Where your callers work affects how much you pay and when they can call US customers. US-based callers work in the United States and usually cost the most. Nearshore callers work in nearby countries, such as Mexico and Colombia. They usually cost less. And offshore callers work in countries farther away, such as India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. They usually cost the least.
But outsourcing cold callers at the lowest price is not always the best decision. You need callers who can understand your service and book meetings.
For different countries, the pay rate and working hours are different. Callers in Mexico and Colombia can usually work during the US daytime. Callers in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines often need to work at night to call US customers during the day.
Calling interested customers quickly also matters. A study by James Oldroyd and Dave Elkington found that calling an interested person within five minutes improves the chance of reaching them. In this guide, we’ll explain the costs, working hours and everything about these three options and which one is the best for you.
US-Based vs. Nearshore vs. Offshore Cold Callers at a Glance
US-based callers work in the United States, nearshore callers work in nearby countries, mainly in Latin America and offshore callers usually work in Asia.
Here are some comparisons between these three types of callers:
| Model | Typical locations | Hours inside a local 9-to-5 | Hourly cost | Best for |
| US-based | United States | 8 | Highest | Calls that need natural conversations |
| Nearshore | Mexico, Colombia | 6-8 | Middle | Spanish calls and quick follow-ups |
| Offshore | Philippines, India, Bangladesh | 0 | Lowest | Making large numbers of scripted calls |
Note: Offshore callers usually need to work night shifts in their own countries to call US customers during US business hours.
How Much Does Each Option Cost Per Hour?
Offshore callers usually cost the least, nearshore callers cost more than offshore callers and US-based callers cost the most. In the US, the median US telemarketer wage is $17.04 per hour, based on 2025 data. Meanwhile, callers in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines earn less. But the actual pay will always depend on their skills and the company they work for.
What a US-Based Caller Costs
The $17.04 per hour is only the caller’s wage. It does not include the agency’s other costs, like employee benefits, paid leave, supervisor costs, etc. So, a lower price may not save you money.
That’s why check how much you pay to get one meeting. A caller may make 100 calls but book only two meetings. Another caller may make 70 calls and book eight meetings. The second caller may give you better value, even if their hourly rate is higher.
So, check these four things during a trial:
- Cost per call
- Cost per qualified appointment
- Cost per held meeting
- Meeting quality
How Nearshore and Offshore Pay Floors Compare
Workers in Mexico and Colombia usually have higher minimum pay than workers in the Philippines. So, hiring callers from Mexico or Colombia can cost more than hiring callers from the Philippines.
The table compares the minimum daily pay in these three countries for 2026. The amounts are also converted into US dollars using exchange rates from October 27, 2026. So you can compare them more easily.
| Hub | Legal daily minimum | Approx. in US dollars |
| Manila, Philippines | ₱755 | $11.81 |
| Mexico City, Mexico | MXN 315.04 | $16.87 |
| Bogotá, Colombia | COP 58,363.50 | $18.48 |
Note: These figures show the lowest legal pay, not what every caller earns.
Can Offshore Callers Work US Business Hours?
Yes. Offshore callers can still make calls during US working hours. But their work time may be different from ours. For example, US businesses usually work from 9 AM to 5 PM. In the Philippines, the same time is 9 PM to 5 AM. So, callers in the Philippines usually work at night to contact US customers.
Overlap Hours by Calling Hub
This table shows the working hours callers need to follow to contact US businesses between 9 AM and 5 PM (Eastern Time).
| Hub | US summer time | US winter time | Hours within local 9-to-5 |
| Bogotá | 8 AM-4 PM | 9 AM-5 PM | 7-8 |
| Mexico City | 7 AM-3 PM | 8 AM-4 PM | 6-7 |
| Manila | 9 PM-5 AM | 10 PM-6 AM | 0 |
| Dhaka | 7 PM-3 AM | 8 PM-4 AM | 0 |
What Night Shifts Add to Offshore Pricing
Night shifts can increase the cost of hiring callers in the Philippines. Article 86 of the Philippine Labor Code says that some workers must receive 10% extra pay for every hour they work between 10 PM and 6 AM.
For instance, callers working US business hours, 7 working hours fall between 10 PM and 6 AM in the Philippines during US summer. And during the US winter, all 8 working hours fall within that period. This means the agency may have to pay callers more. As a result, your calling service may also cost more.
So, ask your agency, “Is extra night-shift pay included in the hourly price?” or “Will the same callers work on my campaign?”
Does Caller Location Change Whether Prospects Pick Up?
A caller’s location doesn’t directly change whether prospects pick up. When you call a US customer, they see your phone number on their screen before answering. They don’t know whether you are calling from the US or Bangladesh just by looking at the number.
So, the caller’s country does not automatically decide whether the customer will answer. The phone number shown on the customer’s screen matters first.
What Prospects See Before They Answer
Prospects may see your phone number, business name or spam warning on their screen. This depends on their phone service. And using a US number doesn’t mean more people will answer.
Since June 30, 2023, US phone companies have had to check certain calls coming from other countries to find fake phone numbers. A gateway provider is the first US phone company that receives a call from another country.
Since June 30, 2023, FCC rules require US phone companies to check some calls from other countries that show US numbers. These checks help find fake caller IDs.
So, ask your provider, “Does it use authorized US numbers?” and “How does it check caller IDs?”
The Truth in Caller ID Act also makes it illegal to use fake phone numbers to cheat or steal from people.
What Happens After a Prospect Answers?
Once someone answers the phone, the caller’s speaking skills matter. The caller should speak clearly, know the service and answer questions well.
A 2010 study found that some people trusted speakers less when they had strong foreign accents. However, later studies found mixed results. Also, this study did not examine sales calls. So, it does not prove that offshore callers book fewer meetings.
If your offshore team is not booking enough meetings, check the speakers’ phone numbers, calling times, contact lists, product knowledge and speaking skills.
US-based callers may find it easier to talk with American business owners and answer unexpected questions. But well-trained offshore callers have a better appointment-setting strategy. They handle first sales calls well.
Which Caller Location Fits Your Sales Motion
US-based callers are best for calls that need detailed discussions, nearshore callers are best for calling Spanish-speaking customers and offshore callers are best for making many simple calls.
| Call type | Best location | Why |
| Calls to company owners and senior managers | US-based | Better understanding of US business needs. |
| Calls to Spanish-speaking buyers | Nearshore | Access to Spanish-speaking callers. |
| Quick calls to interested prospects | Nearshore or US-based | Can call during US working hours. |
| Making many calls using a script | Offshore | Usually costs less. |
| Checking contact lists and confirming meetings | Offshore | These tasks are simple and repeatable. |
| Following US calling laws | Any | US laws can apply wherever callers work. |
US Calling Rules Apply to Offshore Teams Too
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) says that if callers in another country call people in the US, certain US calling laws still apply.
The rules depend on how you make calls. For live calls, automated calls and recorded messages, rules can be different.
It will be better if your calling agency checks Do Not Call lists and keeps permission records when needed. The FTC’s telemarketing rules also apply to some calls from other countries.
When US-Based Callers Win
US-based callers work well for sales calls that need more discussion. For example, you are selling software to an IT director. They may ask, “Is the software safe?” or “How much does it cost?” The caller needs to understand the product to answer these questions.
US-based callers can also work at the same time as your US sales team. This makes it easier to discuss interested customers during the workday.
The main disadvantage is the price. US-based callers usually cost more than callers in Mexico, Colombia, Bangladesh and the Philippines. To save money, use US-based callers for difficult sales calls and use lower-cost callers for simple calls.
When Nearshore Callers Win
Nearshore callers win when you need callers who speak Spanish or can quickly call interested customers back. They work in countries close to the US, such as Mexico and Colombia.
Let’s say a payroll company in Texas wants to call business owners who speak English and Spanish. A bilingual caller from Mexico can speak both languages. In that case, nearshore callers can contact interested customers quickly because their working hours are close to US working hours.
US-based callers usually cost the most. And nearshore callers usually cost less than US-based callers. Offshore callers usually cost less than nearshore callers.
When Offshore Callers Win
Offshore callers are a good choice when you want to make many calls without spending too much. They work best when the calls are simple and follow a prepared script.
Offshore callers can also make first calls, confirm meetings, check contact lists and follow up. But the problem is Bangladesh is several hours ahead of the US. So, callers may need to work at night to call US businesses during the day.
How to Check Where a Vendor’s Callers Actually Sit
To check where a vendor’s callers actually sit, ask the company these four questions:
- Which country do your callers work from?
- What hours do your callers work in US Eastern Time?
- Which phone number will prospects see?
- Who trains the callers and checks their work?
Then, write these details in your contract:
- Which country the callers work from.
- Their working hours.
- Which phone numbers they use.
- Who trains and manages them.
- When you receive reports and call recordings.
- Who can access your customer information.
- How the company protects your data.
- Who is responsible for following US calling laws.
The FTC recommends including data protection rules in contracts with service providers.
Lastly, test the vendor. Start with a small trial and give the company a small list of businesses to call. Then check their guaranteed appointments, total calls, answered calls, held meetings, cost per meeting and call quality.
Conclusion
Which cold caller is the best for you depends on your business needs and budget. If you need people who can handle difficult sales calls, choose US-based callers. But if you want callers in countries like Mexico and Colombia who can work during US daytime hours, choose nearshore callers. And if you want to make a large number of calls at a lower cost, choose offshore callers.
You can also use two teams together. For example, callers in Bangladesh can contact new businesses and find people interested in your service. US-based callers can then speak with those interested customers and answer their questions.
However, it’s better to start with a small trial before making a long-term decision. Listen to the calls and see whether the results are worth the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nearshore always more expensive than offshore?
Usually, nearshore is more expensive than offshore. Callers in Mexico and Colombia usually cost more than callers in Bangladesh and the Philippines. For example, in 2026, Mexico’s minimum daily wage is MXN 315.04 and Metro Manila’s minimum daily wage is ₱755. These figures show how much workers must be paid at least per day. So, do not choose a company just because it charges less per hour. First, check how much you pay for each meeting and how many people actually attend.
Does nearshore mean the callers are in the US?
No, nearshore doesn’t mean callers are in the US. It means callers work in countries close to the US, mainly Mexico and Colombia. Some companies also include Canada. These countries have similar working hours to the US. So, callers can work during the US daytime instead of working at night.
Do US calling laws apply to offshore cold callers?
Yes, some US calling laws apply to offshore cold callers when callers work in other countries but call people in the US. But in that case, calling companies may need to check lists of people who do not want sales calls and keep records of customer permission. However, the exact rules depend on the type of call.
Can I use offshore and US callers together?
Yes, you can use offshore and US callers together. Offshore callers can call new businesses and ask simple questions. US-based callers can answer difficult questions and speak with senior managers. Just give each team a separate list of businesses to call. Also, decide which team will call each interested customer again. Thus, both teams can hardly call the same person.
