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Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

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Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#21

Post by noahc »

drharris wrote: post #20

Advice about Ruby or Python is stupid. Sorry, but it is. You focus on that, you compete with hundreds of thousands of willing people, which drives salary down. You have to be truly exceptional to make more than $70k outside of SF/NYC, and in just a few years of learning you likely won't be that special. A trendy language or platform is never going to return the highest salary unless you're in the SV mind-bubble. If y…

I can verify that $70k outside of SF/NYC is very achievable for less than exceptional programmers doing Ruby/Python work.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#22

Post by drharris »

noahc wrote: post #21
drharris wrote: post #20

Advice about Ruby or Python is stupid. Sorry, but it is. You focus on that, you compete with hundreds of thousands of willing people, which drives salary down. You have to be truly exceptional to make more than $70k outside of SF/NYC, and in just a few years of learning you likely won't be that special. A trendy language or platform is never going to return the highest salary unless you're in the SV mind-bubble. If y…

I can verify that $70k outside of SF/NYC is very achievable for less than exceptional programmers doing Ruby/Python work.

Maybe at the moment, but not by the time he's 30. It will go the way of people turning in a resume with "HTML" experience. It'll be expected as a minimum.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#23

Post by noahc »

drharris wrote: post #22
noahc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can verify that $70k outside of SF/NYC is very achievable for less than exceptional programmers doing Ruby/Python work.

Maybe at the moment, but not by the time he's 30. It will go the way of people turning in a resume with "HTML" experience. It'll be expected as a minimum.

A couple things make your scenario less likely than you might believe.

1. Salaries rarely go down once you've landed the job. So if he can get an $70k job now and get a $5k raise each year for the next 4 years that puts him in a pretty good spot to switch jobs and jump to the $100k.

2. Depending on his desire he could leverage his programming + design skills in a unique way that allows him to get to $100k from freelancing, building products, etc. Learning the backend is a stepping stone not the destination, but combined with #1 above means earning an extra $20k on the side is very doable.

3. I doubt that the ability to build enterprise applications out of ruby/python/js will ever be seen as bottom tier office work. People can't figure out how to work their own printers at work, I don't think we'll see these people suddenly learning how to build enterprise applications. Again, even if that is the case, sit tight and your salary probably won't decline as long as you don't leave the job.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#24

Post by meekrabR6R »

iends wrote: post #17
Eyes2design wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Node.js is a section of services that will be needed now and in the future to create distributed web services/ sites, so yes node js is important to the next level of the web resources.

I don't think you've read my question.

I believe s/he's saying if you invest the effort to learn Node (considering you already know js), you could find yourself in a significantly more marketable position in the near future (thus increasing the chances of making that 100k).

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#25

Post by benjamincburns »

I'm 27. I've crossed the 6-figure barrier twice.

1: Consulting on the side.

Find a company that has you working an actual 40 hours per week (government contractors are good for this), which doesn't bar you from doing some side work (bonus points if they have a culture which supports this). Then, find a client or two. You won't have to charge much in order to cross the six figure barrier.

2: Work outside of the software industry

Within a year of when I started consulting, I was recruited by a shrinkwrap products company to work in their intelligent products division. Because I was already consulting successfully, and because I didn't really feel like I wanted the job, I threw out some high numbers during salary negotiation. In the end I wound up with a compensation package North of six figures in an area with very low cost of living.

General advice:

Quit focusing on what solutions you'd need to learn in order to get to the next level. Instead focus on what problems pay the most. Never, ever market yourself in terms of the tools you use. Market yourself in terms of the problems you solve.

Edit:

One other thing - definitely do learn more. Always. The more you learn, the more problems you'll be able to solve. Just make sure that you're letting the problems focus your learning and career development, not trends in solutions.

Edit 2:

Did I really write "done crossed the six-figure barrier" up there? "Well shewt!"

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#26

Post by gee_totes »

Eyes2design wrote: post #3

I'm 27, I do PHP Programming, I moved from Ar. to salt lake ut, There is a large and growing need here for programmers. I know I need a frontend guy with skilled in js, and html. give me us a resume jobs@greenpolkadotbox.com

What's the culture like in Salt Lake? I visited there once a few years ago, and there seems to be a nice pocket of liberal open minded people and artist-types living there.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#27

Post by bbayer »

If you want to make notable money jump to mobile. You don't even have to know Objective-C, Java etc. You may hire somebody to code and make decent money even for basic applications. You can also learn mobile concepts by yourself which basics are very much same with front-end tech. You can also built apps with PhoneGap like technologies which I assume you may find yourself more comfortable with.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#28

Post by drharris »

noahc wrote: post #23
drharris wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe at the moment, but not by the time he's 30. It will go the way of people turning in a resume with "HTML" experience. It'll be expected as a minimum.

A couple things make your scenario less likely than you might believe. 1. Salaries rarely go down once you've landed the job. So if he can get an $70k job now and get a $5k raise each year for the next 4 years that puts him in a pretty good spot to switch jobs and jump to the $100k. 2. Depending on his desire he could leverage his programming + design skills in a unique way that allows him to get to $100k from freela…

Agreed, if he could somehow get the $70k now. He mentioned no existing backend experience, so that was my point about getting this future backend ruby job. One thing in his favor is that people are throwing money at it now, and he might be able to trick his way into such a job with just a Code School course or two under his belt. This would be the "job hacking" way to accomplish it, at least.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#29

Post by mjolk »

drharris wrote: post #22
noahc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can verify that $70k outside of SF/NYC is very achievable for less than exceptional programmers doing Ruby/Python work.

Maybe at the moment, but not by the time he's 30. It will go the way of people turning in a resume with "HTML" experience. It'll be expected as a minimum.

Yes, in 3 to 4 years, programming in Ruby or Python will be considered a skill that entry-level positions should have. In fact, I envision a future in which even the doormen of a building hook into hackernews APIs to verify the account standing of visitors.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 26 and would like to make 100k/yearly before I'm 30. How do I do it?

#30

Post by _progger_ »

johnmurch wrote: post #7

If you are that good with Javascript - jump on the node.js bus rather than Ruby or C#. In terms of making more $ the first thing I would work on is salary negotiation, not necessarily skills. There are a few great salary courses on udemy that can help with asking/answer the right questions when looking for something new or even a raise. In terms of location/salary - I would also recommend looking to freelance for com…

>> If you are that good with Javascript - jump on the node.js bus rather than Ruby or C#.

Everyone knows JS - it will be much harder to compete in future. Better learn an old ERP system that gets updated and has a decent market :).

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