My base salary was about 200k before I left Google a couple years ago. I was a Senior SWE, and have about 20 years of work experience.
Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
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Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#32At fb I earn slightly more than that before bonuses
Is this base salary? What is your profile? 10 years of exp. at FB? Individual Contributor? Are you specialized in AI or something else?
> Individual Contributor?
Would you mind explaining what this is? You've mentioned that twice in this thread and it's something I've never heard before.
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#33I make that much: Senior Software Engineer at a startup (joined among the first 3 hires), Bay Area. About 6 years of experience. 200k$ base salary 50k$ performance bonus 1% ISOs (after considering dilutions. Company is ~1y post Series B)
That is pretty impressive I have to say...
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google Staff Software Engineers make $200k+/year in base salary for a total compensation of $350k+ according to Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Google-Staff-Software-Engin... This is three promotions for a new grad software engineer to reach this level, but if you are good, it is reasonable to get 3 promotions in 9 years. I assume other companies pay comparably at this level of seniority.
Other companies, you mean FB or Microsoft? The rest, they don't. Also, Staff engineer at google = at least 8 years working at google as an engineer (while being a rock star over there). What if you join google now with 10 years of exp? Would you make $200k base salary? Not sure...
Well, I am sure Amazon, Dropbox, and many of the other large companies would too.
Also, I don't think it is unreasonable for someone with the equivalent experience of 8 or 9 years at Google to get hired as a Staff Software Engineer. Of course, this is ultimately dependent on how well you perform in your interviews and the hiring committee.
Anyway, if you only care about cash compensation rather than bonuses or stock, Netflix is where you want to go: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Netflix-Senior-Software-Eng.... Their compensation package is basically all cash, no stocks, no bonus or anything like that. Note that Netflix hires all software engineers as "Senior Software Engineers": https://jobs.netflix.com/jobs
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#35Make $140k/yr, be happy, and make a side project that brings in passive income. Build it up over 5 years until it makes $200k/yr reliably..now you're doing better than anyone who has to have a real job.
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#36Throwaway account; work at a fruit stand in Cupertino. Base $200k, not including RSUs and bonuses.
$200k RSUs on signing, with the expectation of yearly top-ups. Not sure what the cash bonus will be, haven't been here long enough to find out.
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#37Yes, big federal government contractors offer this if you meet the requirements for the job as a base salary, actually have the required work experience and are in the top 25% of the talent pool. Though, at that level it is extremely competitive, and you will be working on solving some extremely challenging problems that you would never encounter outside the government contracting industry. You can also work for high…
I think you hype up the federal space a bit. I know many people in this space making 150-200k+ and it really isn't that competitive (Have a clearance, do good work, maneuver around politics)
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this base salary? What is your profile? 10 years of exp. at FB? Individual Contributor? Are you specialized in AI or something else?
> Individual Contributor? Would you mind explaining what this is? You've mentioned that twice in this thread and it's something I've never heard before.
It roughly means 'not a manager'
Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to make $200K/year base salary?
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been there, there is not such things for an individual contributor unless you're an old employee (10 years at the same company). I'm talking about +200K/y base salary, no stocks, bonuses etc.
It's also possible if you're headhunted, or if you're part of an aquihire. 200k base means closer to 500k in total compensation (because all big tech companies offer bonuses and stock), so I don't really understand your focus on base salary. Why not compare offers by total compensation instead? For every person earning 200k base there are many people earning 150k base. And with 150k base + bonus + stock you still end…
Of course... total comp is standard at 200k/year (at least here in the bay area). Same for a startups, you can own %2 of a startup with a 40 million valuation. The bank will ask for your monthly paychecks at the end of the day.