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Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
11–20 of 57 posts
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#12I look at this question from another perspective: if a programmer can create 3x more value than an average one, I am more than happy to offer 3x salary. One may ask how do I define value? Well, examples include easy-to-read documentation, clean, expandable software architecture, a cheerful attitude, ability to work with less-bright team mates, even someone who doesn't take oneself too seriously is some kind of value to me. On top of these, in most programming projects, quality of programmer is way way more important than the quantity of programmers involved. In other words, if given a choice of one smart programmer with 3x salary or 3 average programmers with 1x salary, I would choose the former in a heartbeat. Of course, the HR definitely won't agree, but for my own business, top programmer will always fetch big bucks. I am talking from my current experience of managing a 10-person programming team.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#13How would you determine that in your hiring process? I've done a lot of interviews, and I can tell you, with the exception of a few famous superstar developers, it's practically impossible. So yeah, the answer is "yes", but the question is equivalent to "Would want to always have perfect health, if you had that option?".
Agreed that you may not be able to judge while hiring.
But if the developer turns out to be great, will you give a great bonus and hike? That is also a good option if one turns out to be a great developer.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#14How would you determine that in your hiring process? I've done a lot of interviews, and I can tell you, with the exception of a few famous superstar developers, it's practically impossible. So yeah, the answer is "yes", but the question is equivalent to "Would want to always have perfect health, if you had that option?".
> How would you determine that in your hiring process?
For this experiment, let's say you could compare their past projects (code, product) and they were on equal footing in quality/performance. Or they are consultants you've worked with, have a good measure of their productivity/work-quality, and want to hire 1-super or 3-average of them full-time.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#15>>> If a single person can accomplish everything that an average team of 3 programmers/designers can ...
I do not think that this is how it really works. It is more that that one person understands something that these three others do not. For example, the problem can only be solved with a complex regular expression. This guy understands it. The three others do not. That is why you do not see the difference in 99% of the project. It is in the 1% that truly requires his talent, that the 3 guys get stuck forever, while our guy manages to complete the project. If your project does not require any particular, rare understanding, you will not even see that this guy is so good.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#16I guess I'm one of the few guys that WOULD pay 3 times as much. Maybe I'm a dumbass or maybe just an emotional decision maker. If I had someone like that I would never want to lose them, so yes I would pay them more. They're doing 3 times the work. If it were me, I'd appreciate being paid more because I know what it's like to work harder than everyone around you and get paid less than everyone around you (Taco Bell, my first job, I was one of the longest working employees surrounded by endless no-call-no-showers).
Then again, I go the extra mile because I actually like to, not because there's incentives. When I do something I want to do it for the emotional reward, not for the money. So I'm kind of afraid of the money messing with me psychologically.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#17By 3x as good, do you mean they can develop things faster, with less bugs and with better quality code? If so, we would definitely pay a premium.
I'd rather have something developed in 10 days at a daily rate of $500/day rather than have it take 20 days at $250/day.
However, I wouldn't fire 3 developers to get one "amazing" developer. What happens if he/she gets ill or decides to leave? You're suddenly left with no developers on the team.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#18The three developers suffer from Conway's law[1], unless working very closely. And more people take more space, which costs more money. So, in general, more people, even the salary cost is the same, is a worse deal economically. But you may not notice the issues with only with 3 people. Try comparing 30 vs 10. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Law
It becomes even more obvious when you consider more and more talented workers. I've met people that were easily five or ten times better than their peers, and they were the difference between a tightly-coordinated three-person team and a fifteen-person failure.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#19I look at this question from another perspective: if a programmer can create 3x more value than an average one, I am more than happy to offer 3x salary. One may ask how do I define value? Well, examples include easy-to-read documentation, clean, expandable software architecture, a cheerful attitude, ability to work with less-bright team mates, even someone who doesn't take oneself too seriously is some kind of value…
> How do you define 'good'?
I think your definition of 3x more value sounds pretty good. There is no single definition of good/value/great/perfect, it's a balance of many characteristics. But for this question, assume they are equal in both.
Re: Poll: Would you pay a developer who is 3x as good as average, 3x the salary?
#20Yes, and here's why. it's not about project productivity, it's about building your company. "A" players hire "A" players. "B" player hire "C" players. "C" Players don't want to look bad so they hire "F" players.
That being said, I wouldn't pay them 3x in straight salary. Equity and profit sharing is a better motivator.