Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less?

#221

Post by Cephlin » Fri, Feb 10, 2017, 1:16 PM UTC

234dd57d2c8dba wrote: post #195

NetStrikeForce wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have amazing dental, health, and eyecare. I do have it too, albeit the only one I pay for is the dental one - but more importantly, the barista at my favourite coffee shop has them too. At the same quality level. > Free routine health checkups such as physicals, My doctor calls me to get those done. They chase me! for free! but more importantly, they also chase the barista guy :) > heck I even get a free gym memb…

I think you took a negative tone to my post when it was not meant that way. A number of the things you pointed out are just facts of living in America vs Europe. I have to drive a car because everything is spread out. European cities were built over many centuries before cars were a thing. I think it's safe to say tech workers are well compensated in both places, which was my point. The OP was acting very arrogant as…

You start by saying:

> I think you took a negative tone to my post when it was not meant that way.

Then go onto say:

> I think you're deluding yourself. No offense, but

Sounds like the negative tone is continuing.

On another note:

> I'm sure your country is very nice as well, but there is not enough freedom.

What exactly are Americans free to do which we cannot in the UK?

The American dream seems to be more viable in Europe where the difference in pay between the top and the bottom is less severe and social mobility is higher.

Re: Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less?

#222

Post by Cephlin » Fri, Feb 10, 2017, 1:21 PM UTC

whorleater wrote: post #192

MulliMulli wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is turning into a pissing contest.

Every $COUNTRY v $COUNTRY or $CITY v $CITY turns into a pissing contest because no one wants to admit they made the wrong choice in settling down somewhere, and end up presenting the best of their place and burying the worst.

"But my city has a better system for burying the worst than yours!"

Re: Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less?

#223

Post by Cephlin » Fri, Feb 10, 2017, 2:08 PM UTC

walshemj wrote: post #79

sigi45 wrote: post #55

I don't really care how much someone in USA earns. As a software engineere in germany you are earning good money. There are no killings in cities, affordable health care, high quality living standards, university costs 150$ for 6 month, no donald trump, 30 days real holiday (i take them, everyone does, every year), seldom over hours, parental leave. Btw. IT is more than google, apple, facebook and twitter. And no we…

But how does this compare to other professions say a lawyer or a medical doctor with the same experience. I suspect in Europe and the UK in particular engineering is seen as a lower status profession - may be less so in Germany

In the UK when I tell people I'm a programmer, software engineer, web developer, systems engineer or whatever role I've had at the time, they usually ask me to fix their Windows machine... I guess that's the level of respect we get here.

Re: Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less?

#224

Post by steevenwee » Fri, Feb 10, 2017, 10:59 PM UTC

Cephlin wrote: post #223

walshemj wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how does this compare to other professions say a lawyer or a medical doctor with the same experience. I suspect in Europe and the UK in particular engineering is seen as a lower status profession - may be less so in Germany

In the UK when I tell people I'm a programmer, software engineer, web developer, systems engineer or whatever role I've had at the time, they usually ask me to fix their Windows machine... I guess that's the level of respect we get here.

In my experience that's not specific to the UK.

Re: Ask HN: Why do companies outside the US pay so much less?

#225

Post by plaguuuuuu » Mon, Feb 13, 2017, 5:28 AM UTC

jimako wrote: post #154

plaguuuuuu wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still not paid nearly as much as US devs. Unless maybe I should start looking for my next job :|

Do you know that for a fact, or are you assuming that is the case? Developer salaries, especially in the non-cubicle-dweller sphere, are really VERY high. Of course, most of the jobs are in Sydney or Melbourne where the cost of living is also very high, even after taking into account the universal health care.

The majority of dev jobs here in AU probably are in the 'cubicle-dweller' sphere. I've looked around at various roles advertised in syd/melb and there are very few jobs in my are (.NET 5+ years experience) paying more than, say, AUD$120k, unless some specialised knowledge is required eg trading, machine learning, etc. That's the equivalent of US$92k which seems lower (like.. >50% lower) than in comparable cities in the US.

Of course you'd then have to live in the US, which is a downside.