Have been a system engineer, switched to PHP developer(mainly backend). I am 31, wife and kid. I make about $45K a year in the netherlands. Really have no idea if that matches the salary of other php developers in my country with about the same experience, but im having a great time at the company i work for.
Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
81–90 of 132 posts
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#8235. Just jacked in ~£100kpa for a 55% pay cut to an undemanding role in order to spend more (all) time at home.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#83Americans surely know the value of a good developer. Unbelievable how terrible the pay is in Europe. 70k-80k is a common end-of-career salary here. I once had a business partner (French) and we were launching a software-based business. He was the President, I was the CEO (leading all technical, engineering and operations management matters, that's quite a bit... he was handling the sales). I told him that as a first…
Yes on the other hand I have the impression that it's very easy to fire someone at will in the US and healthcare is very expensive and is tied to the company.
Overall I have the feeling that workers have fewer rights in the US. This is usually working fine for something that's in demand, but can quickly become terrible.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#84Americans surely know the value of a good developer. Unbelievable how terrible the pay is in Europe. 70k-80k is a common end-of-career salary here. I once had a business partner (French) and we were launching a software-based business. He was the President, I was the CEO (leading all technical, engineering and operations management matters, that's quite a bit... he was handling the sales). I told him that as a first…
Yes on the other hand I have the impression that it's very easy to fire someone at will in the US and healthcare is very expensive and is tied to the company. Overall I have the feeling that workers have fewer rights in the US. This is usually working fine for something that's in demand, but can quickly become terrible.
Healthcare being paid for by the employer suppresses US salaries, not increases them. The total cost of employment is pretty big, when you add in health insurance, paid holidays, 401k matching, employer side of payroll tax, stock options, real estate costs for office space, admin overhead, etc. But the liability is probably less due to at-will. I don't know how these companies afford it.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
Teach me Yoda
Develop yourself. Never stop learning. Have an optimistic outlook. Have a pleasant personality. Work well with others. Don't afraid to do more than necessary. Avoid excessive startup if possible. I was young and naive. After doing 5 or 6 startups, I realized it's a lossy deal. VC spread their risk by investing in 10 companies and assuming 9 would fail. Founders go in with 90% chance of failing but with enough equity…
Thanks for your points, hoping you or someone else can answer a few questions.
How did you find the jump from inhouse to doing your own consulting? Is it just a case of getting experience in delivering? i.e. more likely to have success after some junior manager experience inhouse?
I had a really good GM in my last job who taught me a fair bit about how the business works - after moving on I've felt that void in other roles where senior managers are much less transparent. I want to streamline into business function ownership - have you got any advice on how to get to this stage or does this just come with general experience and following management track up?
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#86Male, 43, Sydney, 17 Years experience. No degree. Self taught. 2008 - $125k + 20% bonus - Full-time employee 2009 - $80k - Started my own web development company 2010 - $110k - Built a product 2011 - $132k - Daughter born 2012 - $145k - 2013 - $150k - 2014 - $150k - Son born 2015 - $250k - Hired 1st employee 2016 - $480k - Hired 2nd and 3rd employees
As an Aussie do you have any advice on making the inhouse to running your own thing shift? I'm still very young but am earning a very nice wage, I'm afraid my as income gets higher (and responsibilities start flowering) it will be harder to make the jump.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#87Male, 43, Sydney, 17 Years experience. No degree. Self taught. 2008 - $125k + 20% bonus - Full-time employee 2009 - $80k - Started my own web development company 2010 - $110k - Built a product 2011 - $132k - Daughter born 2012 - $145k - 2013 - $150k - 2014 - $150k - Son born 2015 - $250k - Hired 1st employee 2016 - $480k - Hired 2nd and 3rd employees
Would you share the general type of client you pursue and sign? Major corporation, SME, digital agency? Just curious which type of clients pay enough to achieve a revenue per employee that high.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#88Americans surely know the value of a good developer. Unbelievable how terrible the pay is in Europe. 70k-80k is a common end-of-career salary here. I once had a business partner (French) and we were launching a software-based business. He was the President, I was the CEO (leading all technical, engineering and operations management matters, that's quite a bit... he was handling the sales). I told him that as a first…
Yes on the other hand I have the impression that it's very easy to fire someone at will in the US and healthcare is very expensive and is tied to the company. Overall I have the feeling that workers have fewer rights in the US. This is usually working fine for something that's in demand, but can quickly become terrible.
Also hours of works per week and vacations days are very different.
In EU I start with 5-6 weeks of vacations per year even in the most basic position, and sick days and national holidays are not in that count. Typically I work 38-40h/w, rarely more than 45 (and just few days per months).
When one of my friend asked me to move to SV in the startup he is working in I would get almost 3x pay, but far less vacation and a work week of 60h/w minimum. Not worth it for me
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#89Male, 45, wife, child free, Boston, lots of experience + advanced degree, $250K. Team lead is probably the best description of my role.
I live in Boston and am about to turn 30. I am making $130 plus about $25 in stock and 10% bonus. I'd appreciate any advice in how to continue growing that to achieve your level of success.
Re: Ask HN: 30+ men and women in software, how much do you make?
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
What are you consulting?
Full stack web app for some companies with special needs. I have to do everything: biz dev, product management, project management, architect/design, development, DBA, QA, support, dev ops. Also consulting for legal technical due diligence.
When you say consulting do you mean like big consulting companies? KPMG , PWC, etc?