So you’ve decided to move to Mexico, but you’d prefer to keep working for a US-based company. Can you do that? The answer might surprise you, but it shouldn’t. Wherever there’s a lower cost of living, the cost of wages for workers is less expensive for corporations. As a result, many jobs are available in Mexico that come from companies that are based here. The US isn’t the only first-world country that has figured out how to increase their bottom line by moving locations to Mexico. The incredible, hard-working spirit of the Mexican people makes it a fantastic place to do business. As an American, you can take advantage of the laid back lifestyle and superb housing and living prices while still working for your favorite US companies. I’ll show you several US businesses in Mexico and explain how to find opportunities there for work.
Can I work for a US company and live in Mexico? You can work for a US company in Mexico. From Coca Cola and Nestle to the tech industry, many businesses find it highly profitable to move south of the border. Because wages are less (and the cost of living is so low as a result), it’s easier for a US company to afford to pay workers well in Mexico. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to work with familiar US brand names while living in Mexico.
Why do US Companies do Business in Mexico
When you’re considering moving to Mexico, but you want to work for a US company, you may find yourself asking why industry giants and small businesses alike are doing business down south. Surely import duties and other fees would cost companies fortunes, wouldn’t they? Surprisingly, the answer is no.
According to the LA Times, “Since the North American Free Trade Agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada went into effect in 1994, trade with Mexico has grown dramatically
. And during that period, a small US trade surplus with Mexico of about $1.7 billion in 1993 has ballooned into a large deficit — $61 billion last year.”
Mexico used to require all businesses to be partially owned by a Mexican citizen. However, that is no longer the case. Foreign investors can wholly own companies and small businesses in Mexico now. Moreover, the tax and duty policies are incredibly generous.
Not only does it benefit Mexico, allowing it to expand its economic base, but it helps those investors as well. Labor and materials costs are often less in Mexico than anywhere else nearby. As things have changed in the last few years, all those ‘Made in China’ products that used to be cost-effective are changing. Thus, there has been a considerable shift toward doing business in Mexico.
Stable national wages, an abundance of both skilled and unskilled labor, and those lower taxes and material costs all add up. Companies want to do business nearby. Shipping in products is much faster when they are only a few hundred miles away.
Small Businesses Benefit As Well
It’s not just industry giants who are looking south for greener financial pastures. Mexico is a superb place to open a small business as well. When you are a US citizen, you have to pay taxes on your income, no matter where you get it. Although there are some tax breaks you might qualify for, there’s no getting around it.
Doing business in some countries means paying twice for taxes. However, Mexico has capitalized on the issue by offering foreign business owners much more manageable terms. Just like a large corporation, small business owners get tax breaks for the first decade. The process is relatively simple.
The first year a foreign-owned business does trade in Mexico, the tax rate is zero percent of regular taxes due. The second your it’s a mere ten percent of the expected tax tab. This goes on at incremental ten percent tax raises until a decade later, the business finally pays full taxes for the first time.
Major US Companies With Locations in Mexico
Of all the US businesses that have moved to Mexico, arguably the most successful and recognizable is Ford. If you happen to work for an auto manufacturer or want to move to that profitable industry, you may want to start with this American classic. With corporate headquarters in Mexico City, engine plants in Chihuahua, stamping plants in Cuautitlan and Hermosillo and plans to move all small automobile manufacturing south over the next three years, it’s a great way to make a move.
If you’re looking in the Mexico City area, there are very few major US companies you won’t find. Taco Bell failed miserably, but most other companies have done well. You’ll find Delta, AT&T, Pfizer, Home Depot, and many others.
As odd as it may seem, Walmart and Costco both have a considerable presence in Mexico with dozens or hundreds of locations in large cities all over the country. If you happen to work for either of these giants, you might even be allowed to transfer if you plan to move. Naturally, that’s between you and the company, but you can bet you’ll find ex-pat Americans working for these well-known chains.
Sherwin Williams Paints has a presence in Mexico City, and Coca-Cola is as ubiquitous as it gets. While you won’t find many Pepesico soft drinks, you will see Sabritas snack foods (a subsidiary of Pepsi) taking over a massive portion of the snack food market.
For the tech-savvy, you’ll find Mexico City among the new-meccas for the industry. From Apple and Cisco to Intel, Microsoft, Google, and many more, there are physical store locations. Additionally, some computer and IT work is available as remote employment, so your zip code won’t matter as much.
Almost every major corporation in the US has locations in Mexico City and other large cities around Mexico. Guadalajara, for example, has a vast population, and you’ll find numerous familiar companies there. Moreover, any city with more than about five-hundred thousand people is bound to have US companies from tech to manufacturing and food to home and DIY supply shops.
To put that in perspective, there are roughly one-hundred and forty-four cities in Mexico with populations of a hundred thousand or more. Meanwhile, there are another eight-hundred and twenty growing cities with ten to a hundred thousand people in them, and none of these places are getting smaller. You can bet that almost every one of these has a Walmart, Costco, or at least an AT&T somewhere.
How to Find Jobs with US Companies in Mexico
If your Spanish and work ethic are both outstanding, and you possess highly marketable skills, you can probably go ahead and move to Mexico and get the job when you arrive. For everyone else, it’s still important to speak Spanish and work hard, but there are more ways to job hunt so you can move. Notably, having an offer for work is one way to get a temporary resident card with permission to work in Mexico.
Let’s look at some of the easy ways to find jobs with US companies in Mexico. The good news is that plenty of them are hiring. First and foremost, you can always obtain remote work. You will need a good computer and steady internet access for this. Additionally, it would help if you have a high typing speed and some knowledge of the field in which you intend to apply.
Next, you will find many opportunities in and around Mexico City because of the sheer size and international metropolitan feel of the area. When searching for jobs online by typing in your requirements, add “Mexico City,” and you’ll find many opportunities. You can use the same trick for other large cities if you prefer to live elsewhere.
Another exceptional way to obtain work with US companies in Mexico is through Glassdoor or other international online job sites. Glassdoor, in particular, often has postings for English speaking jobs in Mexico City and other large communities. You can also try a more direct approach.
By going to various US company websites, you will often find their job postings. If you have one in mind, you can even send the HR department an inquiry about postings in Mexico. Ensure you have your resume ready to go for when they respond as they will likely need to see your qualifying skills.
Getting a ‘sponsor’ through a large US company will help you with the visa/work permit process and streamline the entire moving experience. However, if you are already in Mexico, your chances of getting the job are even higher since the business doesn’t need to wait for you to arrive.
However you choose to go about obtaining work with a US company in Mexico, it’s a great way to move to a foreign country. Plus, you’ll be near the US so you can visit friends and family back home more often.
Final Thoughts
Choosing to live and work in Mexico is a great way to save on your cost of living, and you can easily work for a US company. Similarly, many large corporations worldwide are moving their operations to this booming and dynamic nation. Tax cuts for the businesses mean it’s easy to provide more work for the people.
If you have in-demand skills, it’s twice as easy to move down south. Moreover, if you have a remote job, it’s also simple to work from home or a cafe while living in Mexico. There’s no reason you need to stay bound to a US location to work for a company based here.
Mexico is a great place to work for many US companies. If you already work for a business that has a branch in Mexico, you may even be able to look into transferring to a job where you want to live.