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Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

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Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#41

Post by bbulkow »

Yes, I pay half my us salery for tax and benefits, since you have to include putting significant money away for retirement (10 percent gross minimum ) since we don't have significant pension systems.

If you are interested in a less technical role that makes more money, check out being an Enterprise software sales engineer. These are the people who help customers with real problems architecting systems, have a poor quality of life because there is always a new project starting, but make more than engineers or sales people these days. It can be interesting work if you like variety, but can't be done the first few years out of school because experience with various architectures needs to be cultivated.

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#43

Post by passiveincomelg »

mstaoru wrote: post #32

Just FYI, I can share how things stand in Shanghai, China now. An average IT graduate can expect to earn around net RMB150k/year, which is about US$23k. This is about twice the median for junior workers. Shanghai is one of the most expensive cities in China to rent, with average rents at 140-150% of median income, topped only by Beijing. Of course, with the largest subway system in the world, with prices starting fro…

Thank you, that's very interesting. The spread seems to be so much larger than in Europe.

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#45

Post by kasey_junk »

eaenki wrote: post #5

In Zurich, Geneva, Oslo and Rejkavik, you can also get a job that pays that much at a software/financial company/startup (and healthcare it's much cheaper/included in taxes). In the US, that kind of salary it's common only in the Silicon Valley and NY.

Chicago has tons of jobs above that salary mark.

I’ve seen jobs listed above that routinely in Indianapolis, Minneapolis & Columbus. Talked to a recruiter the other day for a job in Nashville that paid above 100k.

These are all front line Midwest towns. Get into the sunbelt and you’ll see even more cities where those wages are common.

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#46

Post by krageon »

You are wrong about the average wages. If, as a software developer of middling experience levels (~3-5 years) and educational background (trashy uni or good trade-equivalent school), you do not make ~36k euro per year or more you are being swindled by your employer. That is already 42k USD. If you get to senior positions I have seen it get as high as you mentioned (and also much, much higher for select examples).

The amount you mentioned is what someone straight out of (middle) school with 0 experience would make in the field, and they could expect to have that increase to the mentioned middling wage after ~3 years of real work. That would put them at that wage at around 20-21 years old.

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#47

Post by bausshf »

victords wrote: post #13
eaenki wrote: post #5

In Zurich, Geneva, Oslo and Rejkavik, you can also get a job that pays that much at a software/financial company/startup (and healthcare it's much cheaper/included in taxes). In the US, that kind of salary it's common only in the Silicon Valley and NY.

Reykjavik, really? How come a city in a country of 300,000 people pay as much as $100k USD for a SWE? Do you have any data to back it up? I did a quick look at Glassdoor and it's far from that.

According to data it's only $80k for a software engineer.

https://teleport.org/cities/reykjavik/salaries/

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#48

Post by passiveincomelg »

victords wrote: post #13
eaenki wrote: post #5

In Zurich, Geneva, Oslo and Rejkavik, you can also get a job that pays that much at a software/financial company/startup (and healthcare it's much cheaper/included in taxes). In the US, that kind of salary it's common only in the Silicon Valley and NY.

Reykjavik, really? How come a city in a country of 300,000 people pay as much as $100k USD for a SWE? Do you have any data to back it up? I did a quick look at Glassdoor and it's far from that.

I was thinking the same. Oslo also seemed incredibly low when I did some research. In both cities you can easily spend $30 on one dish in a regular restaurant.

Re: Ask HN: Does really every software engineer in the US earn ~100000?

#49

Post by passiveincomelg »

badpun wrote: post #20

If you're open to contracting, you can get 100k euros per year even in Poland, and much more in Western Europe or UK. Of course, you have to be in demand.

Yes. Europe is contracting land. Forget those pointless permanent jobs. ;)

What's funny is that being a contractor seems to be a disadvantage when applying to some US companies. I sometimes had the impression that interviewers were thinking "What's wrong with you, can't you get a real job?"

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