Build a $50K Salary Role for $10K: The International Hiring Math

The 80% savings figure gets a lot of attention — and some skepticism. So let's put it on the table plainly. Here's the actual math behind international hiring, broken down role by role, line by line.

The true cost of a US hire

Most founders think in terms of salary. But salary is only part of the cost. Here's what a $50,000/year US employee actually costs your business:

• Base salary: $50,000
• Employer payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA ~10%): $5,000
• Health insurance (employer contribution, avg ~$7,500/yr): $7,500
• Paid time off (15 days = ~5.8% of salary): $2,900
• Recruiting / hiring cost (avg 15–20% of salary, one-time): $8,000
• Onboarding, equipment, software licenses: $2,500
• Office space or remote stipend: $2,400

Total year-one cost: ~$78,300

The true cost of an international hire through Talentige

The same role — same output expectations, same responsibilities — filled internationally:

• Monthly retainer (Colombia, mid-level): $1,200/month = $14,400/year
• Talentige placement fee (one-time, included in first month): $0 additional
• Equipment allowance (optional, one-time): $500
• Software licenses: $600
• Paid time off (included in retainer): $0 additional

Total year-one cost: ~$15,500

But what about quality?

This is the right question to ask. The savings only make sense if the work is equivalent. Here's what we've observed across 200+ placements: when the role is clearly scoped, the onboarding is thorough, and expectations are communicated well, international hires routinely outperform their local equivalents on measurable KPIs. Why? Because they're typically more motivated by the opportunity, more loyal due to lower turnover rates, and more focused due to fewer workplace distractions.

Roles where the ROI is highest

Not every role has the same ROI profile for international hiring. The strongest returns come from roles where:

• The work is clearly definable and measurable
• Communication can happen asynchronously or in overlapping hours
• The role doesn't require physical presence
• The work benefits from fluency in both English and Spanish (for US companies serving Latino markets)

Customer success, operations, finance, marketing, and sales development consistently deliver the strongest ROI.

Use our ROI calculator

On our homepage we have an interactive ROI calculator. Plug in your current role salary and see the exact savings projection over 12, 24, and 36 months. The numbers speak for themselves.