Hire remote staff in Colombia
Bogotá is on UTC−5 all year: the same clock as US Eastern in the US winter and an hour behind it in summer, so US teams share almost the whole workday. Here's what Colombian remote staff cost and how paying them works.
Browsing and the AI shortlist are free.
What remote staff in Colombia charge
- Freelance VA rate on Upwork, Colombia
- $9–15/hr
What virtual assistants in Colombia list on Upwork. Upwork (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- US employee wage, median
- $23.23/hr
Secretaries and administrative assistants, $48,310 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in a new tab), May 2025 data
Colombia time zone and working hours
Bogotá is on Colombia Time (COT), UTC−5, all year: it never changes its clocks, so only your side moves.
Your US Eastern 9-to-5, in Bogotá
- Your standard time (EST)
- 9 am to 5 pm
- Your summer time (EDT)
- 8 am to 4 pm
- Shared hours
- 8 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 7 hours
Your US Pacific 9-to-5, in Bogotá
- Your standard time (PST)
- noon to 8 pm
- Your summer time (PDT)
- 11 am to 7 pm
- Shared hours
- 5 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 6 hours
Your London 9-to-5, in Bogotá
- Your standard time (GMT)
- 4 am to noon
- Your summer time (BST)
- 3 am to 11 am
- Shared hours
- 3 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 2 hours
Your Sydney 9-to-5, in Bogotá
- Your standard time (AEST)
- 6 pm to 2 am
- Your summer time (AEDT)
- 5 pm to 1 am
- Shared hours
- 0 hours
| Your 9-to-5 | In Bogotá, your standard time | In Bogotá, your summer time | Shared hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | 9 am to 5 pmEST | 8 am to 4 pmEDT | 8 hours7 hours in summer |
| US Pacific | noon to 8 pmPST | 11 am to 7 pmPDT | 5 hours6 hours in summer |
| London | 4 am to noonGMT | 3 am to 11 amBST | 3 hours2 hours in summer |
| Sydney | 6 pm to 2 amAEST | 5 pm to 1 amAEDT | 0 hours |
The other way round: a 9-to-5 in Bogotá, in January
- US Eastern (EST)
- 9 am to 5 pm
- US Pacific (PST)
- 6 am to 2 pm
- London (GMT)
- 2 pm to 10 pm
- Sydney (AEDT)
- 1 am to 9 am
Shared hours are the part of both 9-to-5s that overlaps. Every profile shows which business hours the person covers. IANA time zone database (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
English in Colombia
EF's English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks Colombia 76th of 123 countries, with a score of 480, in its “low” band. It's based on people who chose to take EF's test, so treat it as a rough guide.
EF English Proficiency Index (opens in a new tab), 2025 edition
On StaffPick you don't rely on a national average: everyone takes the same English test, and their CEFR band and score sit on their profile. What the CEFR bands mean at work.
Paying someone in Colombia
- Wise
Wise sends Colombian pesos only to individual Bancolombia customers who have turned on Abono Automático, up to $2,900 a transfer. For anyone else, agree another method with them.
Wise (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- Hire Direct, $79 a month
- Request intros, then pay the person directly, in the way you both agree.
- Done For You, their pay plus $399 a month
- StaffPick pays them for you and replaces them free if it doesn't work out.
Holidays and the law
- Public holidays
Under Law 51 of 1983, the Ley Emiliani, 10 of Colombia's 18 public holidays move to the following Monday, so expect several long weekends a year.
Agree up front which days they take off, and what happens if you need them on one.
- Contractor or employee
Colombia's main employment law is the Código Sustantivo del Trabajo.
Código Sustantivo del Trabajo (opens in a new tab), Colombian Senate, current text
Whether someone counts as an employee usually depends on how the work really happens (who sets the hours, who directs the work, how they're paid), not on what the contract calls them. If you hire a contractor, keep it a contractor relationship, or use an employer of record. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Roles you can hire
Each guide covers what the role does, cited rates and how we test the people you'll meet.
Tested Colombian staff on StaffPick
Live profiles. Each person passed the English, typing and role tests, and we reviewed the profile before it went live.
Questions about hiring in Colombia
Still unsure? Contact us. A person reads every message.
Keep reading
- Hiring in MexicoCentral Standard Time (Tiempo del Centro), rates, English and how paying works.
- Hiring in the PhilippinesPhilippine Standard Time (PHT), rates, English and how paying works.
- Hiring in KenyaEast Africa Time (EAT), rates, English and how paying works.
- Virtual assistant cost calculatorMonthly cost by role, country, hours and how you hire, from published rates.