C remains one of the most widely used programming languages, powering operating systems, embedded systems, high-performance software, and system-level applications. Because of this, demand for skilled C developers remains strong, especially in industries like defense, finance, hardware, and telecommunications.

Yet, hiring costs for C developers vary significantly by region, experience level, and industry. This guide explores the average annual salaries for C developers worldwide, especially in Latin America, to help U.S. companies make informed, cost-effective hiring decisions.

Refer to our C Developer Hiring Guide for tips on evaluating and onboarding the best C developers from Latin America.

1. What’s the Average Annual Pay (USD) for a C Developer?

Source	Average Annual Salary (USD)	Notes
ZipRecruiter	$115,000	Based on U.S. job listings and employer data
Glassdoor	$105,000	Includes salary + bonuses and incentives
Indeed	$112,000	Based on U.S. job postings and estimated salaries
PayScale	$100,000	Self-reported C developer salaries

While these numbers vary by location and specialization (e.g., embedded C vs. systems C development), the overall U.S. average falls between $100,000 and $115,000 per year.

2. C Developer Salaries Around the World

Region	Average Annual Salary (USD)
North America	$100,000 – $135,000
Western Europe	$70,000 – $110,000
Eastern Europe	$35,000 – $75,000
Asia (e.g., India)	$30,000 – $65,000
Australia	$70,000 – $100,000
LatAm (e.g., Brazil)	$18,000 – $30,000
LatAm (e.g., Argentina)	$12,000 – $22,000
LatAm (e.g., Colombia)	$16,000 – $25,000
Africa (South Africa)	$25,000 – $40,000
Middle East	$35,000 – $60,000

This global breakdown highlights stark regional differences. U.S. companies looking to optimize costs while maintaining access to high-quality developers often turn to Latin American (LatAm) talent, where hiring rates are typically 70–80% lower than in the U.S.

Check out our C Developer Hourly Rates Guide for a deep dive into hourly benchmarks.

3. C Developer Salaries in Latin America vs. the United States

Brazil

According to Glassdoor Brazil and Vagas.com.br:

• Junior (0–2 yrs): R$80,000–R$100,000/year (~$16,000–$20,000 USD) 
• Mid-Level (3–5 yrs): R$100,000–R$140,000/year (~$20,000–$28,000 USD) 
• Senior (6+ yrs): R$140,000–R$180,000/year (~$28,000–$36,000 USD) 

Argentina

Based on data from Bumeran and ZonaJobs:

• Junior: ARS 3,500,000–5,000,000 (~$10,000–$14,000 USD) 
• Mid-Level: ARS 5,000,000–7,000,000 (~$14,000–$20,000 USD) 
• Senior: ARS 7,000,000–10,000,000 (~$20,000–$28,000 USD) 

Colombia

As per Computrabajo Colombia:

• Junior: COP 60M–75M/year (~$15,000–$19,000 USD) 
• Mid-Level: COP 75M–95M/year (~$19,000–$24,000 USD) 
• Senior: COP 95M–115M/year (~$24,000–$29,000 USD) 

Comparison Table

Experience Level	U.S. (USD)	Brazil (USD)	Argentina (USD)	Colombia (USD)
Entry-Level	$85,000–$100,000	$16,000–$20,000	$10,000–$14,000	$15,000–$19,000
Mid-Level	$100,000–$120,000	$20,000–$28,000	$14,000–$20,000	$19,000–$24,000
Senior-Level	$120,000–$145,000	$28,000–$36,000	$20,000–$28,000	$24,000–$29,000

Hiring mid-to-senior C developers from LatAm countries like Brazil or Colombia can offer savings of 65–80% while still gaining access to competent engineers with solid C and systems programming expertise.

4. Industry and U.S. Location-Based Salary Variations

By Industry

Industry	Avg Salary for C Devs (USD)
Aerospace & Defense	$130,000 – $150,000
Semiconductor/Hardware	$120,000 – $140,000
Financial Services	$115,000 – $130,000
Automotive	$105,000 – $120,000
Healthcare Tech	$100,000 – $115,000
EdTech / Nonprofits	$85,000 – $100,000

By U.S. City

City/State	Average Salary (USD)
San Francisco, CA	$140,000 – $155,000
New York, NY	$130,000 – $145,000
Seattle, WA	$125,000 – $140,000
Boston, MA	$115,000 – $130,000
Austin, TX	$105,000 – $120,000
Atlanta, GA	$95,000 – $110,000
Miami, FL	$90,000 – $105,000

These variations further reinforce the value of exploring LatAm talent—especially if your company is based in a major tech hub with high salary expectations.

5. Why Hiring C Developers from Latin America Makes Business Sense

Major Cost Savings

Hiring a mid-level C developer in Brazil ($24,000) or Argentina ($18,000) can save companies 70–80% compared to U.S. averages (~$110,000). Even senior-level LatAm devs cost less than most entry-level U.S. hires.

Strong Educational Foundations

Countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have robust engineering programs producing highly trained C developers. Many graduates are experienced with:

• Real-time systems 
• Embedded Linux 
• Memory management 
• Compiler construction 
• IoT systems 

Real-Time Collaboration

Time zone alignment with U.S. Eastern and Central zones makes LatAm ideal for agile teams, daily standups, and customer-facing dev roles.

English Fluency & Cultural Fit

A large percentage of LatAm developers speak English and have experience working with North American teams. Their cultural familiarity helps reduce communication friction and improve remote productivity.

Proven Remote Skills

LatAm engineers are experienced in working with remote teams and tools like:

• GitHub, GitLab 
• Jira, Trello 
• Slack, Zoom 
• Docker, Jenkins

Need help creating a job ad? Explore our C Developer Job Description Template.

6. Conclusion

Hiring C developers in the U.S. often costs between $100,000 and $135,000 annually, depending on experience and location. However, Latin American talent can deliver comparable results at 25–35% of the U.S. cost—especially for embedded systems, low-level programming, and OS-level development roles.

If you’re looking to optimize costs without sacrificing technical depth, LatAm is a strategic hiring destination. Countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina offer a high volume of experienced C developers ready to integrate into U.S. teams and contribute immediately.

Ready to find top-tier C talent at a fraction of the cost? Get in touch with CloudDevs today and start building your engineering team with vetted C developers from Latin America.

Explore Related Hiring Guides:

• C Developer Hourly Rates Guide
• C Developer Job Description Template