
Telecommunications	$100,000 – $115,000
Education/Nonprofit	$75,000 – $90,000

By U.S. Location (Major Tech Hubs)

City/State	Average Annual Salary (USD)
San Francisco, CA	$140,000 – $160,000
New York, NY	$135,000 – $150,000
Seattle, WA	$130,000 – $145,000
Boston, MA	$120,000 – $135,000
Austin, TX	$100,000 – $120,000
Denver, CO	$95,000 – $110,000
Atlanta, GA	$90,000 – $105,000
Dallas, TX	$90,000 – $105,000

These figures reinforce that U.S. salaries for Bash/ Shell scripting roles are significantly higher in technology centers, often $130K+, while mid-level roles in smaller markets (e.g., Atlanta, Dallas) remain $90K–$105K. In contrast, LatAm salaries at equivalent experience levels range from $16,900 to $38,000, making LatAm hiring an attractive cost-effective alternative.

Learn more about crafting the perfect Bash/ Shell Scripting Developer Job Description here.

5. Why Latin America Offers the Best Rates for U.S. Companies

Cost Savings

• Hiring a mid-level Bash/ Shell scripting developer in Brazil ($18K–$27K) or Argentina ($27K–$35K) can be 75–85% cheaper than hiring in the U.S. (~$111K average). 
• Senior LatAm Bash talent ($35K–$43K) costs 80–85% less than senior U.S. technologists ($130K–$140K). 

High-Quality Talent Pool

• LatAm universities and DevOps bootcamps have expanded curricula around Linux administration and scripting (Bash, Zsh), producing graduates skilled in automation tasks, CI/CD pipelines, and performance tuning. 
• Many LatAm developers have collaborated with U.S. and European companies, ensuring familiarity with industry best practices, secure scripting standards, and remote workflows. 

Time Zone Overlap

• LatAm countries (e.g., Argentina, Colombia, Brazil) share substantial working-hour overlap with U.S. Eastern and Central time zones, facilitating real-time collaboration, daily stand-ups, and faster feedback loops. 

Cultural Affinity and English Proficiency

• A growing number of LatAm Bash/ Shell developers are fluent in English and accustomed to Western IT conventions, reducing communication barriers and enabling seamless integration into U.S. teams. 

Strong Remote-Collaboration Experience

• Many LatAm professionals have extensive remote work experience, having supported North American and European clients, and are proficient with tools like Git, Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, and AWS. 

6. Conclusion

Bash/ Shell scripting developer salaries vary widely across regions, industries, and experience levels. In the United States, mid-level Bash/ Shell developers earn roughly $85K–$110K per year, while senior roles can command $110K–$140K. By contrast, Latin American Bash talent typically ranges from $16,900 to $43,200 annually, offering U.S. companies substantial cost savings without compromising on skill or quality.

When budgeting for automation and scripting staffing, consider partnering with LatAm professionals who maintain high standards of code quality, strong English proficiency, and a proven track record of remote collaboration. Leveraging LatAm’s competitive rates can stretch your development budget further, enabling you to automate, monitor, and optimize infrastructure more cost-effectively.

Whether you need entry-level support, mid-level expertise, or senior strategic scripting leadership, Latin America offers a diverse, talented, and cost-effective talent pool ready to help your next automation project succeed. Get in touch with CloudDevs today and hire Bash/ Shell scripting developers to accelerate your DevOps initiatives.