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The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

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Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#121

Post by danuker »

badcppdev wrote: post #35
klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

Embedded roles pay less than almost any other role... I feel there should be some sort of diagram possible that explains which industries and technologies pay more or less.

https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#salary-and-experience-...

Note the C/C++/C#/SQL cluster at $70k/12years of experience.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#123

Post by bitL »

badcppdev wrote: post #35
klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

Embedded roles pay less than almost any other role... I feel there should be some sort of diagram possible that explains which industries and technologies pay more or less.

Not just embedded, robotics or automotive have pretty low C++ salaries while much higher for Java or even JavaScript... C++ devs are punished for being more capable.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#126

Post by dehrmann »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #28
coliveira wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. They pay well, but the job is absolutely stressful. If you survive long enough to enjoy some of this money, good luck for you, you deserve.

Which industry are we talking about — gamedev? ;-)

That's a funny industry because good enough code is perfectly fine, and people will line up to work on games, so you can pay them less.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#127

Post by tinfoilboy »

I feel like I am in a decently unique situation where I learned C++ throughout my preteens and teens, and got a job straight out of high school writing C++ for Unreal Engine applications. Most of the C++ jobs I see when I look are things that I just honestly do not want to do.

I don't really mind working with the language and wouldn't mind sticking with it. But I don't want to work on financial software, as I don't want to mess with people's money. I work in a game development context right now, and may for the foreseeable future, but I also know that I get paid less than others at my same level in a different context. That part hurts with the way inflation has been lately.

I think in the end, those factors drive me away from trying to further my career in C++ and instead move toward something that would at least pay the bills in the future. I didn't start with C++ and could pivot to other languages and stacks as needed. But it would be a bit painful to know that I put a lot of time into this language to just not use it and let the experience rot.

This also doesn't factor in the numerous jobs that I have seen postings for that I am not qualified for, according to their description. It's hard to become a Senior C++ Engineer when no one is hiring a Junior to Mid C++ Engineer. Probably part of the lack of "talent" is not wanting to invest in cultivating that talent.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#128

Post by brmgb »

at-fates-hands wrote: post #74
klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

Anecdotal evidence to support what you're saying. I had a large group of devs I used to hang out with. It was about 50/50 front-end and C, C++ guys. Over the last decade or so, every single C developer either transitioned to PHP like yourself, or went the full-stack JS route and have never looked back. And it was all over the issues around dealing with legacy systems and the poor pay. One guy told me flat out he can…

That’s also my experience in Europe.

I used to work for an industrial company in the defense sector. We were working on very complex problems with difficult requirements in term of resilience and performance. It was extremely interesting: complex algorithms, redondant architecture, hard real time development, most of it in C++ or Ada. Deadlines were tight. It was quite stressful and the pay was miserable.

I left the field entirely but most of my former colleagues now work as fullstack developers for companies building SaaS solutions. They all complain about how boring it is but they all have doubled their total comp.

Meanwhile, I heard from my former boss that the company still complain that the part of the org doing software is more expensive on average per employee that the ones doing production (apparently no one has realised we don’t hire blue collar workers in this part of the company) and keeps grumbling about how talent is too hard to retain in my city.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#129

Post by bitL »

joezydeco wrote: post #4
fwsgonzo wrote: post #2

I guarantee that higher quality pay will give you access to a higher quality talent pool.

These are financial firms griping about the lack of developers. They're some of the highest paid developers in the world. But working for these companies is also insanely stressful. Long hours, high pressure. Maybe that reputation has caught up to them.

Financial firms in London pay peanuts to C++ devs.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#130

Post by adave »

badcppdev wrote: post #35
klaussilveira wrote: post #19

Heh. I'm pretty proficient in modern C++, and it is my favorite tool for a lot of things, but my PHP job pays way more than any C++ position available. Did an interview once for Senior C++ Engineer, embedded software in the medical device space. All went good, until the offer: $100k. Articles like this are nothing more than a desperate attempt at getting younger generations to learn said topic, so companies can pay t…

Embedded roles pay less than almost any other role... I feel there should be some sort of diagram possible that explains which industries and technologies pay more or less.

Not really if you know where to look and work on platforms. Pay is at par with backend devs if not full stack ones. ML/AI is the where the money is though.
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