Argentina has a deep pool of software, design and finance talent, strong English skills in Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and time zones that overlap with North America and Europe. It is a popular nearshore market for US and European companies.
Employer costs are relatively high: social security contributions of around 18–20%, a 6% health contribution (obra social) and workers' compensation insurance (ART), all also due on the aguinaldo, a mandatory 13th salary. Many roles are covered by sector collective agreements that set minimum pay and conditions.
Inflation and frequent changes to labour and currency rules make Argentina a market where an Employer of Record (EOR) is especially useful: the provider runs compliant peso payroll and keeps up with changes. Figures link to official sources. We do not test or use the providers listed; see our methodology.
An Employer of Record is a company with an Argentine entity that employs staff on behalf of foreign businesses. It issues the employment contract, registers the employee with ARCA (the tax and customs agency, formerly AFIP), pays social security and health contributions, arranges workers' compensation insurance (ART), pays the aguinaldo and handles termination under the Ley de Contrato de Trabajo.
You direct the employee's work; the EOR carries the formal employer obligations and invoices you monthly.
Salaries are paid in pesos. With high inflation, salaries are usually reviewed several times a year, and collective agreements set regular increases. Agree with the provider how pay reviews and currency conversion will work.
Argentine employment cost has three layers: gross salary (12 monthly payments plus the aguinaldo), employer contributions (social security, health and ART) and the EOR fee.
The main employer contribution rate depends on the employer's size and sector. Choose it in the estimator; an EOR is typically a larger services company.
Annual cost at example salaries
| Annual cost | Junior / support | Mid-level professional | Senior professional | Lead / manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary (annual) | ARS 14,400,000 | ARS 30,000,000 | ARS 48,000,000 | ARS 72,000,000 |
| Paid as 12 payments of | ARS 1,200,000 | ARS 2,500,000 | ARS 4,000,000 | ARS 6,000,000 |
| Aguinaldo (13th salary)[1]8.333% of gross | ARS 1,200,000 | ARS 2,500,000 | ARS 4,000,000 | ARS 6,000,000 |
| Employer social security contributions (20.4%)[3]Verify20.4% of gross incl. extra pay (×1.0833333333333333) | ARS 3,182,400 | ARS 6,630,000 | ARS 10,608,000 | ARS 15,912,000 |
| Health contribution (obra social)[3]Verify6% of gross incl. extra pay (×1.0833333333333333) | ARS 936,000 | ARS 1,950,000 | ARS 3,120,000 | ARS 4,680,000 |
| Workers' compensation insurance (ART)[4]Verify2% of gross incl. extra pay (×1.0833333333333333) | ARS 312,000 | ARS 650,000 | ARS 1,040,000 | ARS 1,560,000 |
| Total employment cost | ARS 20,030,400 | ARS 41,730,000 | ARS 66,768,000 | ARS 100,152,000 |
| EOR feeVerifyARS 840,000 / month | ARS 10,080,000 | ARS 10,080,000 | ARS 10,080,000 | ARS 10,080,000 |
| Total annual cost via EOR | ARS 30,110,400 | ARS 51,810,000 | ARS 76,848,000 | ARS 110,232,000 |
| Multiple of gross salary | 2.09× | 1.73× | 1.60× | 1.53× |
What these figures include and exclude
- Example salaries are illustrative, in pesos at an assumed point in time; with high inflation, use current figures.
- Employee contributions (about 17% for pensions, PAMI and health) and income tax are deducted from the employee's pay and are not employer costs.
- Paid vacation includes a small premium, because vacation days are paid at the monthly salary divided by 25 rather than 30.
- Termination costs can be significant: notice or pay in lieu, the rest of the month of dismissal, and severance of a month's pay per year of service.
Estimate your own cost
Enter a salary to see the estimated annual cost, including mandatory employer contributions and an EOR fee. Change the fee to match the quotes you receive.
Argentina employment cost estimator
Estimated total annual cost
ARS 51,810,000
≈ ARS 4,317,500 per month on average · 1.73× gross salary
- Gross salary
- ARS 30,000,000
- Aguinaldo (13th salary)8.333%
- ARS 2,500,000
- Employer social security contributions (20.4%)20.4%
- ARS 6,630,000
- Health contribution (obra social)6%
- ARS 1,950,000
- Workers' compensation insurance (ART)2%
- ARS 650,000
- Employer costs subtotal
- ARS 11,730,000 (39.1%)
- EOR fee (12 months)
- ARS 10,080,000
- Total
- ARS 51,810,000
First year
- First-year cost
- ARS 51,810,000
- Refundable deposit1 mo
- ARS 3,477,500
- Cash needed in year one
- ARS 55,287,500
Estimate only. Percentage costs are applied to total annual gross pay, up to any contribution ceiling. Real payroll uses specific bases, and collective agreements may add costs. Employee social security and income tax are deducted from gross pay and are not employer costs.
Compliance
Key Argentina employment rules
Employment is governed by the Ley de Contrato de Trabajo (Law 20.744), as amended by Law 27.742 (2024) and Law 27.802 (March 2026), and by sector collective agreements. Key rules below.
- Working hours
Up to 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. Many collective agreements set shorter hours.[1]Verify
- Overtime
Overtime is paid with a 50% premium on ordinary days and 100% on Saturdays after 1 pm, Sundays and public holidays. Since the 2026 reform, employer and employee can agree in writing to an hours bank or compensatory time off, respecting minimum rest periods.[1]
- Paid vacation
14 calendar days with up to 5 years' service, 21 days from 5 to 10 years, 28 days from 10 to 20 years and 35 days after 20 years (service counted at 31 December). Leave is granted between 1 October and 30 April unless agreed otherwise, with 30 days' written notice, and can be split into periods of at least 7 days by agreement. Vacation days are paid at the monthly salary divided by 25.[1]
- Aguinaldo
A 13th salary equal to one-twelfth of the year's remuneration, paid in two instalments, by 30 June and 18 December, each equal to 50% of the highest monthly salary in that half-year.[1]
- Trial period
The first six months of an indefinite contract are a trial period; collective agreements can extend it to 8 months (employers with 6 to 100 workers) or 1 year (up to 5 workers). Either side can end the contract during it without cause, without severance and, since the 2026 reform, without notice. An employer can't use a trial period with the same worker twice.[1]
- Notice of termination
Unless a longer period is agreed: 15 days from the employee; from the employer, 1 month with up to 5 years' service and 2 months with more, or pay in lieu. No notice is required during the trial period. If the employer dismisses without notice other than at month end, it also pays salary for the rest of that month.[1]
- Severance (dismissal without cause)
After the trial period, one month's salary for each year of service or fraction over three months, with a minimum of one month. The base is the best normal, regular monthly pay in the last year, excluding non-monthly items such as the aguinaldo and vacation pay, capped at three times the average salary of the applicable collective agreement (but never below 67% of the employee's own pay). Since the 2026 reform, collective agreements can replace it with a severance fund, and it is the only compensation for dismissal without cause; dismissals found discriminatory owe an extra 50–100%.[1]
- Collective agreements
Sector collective agreements (convenios colectivos) set minimum salaries, regular increases and conditions for covered roles, and apply regardless of the individual contract.[1]Verify
Providers
EOR providers in Argentina compared
These EOR providers publish information about employing in Argentina. Prices are their own published starting rates in USD, from our pricing tracker. Quote-only providers are marked.
In Argentina, ask whether the provider uses its own Argentine entity, how it handles peso payroll, inflation adjustments and currency conversion, and which collective agreement will apply.
| Provider | Published EOR price | Delivery model in Argentina | Notes | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deel | From US$599per employee / monthVerify | Confirm with provider | Broad product suite, including immigration support. | Visit |
| Remote | From US$699per employee / monthVerify | Owned entities (provider's stated model) | Published price per employee per month. | Visit |
| Oyster | From US$699per employee / monthVerify | Confirm with provider | Published EOR price per employee per month. | Visit |
| Multiplier | From US$459per employee / monthVerify | Confirm with provider | Core plan, billed annually. | Visit |
| Playroll | From US$399per employee / monthVerify | Confirm with provider | Low published starting price. | Visit |
| RemoFirst | From US$199per employee / monthVerify | Confirm with provider | Lowest published starting price; ask what it includes in Argentina. | Visit |
| Rippling | Quote-basedVerify | Confirm with provider | Best fit when already using Rippling HR/payroll. | Visit |
- DeelFrom US$599Verify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Broad product suite, including immigration support.
- RemoteFrom US$699Verify
- Delivery model:
- Owned entities (provider's stated model)
- Notes
- Published price per employee per month.
- OysterFrom US$699Verify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Published EOR price per employee per month.
- MultiplierFrom US$459Verify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Core plan, billed annually.
- PlayrollFrom US$399Verify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Low published starting price.
- RemoFirstFrom US$199Verify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Lowest published starting price; ask what it includes in Argentina.
- RipplingQuote-basedVerify
- Delivery model:
- Confirm with provider
- Notes
- Best fit when already using Rippling HR/payroll.
For each provider's products, pricing model and fit signals, see the EOR provider directory.
The usual alternative is a limited liability company (SRL) or corporation (SA), registered with the Public Registry (the IGJ in the City of Buenos Aires) and with ARCA for a tax ID (CUIT). Foreign shareholders must also be registered.
Ongoing costs include accounting, monthly tax and payroll filings, annual financial statements and corporate compliance. Corporate income tax is charged at progressive rates of 25% to 35%.
| Factor | Employer of Record | Argentine SRL or SA |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first hire | Typically one to two weeks | Months: incorporation, registrations, bank account and payroll set-up |
| Upfront cost | Refundable deposit | Incorporation, legal and advisory fees |
| Ongoing fixed cost | None; scales per employee | Accounting, tax filings, corporate compliance |
| Legal employer | The EOR | Your SRL or SA |
| Inflation and currency | Provider manages peso payroll and adjustments | Your company manages them |
| Can invoice local customers | No | Yes |
| Exit | Terminate employment; end service agreement | Terminations plus liquidating the company |
An EOR usually fits when…
- You're hiring one to a few people in Argentina
- You want someone to start quickly while you test the market
- You'd rather not manage peso payroll, inflation adjustments and frequent rule changes
A Argentine SRL or SA usually fits when…
- You plan a team of ten or more
- You'll sell to Argentine customers and need to invoice locally
- You want a long-term nearshore hub and can manage local compliance
For a step-by-step version of this calculation, see EOR vs local entity: a break-even framework.
- 1
Define the role and salaryDay 0
Agree a monthly gross salary in pesos, how often it will be reviewed for inflation, and check whether a collective agreement applies.
- 2
Check work authorisationDay 0–2
Argentine citizens and residents can start straight away. Foreign nationals need a residence permit that allows work.
- 3
Compare itemised quotes1–3 days
Request Argentine quotes covering the fee, deposit, contributions, ART, aguinaldo, currency conversion and offboarding. Use the estimator to sanity-check totals.
- 4
Sign the service agreement
Review liability for notice and severance, IP assignment, data protection and how inflation adjustments are invoiced.
- 5
Employment contract and registrationDays
The EOR issues a Spanish-language contract and registers the employee with ARCA before the start date.
- 6
Ongoing administrationMonthly
Monthly payroll and social security filings, the aguinaldo in June and December, and inflation-linked salary reviews.
How much does it cost to employ someone in Argentina through an EOR?
What is the aguinaldo?
How much severance is paid in Argentina?
Can I pay an Argentine employee in US dollars?
When should I set up an Argentine company instead?
Sources
Official resources
Rates and rules on this page are based on the following official sources. Numbers in brackets in the tables above link to these entries.
- 1Ley de Contrato de Trabajo (Law 20.744)
Argentina.gob.ar (InfoLEG)
Consolidated text including Law 27.802 (6 March 2026): trial period (art. 92 bis), aguinaldo (arts. 121–122), vacation (arts. 150–155), overtime (arts. 197 bis, 201), notice (arts. 231–233) and severance (art. 245).
- 2
- 3ARCA (Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero)
ARCA (formerly AFIP)
Employer social security and health contributions.
- 4
- 5
Argentina combines strong talent with relatively high employer costs: contributions of roughly a quarter of salary, also charged on the aguinaldo. Through an EOR, plan for roughly 1.4–1.5× the annual base salary in total, before benefits.
The Argentina-specific issues are inflation and currency, sector collective agreements, frequent legal reforms, and termination costs. An EOR is often the pragmatic choice for longer than in other markets.
Compare an EOR against your own company with our EOR vs local entity guide. For the region, see Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Ready to compare providers?
Review published pricing and fit signals side by side, then request itemised Argentina quotes from two or three providers.