Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you share your friends backgrounds that go to data engineers?
wow, you really want to find out who these people are.
Maybe he just wants to find out if MSc in Data Science is worth it.
My Salary Progression in Tech
331–340 of 631 posts
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#332Currently taking a break from my PhD, although I plan to finish it one day. Here's my salary progression as a CS researcher in Silicon Valley:
2015: $104k (worked in an R&D lab for an enterprise company)
2016: $106k (laid off at the end of the year as part of reorg)
2017: $115k + $10k bonus (short stint as a SRE at a famous company that unfortunately didn't go very well....)
2018: Consultant at a startup for $120/hr. Unfortunately this opportunity didn't last. Ended up taking a research internship.
2019: $95k (promoted to full-time researcher)
I love my current job; in fact, it's one of the best I've had. But Silicon Valley is a very expensive place, and I'm wondering if there are opportunities to do CS research in industry outside of Silicon Valley.
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#333These salaries sound astronomical compared to earning potential in UK companies. As an Architect, average salaries are around £64,000. Does anyone know how like for like roles pay in the UK for US companies? I can't see Amazon paying £200k for a software developer?
That figure must be for outside London, no? Since there aren't too many UK salaries here I'll add mine for London, all in GBP:
- 2006-2009 45-60k Employee, US investment bank, Analyst
- 2010-2012 300/day Freelance, full stack web dev
- 2013-2017 105k Employee, tech lead at a startup
- 2018-2019 700/day Contractor, Senior Python Developer
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#334Earlier quoted context omitted.
Still in VA? Is it typical for senior SWE to make 1.2 million? How can one reach that point faster?
Staff Engineers at FAANG typically make 400-500k/pa. What made the difference was a retention grant. I got a competing offer and they gave me millions in stock, which I accepted and stayed. After I was fully vested, I basically got lucky and found another big company that had a department that was doing some pretty undisciplined hiring and brought me in at Senior Staff. I'm not really doing the job at that level, but…
Any advice on changing jobs faster in Cal but not bay area? For example, remote positions?
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#335Just for the sake of variety, I started off as a promising young software developer but let idealism and thirst for adventure get in the way :) Besides loving to code, having skills in high demand has allowed me to travel and explore the world for the past 20 years. 1997-1998 - $32k - Programmer for State government 1998-1999 - $86k - Consultant, Phoenix & NYC 2000-2004 - $32k - Software developer for NGO, Amsterdam…
You are living my dream my man
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#336These are unbelievably high salaries. In Germany such salaries are possible only at management positions (not talking about IB) of large companies only. I visited US 3 years back and I found everything better - clothing cheaper, food more delicious, people friendlier and houses bigger. Yes you don't have social security and have poverty issues but I would still be in US than in Europe considering the amount of money…
Don‘t focus on the huge money aspect. There is a lot of selection bias here, only few people make this much outside of some very particular areas/companies.
Comparing Germany (where I’m also from) and the US, I’d say that Germany still gives much higher standard of living at the same salary, especially due to lower rents in the big cities.
FYI my progression
120k joining top3 mgmt consulting after PhD, stayed for 4yrs, left when being promoted to project leader (200-250k)
200k in mgmt position at e-commerce company in Berlin
Anyway, I think money matters way less than happiness in the job and a good work-life-balance, at least when you have no debt and aren’t struggling financially (=there is enough money left for vacations and some savings)
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#337Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can we really compare them, though? I live in France, where €90k/y puts you in the top 1% salaries. In the US, you’d need to earn $400k/y to be in the same position. Standard of living and other social benefits come to mind.
I don't get this thinking. I think everyone is making the comparison to Silicon Valley, which is ridiculously expensive because their are too many people making too much money that all want to be in the same place. In most of the USA, not only do you make more than you would in France, but things are actually cheaper, not more expensive. Imagine you make $150,000/year, a really nice house cost $300,000 (think $2,000…
I haven't heard of anyone in Europe reporting their salary after-tax.
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#338Throwaway account; I am currently in my late 30s. Graduated from Kansas University in 2008. 2008 to 2010 - $50K CTO/co-founder of a small company 2011 - $125K SDE II @ Amazon 2012 - $125K SDE II @ Amazon 2013 - $175K SDE III @ Amazon 2014 - $217K SDE III @ Amazon 2015 - $200K E5 @ Facebook 2016 - $500K E6 @ Facebook 2017 - $800K E7 @ Facebook 2018 - $1M E7 @ Facebook 2019 ~ $1.25M E7 @ Facebook
What technologies you work in ?
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#339From these data points/my experience, the only semi-repeatable way you'll make $350k+ money as salary is senior FAANG employee based in the US (comp outside the US for the same FAANG positions is usually way less), senior position in finance in a good bonus year, or contracting working your butt off for multiple clients
Re: My Salary Progression in Tech
#340Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have a few friends in London, contracting whilst working a Single Person Business (lacking the proper terminology). Super high wages £500 - £700 per day, whilst having an effective tax rate or 13%. Boom.
The effective tax rate is closer to 30%+ once you factor in corporation tax but the rest is correct. You incorporate a limited company and take a low salary and rest in dividends. Though you'll get to higher tax brackets with that pretty quickly too, so will likely want to leave a fair share of revenue in the company (you still need to pay 20% corp tax on profit), or put it into your pension (tax relief on up to £40k…
Good to know, thanks on the correction. Didn't get the whole spiel from my mate but that makes sense.