Had a two 20% increase over a 6 month period at the same company by just asking to "be at the same rate as other positions in the market".
Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
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Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#1210 years of experience.
In my first job had multiple promotions varying from 5% to 50%. The lower ones (5% ~ 10%) were given proactively by my employer and for the bigger one (50%) I've ended up changing position inside the company, after asking for a bigger raise.
I agree with others that it's way more easy to have a substantial increase moving jobs.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#13Most of my actual title promotions came with a 9-15% raise. Cost of living increases have been the same 1.5% or so.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#14I'm almost 50, and have never gotten a substantial raise without moving to a new company. On the contrary, once you are in, there is a lock on your position, especially in larger companies, where you have a specific salary range your role falls in. Raises not only try to stay within the range, they are smaller as you get closer to the top of the range. A promotion bumps you up to the next range, but that is increment…
Getting a raise that small with a promotion is a slap in the face. Exactly this. Essentially the company is saying "We're giving you some additional responsibility, and as a reward we won't cut your salary."
> we won't cut your salary
Unless the new role involves working more hours on salary. Then they are cutting your pay.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#1510 years experience, I've received two 20% raises. If you're a high performer and have a boss willing to go to bat, it's not impossible. But it's much easier to get larger raises when moving jobs, yes.
I have also had similarly large raises. Also had a manager who's willing to fight for it. I have between 5 to 10 yrs of experience.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course, this is a technique HR created to give folks the appearance of career growth while controlling cost. There is nothing your company is doing for you, that isn't the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard.
"... the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard." I'm not sure it even keeps people working hard. Its discouraged me from working hard, especially after filling roles above my grade for a couple years. When the company does the bare minimum and employees realize it, they do the bare minimum for the company.
If you're in OP's position (25 years old), don't react that way. Instead, react by moving.
Why? Because if you're filling roles above your grade, you're a perfect candidate for stepping up your grade as you move. That's how you get a big bump in pay. But if you're doing the bare minimum, you're a much less attractive candidate for a higher grade position. And that matters a lot for a person who's 25, because that big bump in pay sets a floor for your pay for the rest of your career.
If you're 50, doing the bare minimum doesn't cost you as much money over the whole of your career. (It can still corrode your soul, but that's not the issue we're talking about here.)
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
"... the absolute least they calculate will keep you working hard." I'm not sure it even keeps people working hard. Its discouraged me from working hard, especially after filling roles above my grade for a couple years. When the company does the bare minimum and employees realize it, they do the bare minimum for the company.
If you're in OP's position (25 years old), don't react that way. Instead, react by moving. Why? Because if you're filling roles above your grade, you're a perfect candidate for stepping up your grade as you move. That's how you get a big bump in pay. But if you're doing the bare minimum, you're a much less attractive candidate for a higher grade position. And that matters a lot for a person who's 25, because that big…
I was 25 at that time. The tech was obscure, so I didn't have the option to move. If moving was an option, then I would have taken it. Instead I'm in my 30s, burnt out, doing the minimum (sort of), and still a midlevel.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Getting a raise that small with a promotion is a slap in the face. Exactly this. Essentially the company is saying "We're giving you some additional responsibility, and as a reward we won't cut your salary."
> we won't cut your salary Unless the new role involves working more hours on salary. Then they are cutting your pay.
Of if you live anywhere besides the middle of nowhere. Inflation isn't uniform across all locations, if you live in say SF and your rent goes up 15-20%, it's likely your spending power went down by more than 3%.
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you're in OP's position (25 years old), don't react that way. Instead, react by moving. Why? Because if you're filling roles above your grade, you're a perfect candidate for stepping up your grade as you move. That's how you get a big bump in pay. But if you're doing the bare minimum, you're a much less attractive candidate for a higher grade position. And that matters a lot for a person who's 25, because that big…
I was 25 at that time. The tech was obscure, so I didn't have the option to move. If moving was an option, then I would have taken it. Instead I'm in my 30s, burnt out, doing the minimum (sort of), and still a midlevel.
At 25, you have the option to move (that is, change companies) even if you worked on obscure tech. At 25, you can find someone who will take you in that situation (though it may take longer than finding someone who wants the current hotness).
Re: Ask HN: Software engineers who have been promoted with a large salary increase?
#20Yes, these things happen... sometimes, as anything in the universe.
I've been promoted to a leading position after renegotiating my contract and it came with a 120% raise. You probably guessed it right - I was heavily underpaid at first. A teammate of mine earned around 60% more than me and our lead over 100%. When I finally found it out I was devastated. It happend for a couple of years. Sounds stupid? Yeah, it was. I was totally unaware of how much I should be asking for in the first place and never cared to talk about the compensation with the other guys. The team being 100% remote and spread across different countries didn't help too.
What would you do in my place? I wanted to quit, but I decided to negotiate an "impossible" raise first as I had nothing to lose anyway. It worked out and I stayed until now.