Top 7 Countries for Offshore AI Engineers

Looking to hire skilled AI engineers at lower costs? Here's a quick look at the top 7 countries offering offshore AI talent, their strengths, and cost advantages:

• India: Largest AI talent pool (500,000+), $25–$75/hour, strong English skills, overlaps with U.S. mornings.
• Poland: EU-compliant, $40–$70/hour, excellent education, 6–8 hour overlap with U.S. EST.
• Romania: Affordable ($30–$60/hour), 30,000+ engineers, 7-hour U.S. EST overlap.
• Vietnam: $20–$50/hour, growing AI sector, 4–6 hour overlap with U.S. PST.
• Brazil: $30–$60/hour, 25,000+ engineers, same-day collaboration with U.S. EST.
• Ukraine: $30–$55/hour, strong math expertise, 3–5 hour overlap with U.S. EST.
• Philippines: $25–$50/hour, excellent English, 12–13 hour U.S. EST difference for end-of-day updates.

Quick Comparison Table

Country	AI Talent Pool	Hourly Rate (USD)	English Proficiency	Time Zone Overlap with U.S.
India	500,000+	$25–$75	High	EST: Morning, PST: Early Hours
Poland	25,000+	$40–$70	High	EST: 6–8 hrs
Romania	30,000+	$30–$60	High	EST: 7 hrs
Vietnam	20,000+	$20–$50	Moderate-High	PST: 4–6 hrs
Brazil	25,000+	$30–$60	Moderate-High	EST: 3–5 hrs
Ukraine	18,000+	$30–$55	High	EST: 3–5 hrs
Philippines	15,000+	$25–$50	High	EST: 12 hrs, PST: 15 hrs

Save time and money by hiring offshore AI engineers through platforms like Get Software Developer, which connects you with pre-vetted talent for just $200/month.

Top 5 BEST Countries For Machine Learning Engineers

1. India

India offers U.S. companies access to a vast pool of AI talent at competitive rates, typically ranging from $25 to $75 per hour. With more than 500,000 AI/ML professionals and 2.8 million developers in total, finding skilled specialists takes just days.

The country’s tech ecosystem is built on solid foundations: widespread English proficiency, top-tier tech institutes producing over 100,000 engineering graduates each year, and government initiatives like "Digital India." Cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mumbai are home to innovation centers for major global tech companies.

India’s time zone also works in its favor, allowing real-time collaboration. The workday in India overlaps with U.S. East Coast mornings and West Coast early hours, making it easier to integrate projects. Additionally, familiarity with Western business practices ensures smoother communication and operations.

Next, we’ll look at Poland, where a strong focus on AI research aligns with strict EU data protection standards.

2. Poland

Poland stands out for its strong technical education system and focus on skill development, producing a steady stream of AI professionals well-versed in EU data protection standards. These graduates bring advanced programming and statistical expertise, making them well-equipped to handle machine learning tasks. With many professionals fluent in English and hourly rates averaging between $40 and $70, Poland provides a budget-friendly and dependable option for offshore AI services.

Up next, Romania offers a mix of affordable rates, a thriving startup scene, and adherence to EU data security standards, making it a magnet for global AI projects.

3. Romania

Romania is home to more than 30,000 AI and machine learning specialists, with its tech workforce growing by 35,000 engineering graduates each year. Professionals here charge between $30 and $60 per hour, allowing U.S. companies to save 30-40% compared to domestic hires. Through platforms like Get Software Developer's pre-vetted roster, businesses can quickly access this skilled talent pool.

With key tech hubs in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, Romania offers a thriving startup ecosystem, EU-compliant data security (thanks to GDPR), and strong English language skills. The overlapping work hours with the U.S. Eastern time zone make collaboration smooth and efficient. Up next, we’ll look at Vietnam’s fast-growing AI engineering sector.

4. Vietnam

Vietnam boasts an AI and machine learning workforce of over 20,000 professionals, with hourly rates ranging from $20 to $50. Key tech hubs like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are at the center of this growing industry. U.S. companies can connect with pre-vetted Vietnamese AI engineers through Get Software Developer, often within just a few days. Many of these professionals come from leading institutions such as FPT University and Vietnam National University.

In addition to competitive rates, Vietnam's AI sector is thriving thanks to its National AI Strategy, introduced in 2021. This initiative supports growth by funding research and fostering international collaborations. Vietnamese engineers are known for their strong English skills and overlapping work hours with the U.S. West Coast, making real-time collaboration seamless. The country also produces 45,000 IT graduates each year, ensuring a steady supply of skilled technical talent.

Up next: a look at Brazil's growing AI talent pool.

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5. Brazil

Brazil’s AI scene thrives in hubs like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, fueled by graduates from top institutions like the University of São Paulo and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Federal funding also supports the country’s growing AI initiatives. With over 25,000 engineers, Brazil offers competitive rates of $30–$60 per hour, which is 35–45% lower than U.S. averages. The time zone overlap of 3–5 PM EST enables real-time collaboration. Platforms like Get Software Developer make it easy for U.S. companies to tap into this skilled talent pool. Next up: Ukraine’s affordable, specialized AI engineering workforce.

6. Ukraine

Ukraine is home to more than 18,000 AI/ML engineers, with hourly rates ranging from $30 to $55. This talent pool is backed by the country’s strong math and engineering programs at Kyiv Polytechnic and Lviv Polytechnic [1]. Ukrainian professionals often have high English proficiency and a 3–5 hour time overlap with U.S. Eastern Time, making real-time collaboration easier. Combined with competitive rates and expertise in areas like computer vision and NLP, Ukraine stands out as a top choice for offshore AI development.

Next, we’ll look at the growing AI talent pool in the Philippines.

7. Philippines

The Philippines is becoming a key destination for AI talent, thanks to its strong English proficiency and solid academic foundation.

With over 15,000 AI and machine learning engineers charging $25–$50 per hour, hiring from the Philippines can save U.S. companies 25–40% compared to domestic rates. Major tech hubs like Manila and Cebu attract graduates from top schools such as the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila. The country's 2020 national AI roadmap supports research and fosters partnerships between public and private sectors. Plus, the 12–13-hour time difference makes it easy for U.S. East Coast teams to get updates at the end of their workday, while West Coast teams can kick off projects with fresh input.

Platforms like Get Software Developer help U.S. businesses quickly access vetted Filipino AI talent, streamlining team expansion and reducing costs.

Country Comparison Data

Here's a quick look at the core strengths of various markets:

Country	AI Talent Pool	Hourly Rate (USD)	English Proficiency	Time Zone Overlap with U.S.
India	500,000+	$25-75	High	EST: Morning, PST: Early Hours
Poland	25,000+	$40-70	High	EST: 6-8 hrs
Romania	30,000+	$30-60	High	EST: 7 hrs
Vietnam	20,000+	$20-50	Moderate-High	PST: 4-6 hrs
Brazil	25,000+	$30-60	Moderate-High	EST: 3-5 hrs
Ukraine	18,000+	$30-55	High	EST: 3-5 hrs
Philippines	15,000+	$25-50	High	EST: 12 hrs, PST: 15 hrs

Summary

Offshore markets like India, Poland, Romania, Vietnam, Brazil, Ukraine, and the Philippines offer access to skilled AI professionals at competitive rates, making them a smart choice for businesses looking to build or expand their teams.

Here are some key benefits:

• Affordable Expertise: Reduce staffing costs without sacrificing quality.
• Skilled Professionals: Access pre-screened AI specialists with proven track records.
• Flexible Team Sizes: Scale teams up or down quickly to meet changing project demands.

With Get Software Developer's $200/month subscription, you gain access to a curated database of pre-screened AI engineers, advanced search tools, direct communication with candidates, and the ability to scale your team as needed - making offshore hiring faster and more efficient.