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21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

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Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#11

Post by virtuowl »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

Well, you get good healthcare and pension in most european countries. You can live a lot cheaper than in the big cities in the us and there is no gangs and not as many drug addicts

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#12

Post by albertgoeswoof »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

I’m not so sure, SF is nice but it’s not particularly special if you take away the high salaries and great tech connections.

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#13

Post by ionwake »

marvin wrote: post #6
chvid wrote: post #4

I can tell you it is the same for a software engineer in Copenhagen. Salaries peeked in 2000 and have yet to catch up in real terms.

Certainly it isn't the same in absolute terms? You can get a two-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen for $300,000 or so. I haven't heard of any place in Europe where you can expect to make anything close to this for any normal software engineering role. (I earn around, maybe less than half the average in this graph, in Norway).

Can you please confirm what the average salary is in Copenhagen for a senior developer ? Thanks

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#14

Post by toxicFork »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

It depends on what you'd like to do with your life.

I'm originally from a small European island and I'm making a reasonable amount working in a city. I'm really missing the significantly lower stress, fewer and more friendly people, lack of traffic, different kinds of (political or otherwise) discussions, etcetera. I have friends who have sacrificed a large percentage of their salary to return to a "happier" life in that aspect.

You can choose which type of "unit" you want to have more value in your life.

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#15

Post by RALaBarge »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

I dont think anyone who has a well rounded view on life thinks that the main import of your time here on earth is how large your salary is.

Then again, if you are living in SF on your own volution, I bet there are a lot of things that you have convinced yourself are normal, to feel that you are part of the crowd there - and of course know that salary is the most important thing there is in life!

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#16

Post by em500 »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

It depends very much on life stage. I make about 2/3 of these figures in Amsterdam now, and have declined recent opportunities to move to the Bay Area. If I were single and 10 years younger, I would have jumped at the chance. But now at 40 with two young kids in nice schools, a comfy house with a 15 minute commute and a partner with a good income, it takes a lot more to make me move.

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#18

Post by ddalex »

ionwake wrote: post #13
marvin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certainly it isn't the same in absolute terms? You can get a two-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen for $300,000 or so. I haven't heard of any place in Europe where you can expect to make anything close to this for any normal software engineering role. (I earn around, maybe less than half the average in this graph, in Norway).

Can you please confirm what the average salary is in Copenhagen for a senior developer ? Thanks

I can confirm around 100k (pounds) in London, unless you're going to the giants (FB, Google) that go above that.

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#19

Post by eertami »

sevagh wrote: post #7
fyfy18 wrote: post #5

As someone who hasn’t even worked in the US, let alone SF, is this a typical wage for that area? I live in a small European city, earning around half this, but my outgoings are a lot less (under €1k/mo) than what I would be paying in SF, so I’m probably saving more at the end of the day. I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too.

>I’d argue my lifestyle is a lot better too. Looks like the majority of the European "better lifestyle" involves convincing people on the internet that making a fraction of a Bay Area salary is somehow a good thing.

Or maybe they simply have 0 interest living in a place where the majority of inhabitants are young male tech workers.

I can't think of anything more dull. Salary offer would.need to be much more than the bay currently pays before I'd even consider it.

Re: 21 Years of Income as a Software Engineer in San Francisco

#20

Post by ddalex »

marvin wrote: post #6
chvid wrote: post #4

I can tell you it is the same for a software engineer in Copenhagen. Salaries peeked in 2000 and have yet to catch up in real terms.

Certainly it isn't the same in absolute terms? You can get a two-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen for $300,000 or so. I haven't heard of any place in Europe where you can expect to make anything close to this for any normal software engineering role. (I earn around, maybe less than half the average in this graph, in Norway).

The thing about Copenhagen property (and I expect this is true for all the Nordic countries) is that is closed to foreign investors - you can only buy if you're a permanent resident, and even if you come from EU, you can get the status after 5 years of living there. So not an easy market to get into as a buyer, but it helps having sane prices for locals, which IMHO is the way to go.
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