My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer • Hacker News Board

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#571

Post by salburn008 » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:26 PM UTC

rewgerthgrth wrote: post #21

Burner account. All numbers adjusted to USD: 2007: Junior developer $25k (no bonus) 2008: Project manager $50k (10% bonus) 2009: Project Manager $65k (10% bonus) 2011: Senior Project Manager $92 (10% bonus) 2011: Product Manager $97k (Some worthless options as it turns out, and an approximately 8% bonus) 2012: Founded my own startup / developer $28k that year 2013: Startup founder / CTO $65k 2014: Startup founder / C…

Also a burner. All include health insurance.

2012: Graduated with CS degree from top 10 public school, 2.9 GPA

2013: Mid-sized co in Texas, Software engineer, $70k salary, $20k RSUs vesting over 4 years, ~5k/yr cash bonuses

2014: Same company, bump to $75k salary

2015: Same company, bump to $80k salary

Later 2015: Jumped to seeded startup in Texas, software engineer, $70k salary, 50-70 hours/wk, aspirational but worthless equity options

2017: Same company, bump to $90k, 60-80 hours/wk, VP title (though doing work of a CTO), aspirational but worthless equity bonuses.

2018: Same company, no salary change, could request higher salary but have not because I am using it to make myself to work smarter rather than harder. Earning equity bonuses upon achieving targets. Generally working fewer hours now and have hired in some help so while responsibilities and problems are harder, work weeks are not so long.

Expecting a salary increase to range of $110-130k within 12 months (else will quit and work on my own business ideas). I believe I could obtain a $130k salary elsewhere now but have not interviewed to to find out and am not inclined to.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#572

Post by ssully » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:26 PM UTC

thrmsforbfast wrote: post #548

EADGBE wrote: post #374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

American here, I'm not convinced I shouldn't encourage my kids to get into the trades.

Do you have family or friends in the trades? I always get called elitist/out-of-touch when I point this out, but it's really true that most people working in trades do $50k with mediocre benefits. Everyone always lashes out at this with anecdata, but both the hard data from Labor and the 15+ datapoints I have personally all seem to agree that $60k is "really good", and that's with overtime. Statistically, for every w…

I have found the HN crowed has a rosey view on trade jobs that doesn't seem to reflect reality. Family members of mine are employed primarily by trades (lots of plumbers, some carpenters and electrician's) and a lot of what you say is spot on. There are certainly cases where they can make a lot of money, but it's definitely not easy not a golden ticket that I see a lot of HN comments make it out to be.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#573

Post by sidlls » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:33 PM UTC

lbotos wrote: post #506

sidlls wrote: post #449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not FAANG, but I am in SV, and my salary is currently around $200k/year (give or take). That's low compared to FAANG, but it's much higher, even adjusting for COL, than most of the "perfectly normal" lower salaries in these comments. That's not good: those lower salaries should be considered abnormally low; mine should be considered on the high end of average, maybe. Most software development (where software is t…

Should they just pay development more, or all employees of the company?

The second.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#574

Post by hoaw » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:36 PM UTC

ddevault wrote: post #429

Someone1234 wrote: post #296

These threads always invite the outliers (i.e. those who want to humble brag). Here's mine outside Washington/California/Silicon Valley/NYC: - $40K: 2010-2013, "DevOps" at small startup. No ownership/shares. - $45-72K: 2014-Current, Programmer (various job titles) working for state's education department Even management here only make $90K capping out around $115K~. But cost of living is low. These threads never have…

I think I'm underpaid, but not grossly so. I earn $115,000/yr with 8 years of professional experience in Philadelphia. I have equity currently valued at ~$5,000. I also make an additional ~$10,000/yr in donations to my open source projects and an additional ~$5,000/yr through the occasional side gig. https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/pennsylvania/... I started my career at $30,000 in Colorado Springs. ht…

> I think I'm underpaid, but not grossly so.

I wouldn't necessarily call that underpaid. Being underpaid is when you have to choose between the present and the future. If you can both have good and sustainable living conditions, job security and pension with a decent margin you aren't generally underpaid as such. The exception being if your relative wage affects things worth caring about, like being valued by the people around you.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#575

Post by xapata » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:38 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #459

xapata wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the positive side, if we all feel like our salaries are low, we'll collectively ask for more money. Don't be jealous, but do ask for a raise.

Outside of Silicon Valley/NYC/DC, no one is going to pay your "full stack web developer", 200K. Full stack developers are a dime a dozen and you can outsource your typical CRUD Software As A Service app overseas or "rural source" it to Middle America.

Maybe not $200k, but you can at least ask for more.

Also, I'd be a little careful about out-sourcing and rural-sourcing. I've found that many high-quality remote workers charge Bay Area rates regardless of where they live. If they're not, well, that may signal a lack of quality. You can get a bit of a discount, or find a more specialized person than you might otherwise.

To those of you in low-cost-of-living areas: Consider raising your rates to signal your quality. You're worth it.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#576

Post by Tade0 » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:40 PM UTC

dmarucco wrote: post #320

Tade0 wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a local could you tell me: is it true what they say that work in IT in northern Italy is mainly in Milan and maaaaybe in Verona and Ferrara? I wanted to move to Bologna, but I had trouble finding any interesting offers.

I don't know about Verona and Ferrara but i can confirm that IT work (in northern Italy) is mainly in Milan. But to live in Milan is quite expensive. You can also check job offers in Turin. Be also aware that in Italy there are mostly consulting firms, and really few product companies, even if in the last years something is changing...

Ok. Thank you for all the information.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#577

Post by 2spicy_thrwaway » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:41 PM UTC

Here's another data point. Quantitative science B.S. from low-tier UC. Data analyst/engineer/data scientist. Silicon valley. Non FAANG.

Mix of promotions and job changes:

2009 $55k + worthless stock

2012 $80k + $10k or 15k signing

2013 $100k + $100k worthless stock

2014 $115k + $200k worthless stock

2015 $150k + $20k signing + $50-$100k stock

2017 $190k + $100k-$150k stock

2018 $260k + $200k-$300k stock

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#578

Post by salburn008 » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:42 PM UTC

hoaw wrote: post #574

ddevault wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think I'm underpaid, but not grossly so. I earn $115,000/yr with 8 years of professional experience in Philadelphia. I have equity currently valued at ~$5,000. I also make an additional ~$10,000/yr in donations to my open source projects and an additional ~$5,000/yr through the occasional side gig. https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/pennsylvania/... I started my career at $30,000 in Colorado Springs. ht…

> I think I'm underpaid, but not grossly so. I wouldn't necessarily call that underpaid. Being underpaid is when you have to choose between the present and the future. If you can both have good and sustainable living conditions, job security and pension with a decent margin you aren't generally underpaid as such. The exception being if your relative wage affects things worth caring about, like being valued by the peo…

I'd define being underpaid as leaving money on the table. Being comfortable is not related. You can be underpaid and still be comfortable.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#579

Post by czguy » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:46 PM UTC

Burner account

An ex-USSR white male moved to Prague, the Czech Republic a few years ago

7+ YOE as SWE

All numbers further are denominated in USD (they use Czech Crowns or CZK).

2018: $77k (current)

$40k/year is my take-home

$57k/year is what is negotiated and put in the contract as a monthly salary (some taxes are split between an employee and the employer)

$77k/year is a total cost for the employer (includes income taxes, social security and healthcare)

(EDIT: formatting)

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#580

Post by sidlls » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 6:49 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #454

sidlls wrote: post #449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not FAANG, but I am in SV, and my salary is currently around $200k/year (give or take). That's low compared to FAANG, but it's much higher, even adjusting for COL, than most of the "perfectly normal" lower salaries in these comments. That's not good: those lower salaries should be considered abnormally low; mine should be considered on the high end of average, maybe. Most software development (where software is t…

That's low compared to FAANG, but it's much higher, even adjusting for COL, than most of the "perfectly normal" lower salaries in these comments. That's not good: those lower salaries should be considered abnormally low; mine should be considered on the high end of average These are the "average" salaries across the industry in different metro areas: https://www.matrixres.com/salary-surveys As far as $200K being high…

$330k gets you goody looks when considering a purchase of a home, or outright laughter. On the other hand your $330k home is not going to yield sufficient ROI to make up for the double (or more) savings and investment rate my salary affords me. I can save almost as as the $110k earner in the suburbs has as his disposable income, and I have access to a diversity of culture, well maintained parks, good (private) schools and such that the suburbanite can only dream of in most cases.