Why Latinas in Tech Should Never Settle for Less Than $100K: The Case for Knowing and Commanding Your Worth
As a Latina salary negotiation strategist and coach for Latinas in tech, I want to start with a truth that too many companies, recruiters, and even our peers are uncomfortable saying out loud: If you're a Latina in tech, $100,000 is the bare minimum you should be making. Periodt.
This has nothing to do with being greedy or unrealistic. This is about understanding the value you bring, the power our community holds, and the cost of accepting less, to yourself, to our families, and to the generations that will come after us.
Latinas in Tech Are Still the Lowest Paid And That’s Not an Accident
Latinas make up less than 2% of the tech workforce in some companies, yet we are among the fastest-growing demographics in this country. We are innovators, builders, creators, leaders, and yet somehow, we are also the lowest paid, earning just 51 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.
Let’s call it what it is … it’s not just a pay gap; that’s theft.
Because here’s the thing: Tech companies profit off our labor, our insights, and our culture. They tap into our communities for consumer dollars. They use our stories in marketing campaigns to look "diverse" and "inclusive." But when it comes time to write that paycheck? They lowball us and hope we’ll be “grateful” for the opportunity.
Grateful? We are qualified, we are essential, and we are transforming this industry.
Your Labor Is Fueling a $3.4 Trillion Economy
Here’s a number that should shake every boardroom in Silicon Valley: Latinos, as a community, wield over $3.4 trillion in spending power. That’s a bigger economy than some nations. So, let me ask you this: If we are fueling the U.S. economy, why are Latinas in tech, who sit at the forefront of innovation and creativity, still being paid like we’re an afterthought?
When companies hire you, they’re not doing you a favor, you are doing them a favor by giving them insight into markets they couldn’t reach otherwise. You are bringing expertise, leadership, and unique cultural knowledge that they desperately need to stay competitive in a global market.
$100K Is the Bare Minimum, Especially in Tech Hubs
I’ll say it louder for those in the back… $100,000 IS NOT A "STRETCH GOAL", IT’S A NECESSITY.
If you live in any major tech hub, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Miami, New York, $100K barely covers the basics when you consider housing, healthcare, student loans, and supporting family. But beyond basic needs, $100K is what allows you to build generational wealth, invest in yourself, support your community, and not live paycheck to paycheck in an industry that thrives because of your contributions.
Anything less is a company telling you that they don't value you, that they see you as expendable, and that they are fine paying you less than what they pay others for the same role.
Negotiation Isn’t Just a Skill, It’s Cultural Resistance
Latinas in tech are often told to be "grateful" for being in the room. But let me remind you: we didn’t come here to fill quotas, we came here to lead. And leadership starts with being paid what you’re worth.
I know the messaging many of us grew up with:
"Don’t ask for too much."
"Be humble."
"You should be grateful to even have a seat at the table."
But here's what I tell every Latina I coach: If you don’t set the bar high, no one else will.
Leadership Doesn’t Start With a Title, It Starts With Knowing Your Worth
Every time a Latina in tech demands her worth, she is opening the door for others to do the same. Every time you refuse to settle, you are breaking cycles of systemic underpayment, challenging white supremacy in tech, and rewriting the narrative for all of us.
Because this isn’t just about you. It’s about our communities, our families, our future daughters who are watching us right now, learning how to navigate a system built to keep us small.
When you negotiate for that $100K (or more), you are making a statement:
That you see your value.
That you are unapologetically Latina and excellent.
That you refuse to be the “diversity hire” who makes less.
Tech Companies Can Afford You, Stop Letting Them Pretend Otherwise
Let’s not forget that tech companies are sitting on billions in profit. If they are still paying Latinas below six figures while handing out massive bonuses to white dudes in C-suite, that’s not a budget issue, that’s a values issue.
And for the companies reading this: If you want Latinas to innovate for you, bring our brilliance, our leadership, and our cultural power to your team, pay us at least $100K, and preferably much more. Because anything less is exploitation.
FAQs About Salary Negotiation for Latinas in Tech
-
Yes. Always negotiate. Even a $5K increase impacts every future raise and bonus. Start high—companies expect it.
-
Counter confidently. Frame it around market value, not personal need: “Given industry benchmarks and my contributions, I’d like to explore a base salary closer to $100K.”
It’s Time To Stop Settling And Start Commanding.
To every Latina reading this, whether you’re just breaking into tech, whether you’re mid-career and feeling undervalued, or whether you’re leading teams and wondering if you should ask for more, you deserve six figures at a minimum.
If that makes some people uncomfortable, good. Because we’re done being comfortable with crumbs.
So, the next time you’re in a salary conversation, remember this: You are not asking for too much. You are asking for what is long overdue.
No more shrinking. No more accepting less. Know your worth, and don’t let anyone talk you down from it.
If you want guidance on how to walk into that negotiation room ready to own it, I gotchu. Reach out. Because when one Latina rises, we all rise, and I’m here to make sure you rise all the way to the top, paid and respected as you should be.