I worked for Amazon (2013-2014), fresh out of college.
Title : Software Development Engineer (SDE I)
Base : 98,000
Sign on : 50,000 (2 year period)
Relocation : 10,000 (2 year)
Stocks : worth $70,000 (4 years)
Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
51–60 of 717 posts
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#52[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
I got my education in audio engineering at a leading music conservatory, so moving into audiobook editing was a pretty easy sell for me. An audiobook is made in four basic steps: 1. A voice actor records the narration for the book. 2. The editor takes the raw audio recordings and edits these files for pacing, flow, and aesthetic flavor. The editor also makes note of any errors in the narration which require a re-reco…
If you don't mind me asking, how were you compensated for this? What was the model?
I worked 40hrs per week in the Audible HQ. I was paid at the rate listed above - $30/hr. So, I walked out of Audible's offices on Friday with a $1200 check in my hands. This is how it worked until Audible was sued for not providing health insurance benefits, and lost the case. So they had to hire us as full-time employees, and didn't allow two out of 8 to continue to work with us as they didn't "make the cut." (They both were African American women.)
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#54Blind https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blind./id737534965?mt=8 & https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamblind.... talks about salary ad nauseam... so if you want to see salary discussions, get the app.
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#55Location might be useful information. I'm assuming most of the folks responding here are in Seattle. If so, all the salaries listed in this thread seem shockingly low to me.
I think you're not doing the math on the stock (which is currently over $550). e.g. $73k base + $21k bonus + $57k stock = $151k for an engineer in their second year (no info about previous experience). Absent a lot of other context it does sound fair to me, or at least not "shockingly low".
I value those things differently, because the bonus is only for the first two years, and the stock is a one-time grant. Just like there's 'no replacement for displacement' in engines, there's no replacement for base salary in compensation. What I'm seeing in that compensation package is no incentive whatsoever to stay after you finish your second year, and no real incentives to start in the first place. $150k in Seattle is not great in my mind anyway, that's roughly equivalent to $90k where I'm living right now, but the average base salary in this area is around $120k...
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#56You gave enough information that they could find you without using any links in your profile or your online handle. Another thing that could be interesting is your accent. My eyes were recently opened about the discrimination that happens based on that.
Actually, I told my boss about the post before I submitted it. But I was only letting him know -- I didn't ask for permission. The decision was mine and mine alone, so any (unlikely) backlash won't be directed at him. We have a good relationship and see eye to eye almost all the time. He did say that he didn't think there was anything wrong with posting this.
The reason for the throwaway is because I generally try to avoid "stirring the pot." Or at least, don't want a reputation as a pot stirrer. But if some higher up confronts me about it, I won't deny posting it.
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#57Ex amazonian here, but in Ireland, I left (thankfully) at the end of 2015. I was a systems engineer in Dublin and the only significant payraise I got was after I left the company for 4 months to then rejoin, my salary was bumped up 12k euros, for a total of 62k/yr, with 150 shares over 4 years (sorry I do not remember the vesting scheme). The HR department in AMZN has the tendency to screw internal employees upon pro…
In case any students are curious how much Amazon in Dublin offers (Undergraduate) students. I was offered: €25000.
[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
I got my education in audio engineering at a leading music conservatory, so moving into audiobook editing was a pretty easy sell for me. An audiobook is made in four basic steps: 1. A voice actor records the narration for the book. 2. The editor takes the raw audio recordings and edits these files for pacing, flow, and aesthetic flavor. The editor also makes note of any errors in the narration which require a re-reco…
That's really interesting! And it also sounds really exhausting given the amount of material in a typical book. Thanks for sharing.
No problem :)
Honestly, though, it was a great job. It never felt exhausting. Not only was the pay rather good for a 21 year old fresh out of university - the job was really fun. I got to read medium-to-high quality novels and create the audiobook experience.
Later, I got to witness Audible's rise into the mainstream and evangelized producing audiobooks for ACX [1], bringing it to a new generation of actors and engineers.
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#59Out of curiosity, what does this add that GlassDoor.com doesn't? Note: as of right now, GlassDoor is down for "Scheduled Maintenance" but the question stands.
See this comment I wrote ITT:
Re: Ask HN: How much do you make at Amazon? Here is how much I make at Amazon
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you're not doing the math on the stock (which is currently over $550). e.g. $73k base + $21k bonus + $57k stock = $151k for an engineer in their second year (no info about previous experience). Absent a lot of other context it does sound fair to me, or at least not "shockingly low".
I value those things differently, because the bonus is only for the first two years, and the stock is a one-time grant. Just like there's 'no replacement for displacement' in engines, there's no replacement for base salary in compensation. What I'm seeing in that compensation package is no incentive whatsoever to stay after you finish your second year, and no real incentives to start in the first place. $150k in Seat…
Not an Amazonian, but everything I've ever read about their comp culture has said that stock is heavily valued/weighted, so there's a selection bias there in that anyone who's seriously considered them should know it going in and be alright with it.