I'm at a younger stage in my career (25), and at least in my experience, I've always had to find another offer at another company to get a large salary increase. I've been "promoted" within the company before, but that only came with a 3% raise. Just curious what the experience is for more senior engineers out there, are there still tech companies who give substantial raises with promotions?
Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
1–10 of 50 posts
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#2[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#3I've been a dev for almost 25 years, and the biggest raise I've ever had in a job was ~10%. There might be companies that give more substantial increases with promotions but I've certainly never heard of it happening. For comparison, the biggest raise I've had by moving company was 51%.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#4I'm almost 50, and have never gotten a substantial raise without moving to a new company. On the contrary, once you are in, there is a lock on your position, especially in larger companies, where you have a specific salary range your role falls in. Raises not only try to stay within the range, they are smaller as you get closer to the top of the range. A promotion bumps you up to the next range, but that is incremental improvement. You have to leave to throw that all out and reset the numbers.
Also, 3% is a mediocre raise just for year-over-year cost of living increases. Getting a raise that small with a promotion is a slap in the face.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#5I'm almost 50, and have never gotten a substantial raise without moving to a new company. On the contrary, once you are in, there is a lock on your position, especially in larger companies, where you have a specific salary range your role falls in. Raises not only try to stay within the range, they are smaller as you get closer to the top of the range. A promotion bumps you up to the next range, but that is increment…
Of course, this is a technique HR created to give folks the appearance of career growth while controlling cost.
There is nothing your company is doing for you, that isn't the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#610 years experience, I've received two 20% raises. If you're a high performer and have a boss willing to go to bat, it's not impossible. But it's much easier to get larger raises when moving jobs, yes.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#7Almost 10 years in. One 10% promotion. The new policy at my company is set at 7% raise for promotions.
The funny thing is, they unofficially expect a 13% increase in working hours for that 7% raise, which actually turns out to be a rate cut to fill a role with more responsibilities and expectations.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#8I'm almost 50, and have never gotten a substantial raise without moving to a new company. On the contrary, once you are in, there is a lock on your position, especially in larger companies, where you have a specific salary range your role falls in. Raises not only try to stay within the range, they are smaller as you get closer to the top of the range. A promotion bumps you up to the next range, but that is increment…
Of course, this is a technique HR created to give folks the appearance of career growth while controlling cost. There is nothing your company is doing for you, that isn't the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard.
"... the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard."
I'm not sure it even keeps people working hard. Its discouraged me from working hard, especially after filling roles above my grade for a couple years.
When the company does the bare minimum and employees realize it, they do the bare minimum for the company.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course, this is a technique HR created to give folks the appearance of career growth while controlling cost. There is nothing your company is doing for you, that isn't the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard.
"... the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard." I'm not sure it even keeps people working hard. Its discouraged me from working hard, especially after filling roles above my grade for a couple years. When the company does the bare minimum and employees realize it, they do the bare minimum for the company.
[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#10I'm almost 50, and have never gotten a substantial raise without moving to a new company. On the contrary, once you are in, there is a lock on your position, especially in larger companies, where you have a specific salary range your role falls in. Raises not only try to stay within the range, they are smaller as you get closer to the top of the range. A promotion bumps you up to the next range, but that is increment…
Getting a raise that small with a promotion is a slap in the face.
Exactly this. Essentially the company is saying "We're giving you some additional responsibility, and as a reward we won't cut your salary."