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Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

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Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#41

Post by 486sx33 »

arcticbull wrote: post #38
ilrwbwrkhv wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this blown up to the scale of an entire country is why Canada is suffering so much today. On every metric of measurement they are going down because the ability to take risks is simply missing in the country.

It's also because the many Canadian risk-takers moved to the Bay Area for the concentration of talent and high pay. It's easy to fly down with $50 and an offer letter to work anywhere you want for 3 years (indefinitely renewable) as a software engineer on TN status. Then you can take all the time you need to win the H-1B lottery, or just petition I-485 directly off TN (additional risks apply petitioning directly from…

Canadians and democrats belong in Toronto. TN should never have been opened to software engineers. Software can be done remotely from anywhere.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#42

Post by andsoitis »

bevekspldnw wrote: post #30
lobsterthief wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You just described a lot of cities in the US though

Exactly, Pittsburgh PA checks all those boxes with a fraction of cost of living and crime. Also, way way way more artists - because they can afford to live there. The art scene in the bay is actually really bad.

> The art scene in the bay is actually really bad.

The only cities in the US with a superior art scene than San Francisco are New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and maybe Chicago.

Washington DC, Houston, Marfa, Pittsburg, and Santa Fe lag behind San Francisco.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#43

Post by lolinder »

andsoitis wrote: post #40
lolinder wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yet it is undeniable that – just like being an actor in LA or an investment banker in New York This is what I object to: the comparison to acting or investment banking tends to exaggerate the centralization of tech jobs. If you want to be in a film and aren't in LA then you don't really want to be in a film, because a solid majority of the jobs are there. I imagine the same is true for investment banking and New Yo…

It might be wrong to think in terms of “where the most jobs are”. Rather think in terms of where the center of gravity is.

So, somewhere in Nebraska or Colorado?

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#44

Post by esoterica »

lolinder wrote: post #35
paxys wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one has ever said that 100% of software engineers need to be in the Bay Area. Yes there are plenty of people living elsewhere who have had fulfilling careers in the industry. Yet it is undeniable that – just like being an actor in LA or an investment banker in New York – your opportunities for job search, networking, career growth etc. are significantly higher by being where the ecosystem is concentrated.

> Yet it is undeniable that – just like being an actor in LA or an investment banker in New York This is what I object to: the comparison to acting or investment banking tends to exaggerate the centralization of tech jobs. If you want to be in a film and aren't in LA then you don't really want to be in a film, because a solid majority of the jobs are there. I imagine the same is true for investment banking and New Yo…

Most programmers are $90k/year code monkeys. The $400k+/year jobs are very heavily concentrated in a small number of tech hubs, and mostly in the bay, and that’s the relevant statistic that should inform your decision making if you want to make that type of money.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#45

Post by [deleted] »

esoterica wrote: post #44
lolinder wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yet it is undeniable that – just like being an actor in LA or an investment banker in New York This is what I object to: the comparison to acting or investment banking tends to exaggerate the centralization of tech jobs. If you want to be in a film and aren't in LA then you don't really want to be in a film, because a solid majority of the jobs are there. I imagine the same is true for investment banking and New Yo…

Most programmers are $90k/year code monkeys. The $400k+/year jobs are very heavily concentrated in a small number of tech hubs, and mostly in the bay, and that’s the relevant statistic that should inform your decision making if you want to make that type of money.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#46

Post by okdood64 »

ilrwbwrkhv wrote: post #37
MattGaiser wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The open minded attitudes and culture around risk is something that you can really internalize when you are around other people who give you the correct social proof. Never lived in the Bay Area, but even when Bay Area people visit or show up in my career orbit, the difference is pretty massive. Especially when compared to Canadians on risk taking. Bay Area will spend a week to try something. Canadians will take a…

And this blown up to the scale of an entire country is why Canada is suffering so much today. On every metric of measurement they are going down because the ability to take risks is simply missing in the country.

> because the ability to take risks is simply missing in the country.

Never heard of this before, interesting! Can you direct me to some sources or YouTube video about this? I'd love to learn more.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#47

Post by lolinder »

esoterica wrote: post #44
lolinder wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yet it is undeniable that – just like being an actor in LA or an investment banker in New York This is what I object to: the comparison to acting or investment banking tends to exaggerate the centralization of tech jobs. If you want to be in a film and aren't in LA then you don't really want to be in a film, because a solid majority of the jobs are there. I imagine the same is true for investment banking and New Yo…

Most programmers are $90k/year code monkeys. The $400k+/year jobs are very heavily concentrated in a small number of tech hubs, and mostly in the bay, and that’s the relevant statistic that should inform your decision making if you want to make that type of money.

> Most programmers are $90k/year code monkeys.

And this is the condescending attitude that makes the 99.4% of us who aren't overpaid Silicon Valley types resent the valley.

According to the BLS stats above the median salary for a software engineer is $130k, which is nearly double the median household income in the USA and more than enough to enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle in most areas of the US.

But sure, feel free to look down on those of us who choose to stop optimizing for wealth after realizing we already are earning in the top 10%.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#48

Post by okdood64 »

pc86 wrote: post #9
metadat wrote: post #3

It can matter for future job prospects. You being at least somewhat physically available to make in-person appearances at least sometimes without it being a big deal is appealing to many employers.

This comment reads as if the only tech jobs that exist are in the Bay Area which is obviously not the case. Most tech jobs in the US are somewhere else.

Most "prestigious" large tech companies, or exciting start-ups have their HQ in the area. That counts for something. You get your pick of the litter.

And this comes from someone who is patently not a job hopper.

Re: Ask HN: Does it still matter to be in the Bay Area?

#50

Post by okdood64 »

bevekspldnw wrote: post #32

If you want to work for a big aimless Megacorp, or one of their pets (Anthropic, OpenAi, etc), sure come to Silicon Valley. Make damn sure you get a nice cut of equity on top of the salary. Otherwise, the cost of living is ample reason to stay away.

> big aimless Megacorp, or one of their pets (Anthropic, OpenAi, etc)

What's other US city that has a concentration of tech companies that, in your opinion, aren't aimless as you so described?

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