Live data from Hacker News

Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

techcrunch.com

81–90 of 229 posts

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#82
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For my benefit, would you be willing to share your salary or range (and currency :)?

We hire a lot in Montreal. Mid-size startup. Range is more like CAD 85-140k for generalist frontend and backend developers. In the larger cities, salaries have really gone up in the last few years.

I think that actually makes the other posters points. That's 63-104k in USD, which is low. Most of us in the US would be taking significant pay cuts at that level. I have no idea how that stacks up as far as PPP.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#83
post #43
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

Maybe for some areas but for Alberta this is closer to reality: https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations/computer-program...

Hey fellow Albertan. Keep in mind the USD/CAD exchange and that $90k here becomes $60kUSD.

The developers I know that are worth their chops have all taken remote US contracts. I'm looking to do the same because local companies just can't compete with the work available nor wage.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#84
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

>No need to wait for an H1-B, just show up at the border with job offer & credentials in hand, assuming you've graduated college. TN visas are instant and infinitely renewable.

This is false. I say this as someone with a TN visa, which I use to visit my employer a few times a year.

The TN application process is onerous and takes weeks to confirm. The actual visa is indeed granted at the port of entry but can be denied - simply having the completed application doesn't guarantee anything. And you have to go through the complete application process every time you re-apply. There is no renewal application.

The best way to get it done is to work for BigCorp, Inc. whose team of lawyers will handle it for you. If you work for a smaller company or are a contractor/consultant, you'll have to hire a lawyer for a few grand. I know because I've been there too.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#85
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

those numbers are ridiculously low even if in US dollars as I assume they are. I don't put much stock in the StackOverflow survey. Then put stock in a the words of a guy who has actually looked for employment in Canada, and after the election of Trump is very incentivized to take a positive view on moving to Canada: as far as I can tell from the salaries posted, I'd take about a 50% pay cut, and I wouldn't be able to…

The Club Penguin shutdown is a devastating blow to the Kelowna tech industry! (seriously, their headquarters are there)

They didn't shut down the offices. They just moved to a mobile Club Penguin game instead.

The Okanagan is actually a great area to live in as far as tech goes in Canada.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#86

Meh. The weather is already too cold for me in the Northern US.

Actually, the weather in Vancouver and Seattle are not bad as they have the Pineapple Express. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Express

"Pinapple Express" is an ironic term for what is, in fact, days of shitty weather. There are waves of heavy rain. The air might not be that cold, but you will be if you're soaked.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#87
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Club Penguin shutdown is a devastating blow to the Kelowna tech industry! (seriously, their headquarters are there)

They didn't shut down the offices. They just moved to a mobile Club Penguin game instead. The Okanagan is actually a great area to live in as far as tech goes in Canada.

That's interesting. I grew up around there and would definitely consider moving back one day to be around family.

What are the big tech names around there these days?

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#88
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There has been a story equivalent to that on the front page every few weeks for the last five years that I've been reading HN. I attribute it to some kind of watch-goliath-fall fantasy. That has been amplified dramatically since Trump got elected. Since then, a couple dozen countries are now supposedly candidates to swipe a lot of tech talent away from the US. Nothing will come of it; even more high-skilled talent wi…

Cities that are commonly touted as the "next silicon valley": - Berlin - Toronto-Waterloo - London - Vancouver - Shenzhen - Chicago

Lots of cities that are expensive compared to tech wages and others that are financially conservative.

Why do people think they will be the next SV?

Maybe Chicago could be a contender?

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, the weather in Vancouver and Seattle are not bad as they have the Pineapple Express. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Express

"Pinapple Express" is an ironic term for what is, in fact, days of shitty weather. There are waves of heavy rain. The air might not be that cold, but you will be if you're soaked.

"Shitty" is subjective. The fact is, the Pineapple Express brings warmer, tropical-esque temperatures. I grew up in Vancouver and didn't move away till I was 18. I've always thought the rainy weather was nice and didn't think too much about it. That's just me...haha :D

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#90
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

I recently moved from Waterloo to San Francisco. My salary had doubled in the process, but my living costs have also substantially increased. I live in a 1-bedroom condo with similar square feet; my diet stayed the same, I pursue the same hobbies and similar habits (fitness, education, entertainment). In the end, the higher cost of living offsets my salary increase, and my quality of life stayed the same.
Post reply on HN