Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#1

Post by throwaway09810 » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 3:01 AM UTC

How much should one ask for for a San Fran "startup" developer position? Midwest salaries are much lower (due to cost of living and small tech scene) and the avg developer makes around $60k, so my reference point is low. Moving to the valley and possibly getting a job for an exploding startup, what is a reasonable starting point w/ 3 years of solid experience?

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#2

Post by grandalf » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 3:08 AM UTC

I don't think experience matters that much. If you're awesome, you should be paid $100K or more. If you're awesome, btw, I'd like to make you such a job offer.

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#3

Post by throwaway09810 » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 3:16 AM UTC

grandalf wrote: post #2

I don't think experience matters that much. If you're awesome, you should be paid $100K or more. If you're awesome, btw, I'd like to make you such a job offer.

Awesome at what? Solving problems? Check. Dedicating myself to things? Check. Working hard to get things done properly and quickly? Check. Having fun doing these things? Double check.

I'm not the best programmer in the world (jr level I'd say), but I sure as hell love what I do and I'm improving every day.

Currently my biggest tools are Ruby, Rails, Javascript (jQuery mostly), and HTML/CSS. Half front-end/half back-end dev in my day job.

email me: aanon2247@gmail.com if you're interested in talking.

note: obviously throwaway accounts

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#4

Post by rick888 » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 3:50 AM UTC

grandalf wrote: post #2

I don't think experience matters that much. If you're awesome, you should be paid $100K or more. If you're awesome, btw, I'd like to make you such a job offer.

are you being serious? How can you be awesome without experience? Otherwise, why not hire a janitor and pay him 100K as a developer (he's awesome!)

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#5

Post by shazow » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 4:37 AM UTC

Depends on the amount of funding and how much equity you're getting.

If they're well-funded (Series A or later) and you're getting negligible equity (hopefully not), then you should take the same salary as an established company like Facebook or Twitter would offer you. Probably a bit over $100k base for 3 years of experience.

Take that starting point and adjust it for the amount of equity they're offering and how much you think it's worth. Now your goal is to get them to pay you no less than you're worth. :)

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#6

Post by throwaway09810 » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 5:06 AM UTC

shazow wrote: post #5

Depends on the amount of funding and how much equity you're getting. If they're well-funded (Series A or later) and you're getting negligible equity (hopefully not), then you should take the same salary as an established company like Facebook or Twitter would offer you. Probably a bit over $100k base for 3 years of experience. Take that starting point and adjust it for the amount of equity they're offering and how mu…

Judging worth is not always easy unfortunately. It varies by need, in relation to other benefits, region, and more. I wish there was a simple test to take that would spit out a salary worth... Alas...

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#7

Post by neworbit » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 8:10 AM UTC

rick888 wrote: post #4

grandalf wrote: post #2

I don't think experience matters that much. If you're awesome, you should be paid $100K or more. If you're awesome, btw, I'd like to make you such a job offer.

are you being serious? How can you be awesome without experience? Otherwise, why not hire a janitor and pay him 100K as a developer (he's awesome!)

I'm pretty sure he means "can make great things happen" trumps "7 years Java experience on the resume"

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#8

Post by latch » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 10:14 AM UTC

neworbit wrote: post #7

rick888 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

are you being serious? How can you be awesome without experience? Otherwise, why not hire a janitor and pay him 100K as a developer (he's awesome!)

I'm pretty sure he means "can make great things happen" trumps "7 years Java experience on the resume"

30 years experience doesn't mean much if it's the same year thirty times.

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#9

Post by bherms » Thu, Jun 02, 2011, 3:34 PM UTC

latch wrote: post #8

neworbit wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure he means "can make great things happen" trumps "7 years Java experience on the resume"

30 years experience doesn't mean much if it's the same year thirty times.

I'm going to use this quote in the future because it's so true.

Hope you don't mind the attribution "a wise man once said [...]"

Re: Ask HN: San Fran "Competitive Salary" for Devs

#10

Post by latch » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 12:00 AM UTC

bherms wrote: post #9

latch wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

30 years experience doesn't mean much if it's the same year thirty times.

I'm going to use this quote in the future because it's so true. Hope you don't mind the attribution "a wise man once said [...]"

I stole it from someone else.

maybe "a stupid thief once said [...]"