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Hire remote staff in Mexico

Mexico City is on UTC−6 all year: US Central time in the US winter and an hour behind it in summer, so a US workday is a Mexican workday. Here's what Mexican remote staff cost and how paying them works.

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What remote staff in Mexico charge

Freelance VA rate on Upwork, Mexico
$10–16/hr

What virtual assistants in Mexico 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

Mexico time zone and working hours

Mexico City is on Central Standard Time (Tiempo del Centro), UTC−6, all year: it never changes its clocks, so only your side moves. Mexico spans several time zones; the tables use Mexico City's.

  • Your US Eastern 9-to-5, in Mexico City

    Your standard time (EST)
    8 am to 4 pm
    Your summer time (EDT)
    7 am to 3 pm
    Shared hours
    7 hours
    Shared hours, your summer
    6 hours

  • Your US Pacific 9-to-5, in Mexico City

    Your standard time (PST)
    11 am to 7 pm
    Your summer time (PDT)
    10 am to 6 pm
    Shared hours
    6 hours
    Shared hours, your summer
    7 hours

  • Your London 9-to-5, in Mexico City

    Your standard time (GMT)
    3 am to 11 am
    Your summer time (BST)
    2 am to 10 am
    Shared hours
    2 hours
    Shared hours, your summer
    1 hour

  • Your Sydney 9-to-5, in Mexico City

    Your standard time (AEST)
    5 pm to 1 am
    Your summer time (AEDT)
    4 pm to midnight
    Shared hours
    0 hours
    Shared hours, your summer
    1 hour

The other way round: a 9-to-5 in Mexico City, in January

US Eastern (EST)
10 am to 6 pm
US Pacific (PST)
7 am to 3 pm
London (GMT)
3 pm to 11 pm
Sydney (AEDT)
2 am to 10 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 Mexico

EF's English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks Mexico 103rd of 123 countries, with a score of 440, in its “very 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 Mexico

Wise

Wise sends pesos to most Mexican bank accounts using the 18-digit CLABE, but not to BanCoppel or Banco Azteca.

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

The Federal Labour Law (article 74) sets the paid rest days: 1 January, the first Monday of February, the third Monday of March, 1 May, 16 September, the third Monday of November, 25 December, 1 October every six years when a new president takes office, and election days.

Agree up front which days they take off, and what happens if you need them on one.

Contractor or employee

Mexico's main employment law is the Ley Federal del Trabajo.

Ley Federal del Trabajo (opens in a new tab), Chamber of Deputies, 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 Mexican 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 Mexico

Still unsure? Contact us. A person reads every message.

Freelance VA rate on Upwork, Mexico: $10–16 an hour. What virtual assistants in Mexico list on Upwork. Rates vary by role and experience, so check each person's own rate on their profile. Source: Upwork, checked Oct 2026.

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Hire Direct is $79 a month when you want intros.