Media buying is one of the highest-leverage roles in an advertising agency — and one of the most expensive to staff domestically. Here’s what advertising agency owners are paying for media buyers in Latin America in 2026, and how it stacks up against US hiring costs.
What a US-Based Media Buyer Costs an Ad Agency
A mid-level media buyer in the US — handling programmatic, paid social, or traditional media placements — typically costs:
- Base salary: $60,000–$85,000/year
- Benefits (health, 401k, PTO): $15,000–$20,000/year
- Payroll taxes: ~$5,000–$7,000/year
- Recruiting: $8,000–$15,000 one-time
- Total first-year cost: $88,000–$127,000+
For a growing advertising agency, that’s a significant commitment — especially when client revenue doesn’t always grow in a straight line.
What a Media Buyer in Latin America Costs
Through LatamForce, a full-time, dedicated media buyer working US hours:
| Experience Level | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (1–2 yrs) | $1,190–$1,400 | ~$15,000 |
| Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | $1,600–$2,200 | ~$21,000 |
| Senior (6+ yrs) | $2,400–$3,000 | ~$31,000 |
No benefits overhead. No payroll taxes. No recruiting fee. Free replacement within 90 days if the fit isn’t right.
The average advertising agency saves $55,000–$80,000 per year per media buyer compared to equivalent US hires.
What LATAM Media Buyers Are Proficient In
The media buyers we place are trained across:
- Programmatic platforms — DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP
- Paid social — Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, LinkedIn Campaigns
- Search — Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising
- Traditional media coordination — TV, radio, OOH planning support
- Reporting tools — Google Data Studio, Looker, custom dashboards
They hold platform certifications, communicate in English, and work directly inside your agency’s tools and workflows.
The Time Zone Advantage
One concern agency owners have about remote hires is responsiveness. LATAM talent operates on US time zones — EST, CST, or PST depending on country — which means your media buyer is available during client calls, campaign launches, and urgent optimizations.
No overnight handoffs. No delayed responses. Same-day communication.
Who This Works Best For
LATAM media buyers are a strong fit for advertising agencies that:
- Manage $200K–$5M+ in monthly media spend across clients
- Need a dedicated buyer (not shared resources from a network buy)
- Want to protect margin while growing their media practice
- Are open to a fully remote working model
Book a call with our team to discuss what media buying profiles are available for your agency right now.