For the very earliest employees in a startup, you should pay little more than living expenses in salary, because you only want people who want mostly equity. How much equity to give them is always a negotiation. The underlying principles are described here: http://paulgraham.com/equity.html
Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
11–17 of 17 posts
Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#12Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#13Anything less, and you are getting screwed. Anything more, and you are actually good either technically. or at negotiation.
Don't sell yourself for little thou. You have all the power of negotiation BEFORE joining the company. After that, it will be very hard to get any big raises.
The other thing, is to consider equity. Are you joining as just an employee of as a early starter employee that will creat their technology backbone.
Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#14For the very earliest employees in a startup, you should pay little more than living expenses in salary, because you only want people who want mostly equity. How much equity to give them is always a negotiation. The underlying principles are described here: http://paulgraham.com/equity.html
Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#15payscale.com
Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#16In the Midwest in dollars per hour, newbs bill for 30-35 per hour. junior programers 35-55 senior 50-80 niche jr 50-85 niche sr 85-150 enterprise niche 100-250
Re: Ask YC: What would the salary range be for programmers?
#17Junior programmers get paid around 25000 EUR per year (before taxes) - that equates to 35000 USD.