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Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

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Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#251

Post by Test0129 »

runako wrote: post #232

20+ years in the industry, here's my quick take on your situation in the spirit of constructive feedback: - You're far enough into your career that you will have to actively work on your career and/or self in order to achieve your next set of objectives. The early career momentum has worn off. - You need to upgrade your resume. Pay someone a few hundred $ to help you with this. Resume writing does not appear to be a…

I think OPs problem is going into management. Base pay is typically higher than an IC but a high flying IC can clear more easily. As you mentioned specializing is the key. Data engineering is the new hotness. Failing that, I can echo your sentiment on the contract market. I can (and have for a short time) doubled my employee salary after taxes going self-employed. If you can keep a list of clients and not work for a contract firm (which is hard but doable) you have a lot of avenues for better benefits via SEP-IRA, entrepreneur healthcare programs, etc that you will never get as a W-2.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#253

Post by monknomo »

ajkjk wrote: post #213
aynyc wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you want to work at FAANG, get some interviews with them. That requires Leetcode, no? Am I missing something?

I dunno where everyone got the idea that Leetcode is required for this stuff. You learn everything you need to pass these interviews in a 101 or 102 level algorithms/data structures class.

Those classes teach the algorithms and how to implement them.

What they lack is:

1. how to recognize which algorithm the interviewer is expecting 2. how to present said algorithm on a whiteboard in under 30 min 3. how to speak fluently about the tradeoffs made in said whiteboard implementation 4. 'mutually agreed upon head compilation' where both you and the interviewer agree how your whiteboard code will be executed.

These are skills that you can, and should, practice to interview with large companies. Leetcode helps with 1 and 2.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#254

Post by ajkjk »

AnotherGoodName wrote: post #220
ajkjk wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno where everyone got the idea that Leetcode is required for this stuff. You learn everything you need to pass these interviews in a 101 or 102 level algorithms/data structures class.

This is weird because I work at FAANG and one of the things that everyone acknowledges is that we all studied to get past the damn interview loop. Yes it is covered in classes, there is nothing new but at the very least you need to brush up.

Sure, you should study a bit. That doesn't mean you have to 'grind leetcode' or anything. I usually go implement a couple data structures (a heap and a graph search, or something) and then feel pretty good. Typical interview questions just aren't that hard and if you aren't too nervous about it you can figure them out live if you know basic computer science.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#255

Post by dml2135 »

lrvick wrote: post #139
throw1234651234 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you jump jobs every 2 years if your shares don't vest for 4?

I have never paid attention to shares or vesting schedules in contracts. I would stay until I had made the improvements I sought out to make and was bored. I would leave with whatever has vested at that point. I do not acknowledge golden handcuffs ever. Leave when you do not enjoy the job anymore, or are not bringing maximal value you know you could elsewhere. Startup stocks are ephemeral lottery tickets unlikely to…

Question for you, have you always moved directly from one job to the next? I'm contemplating leaving my current role and taking a couple months off before the job search, and while I'm not worried about landing a new job, I am concerned that being unemployed may result in lower offers.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#256

Post by ajkjk »

monknomo wrote: post #253
ajkjk wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno where everyone got the idea that Leetcode is required for this stuff. You learn everything you need to pass these interviews in a 101 or 102 level algorithms/data structures class.

Those classes teach the algorithms and how to implement them. What they lack is: 1. how to recognize which algorithm the interviewer is expecting 2. how to present said algorithm on a whiteboard in under 30 min 3. how to speak fluently about the tradeoffs made in said whiteboard implementation 4. 'mutually agreed upon head compilation' where both you and the interviewer agree how your whiteboard code will be executed…

All of that stuff comes pretty easily if you have spent any time in a day job talking to coworkers about algorithms. Running code in your head and talking about its tradeoffs is not like an esoteric skill.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#257

Post by abduhl »

giantg2 wrote: post #179
lotsofpulp wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the qualify of life at work like for a crane operator? Do their mistakes cost immediate loss of life, possibly even for themself? Do they work evenings, nights, and weekends? Can they work from home, or move to a new country at a whim?

Do they have crushing expectations placed on them and are expected to be connected 24/7?

I was at a site after a crane collapsed seriously injuring 3 people including one guy who took a cable to the face and, as far as I know, never regained use of his eye. The crane operator survived without injury. He’s probably still making picks despite being a proximate cause for 3 of his friends’ permanent life altering injuries. So in a sense they do have crushing expectations placed on them, except these expectations actually crush someone to death sometimes.

But yeah they’re also on call sometimes.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#258

Post by gbajson »

988747 wrote: post #192
hardware2win wrote: post #33

It feels like salaries in Poland went up Now 7x minimal wage after tax is not as impressive as 5-8 years ago

If you only make 7x minimal wage after tax then you are severely underpaid. 10-12x is the standard now.

Experience is an important factor here.

Minimal wage in 2022 is 3010 PLN (~630 Eur), so juniors/mids rather won't make 10-12x.

Re: Ask HN: Have tech salaries been stagnant for the past decade?

#259

Post by skhameneh »

I've found wages to be increasing, but not necessarily against inflation.

General trends I've gathered (opinionated loose observations): - Wages in smaller cities have increased the most. - Costs of living in smaller cities have greatly increased relating to remote work and current events. - Wages have greatly increased at the very top and upper bottom. - Median wages have increased the least and often not kept up with inflation. - Wages at the very bottom haven't changed much.

Personally, I don't believe my wages have kept up with inflation and cost of living. ~10 years ago I was on salary without stock and my current base pay is ~16% lower, my target TC is only 35% higher, but reality is looking more like 20% more. If I were to target 5% growth in pay per year, the increase should be closer to 62%. And keep in mind housing costs have more than doubled... All of this completely ignores career growth, my title is higher than it was 10 years ago.

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