My Salary Progression in Tech • Hacker News Board

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#491

Post by ddelt » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:45 PM UTC

stoksc wrote: post #482

ddelt wrote: post #428

I feel slightly motivated, but mostly crushed by these crazy TC levels. Although I know I'm doing fairly decent for myself, as someone who is very critical of my own progress or lack of, it feels very disheartening to see people my age making 10x what I am, simply because they are located in SV, doing the same work. In my area, short of being extremely fortunate to land some amazing fully-remote job, there is not one…

Right there with you. I’m doing pretty decent, making 85k but straight out of college. At a nice start up in a big city. But 800k at Netflix? Good god.. I should mention I’m ‘straight out of college’ at 27, so that’s contributing, too.

As someone who is not making 800k at Netflix, I want to say you are definitely doing pretty well in my opinion. Congrats!

I graduated college a year early (21 years old), but it took me almost 4 years in the industry before my compensation even got close to 70k.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#492

Post by wasabiketchup » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:46 PM UTC

iSpiderman wrote: post #353

> It's always been my intention to retire early, > I'm interested in making huge money and retiring early, > I don't begrudge people with their crazy salaries but I do get frustrated that I can't find success myself. I am shocked and surprised at the same time (knowing that I only selected quotes of a few commentators). Shocked to see the same mindset as many managing consultants and investment bankers I have met and…

I like to start doing things, just because I want to, and do not have to stress about it being "likable" by others, and thus generating money.

I make some woodworking? No thinking about starting an instagram account, gathering audience, trying to sell, making a newsletter..

I travel? No need for me to publish travel hacks stuff just to fund my travelling.

We work in IT, we are very fortunate to make $$$. Let's work part time, and have more time for us, really for us.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#493

Post by jumbopapa » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:46 PM UTC

edu wrote: post #473

jumbopapa wrote: post #453

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does TC mean?

Total Compensation: salary + shares + other perks

Thank you

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#494

Post by gok » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:47 PM UTC

koolba wrote: post #131

DVassallo wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. But I'm not optimizing my life to make as much money as possible. I'd like to work on my own terms, doing things that intrinsically motivate me. If I can do that while covering my family expenses, I think I would have improved my life.

I can’t speculate on mindset or motivation, but based on purely financials I’d have suggested sticking it out for a few more years to build up a larger nest egg. It’s not just the risk of not succeeding at your next venture; there’s the follow up risk that after failure you can’t get back in the game where you left off. That said, best of luck to you. Fortune favors the brave!

Assuming DV was able to save a good% of their money and get a reasonable return on it, their nest egg could easily be a couple million today. After taxes etc another 3 years might only grow that 10-15%.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#495

Post by cpursley » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:49 PM UTC

salaryowmew343 wrote: post #433

2008-2010: Waiter: 6£/h 2010: Intern 4$/h 2011: Intern about 6400£ after taxes for 2 months 2013: 28k/year 2014: 40k/year 2015: 55k/year (£) 2016: Contractor with full employee benefits, remote, python, startup - $75k/year. Small bonus after the startup was bought. 2018: two remote contracts. Working 6 days a week for 12h. After taxes and all my expenses - I live very comfortable lifestyle - I was saving for retireme…

> Not sure how to invest money

Low fee index funds

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#496

Post by stfwn » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:50 PM UTC

hashhar wrote: post #321

I graduated with a Bachelors in Computer Science in July 2017 in India. All amounts below are the fixed salary without any stock options or bonuses. 2017-2018 - $8k - Backend Dev for major eCommerce 2018-2019 - $10k - same role Laid off due to downsizing in Nov 2018 with a healthy severance. Dec 2018-2019 - $17k - Backend Dev for a logistics company

Nice to see a non-US/EU contribution. What is the middle class cost of living in your area?

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#497

Post by linuxftw » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:54 PM UTC

testvox wrote: post #440

saagarjha wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or fortunately, depending on your sociopolitical views, assuming you're talking about universal basic income?

I think he meant more like minimum wage increases and health insurance mandates.

I'm talking about anything and everything that the many choose to take from the few.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#498

Post by screye » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:54 PM UTC

philipp-H wrote: post #284

These are unbelievably high salaries. In Germany such salaries are possible only at management positions (not talking about IB) of large companies only. I visited US 3 years back and I found everything better - clothing cheaper, food more delicious, people friendlier and houses bigger. Yes you don't have social security and have poverty issues but I would still be in US than in Europe considering the amount of money…

> I found everything better

That is because everyone in the US lives above their means. I am astounded at how frivolously my acquaintances live, despite having huge student and car loan payments. Home ownership is also worryingly low among urban youth.

The trend towards buying SUVs is IMO another sign of this. The coupe / hatch is way cheaper, but they must have the SUV despite not needing it as much.

HN is the exception, with a lot more people being fans of a minimalistic and careful approach to spending.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#499

Post by easyease » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:57 PM UTC

Here's my antidote to the astronomical salaries posted here:

2012-2014: 25k USD graduated, teach English in Japan

2014: 30k Join startup. Fails.

2015-2017: 25k Back to teaching

2018: 40k try my hand at IT again. Fail.

2019: 30k teaching once again.

If you're worried about your 70k tech salary realise things could be a helluvalot worse.

Re: My Salary Progression in Tech

#500

Post by robohydrate » Fri, Mar 15, 2019, 1:59 PM UTC

South Florida (Fort Lauderdale)

2013 - $45k - test engineer

2014 - $50k - raise

2014 - $82k - new company, switched to software engineering

2015 - $89k - raise + adjustment for finishing masters degree

2016 - $94k - raise + promotion

2017 - $98k - raise

2018 - $105k + $15k RSU - raise + company wide adjustment, also first time given RSU bonus

I'm fairly happy with my progression, plan to stay at the current company for the forseeable future.