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Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

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371–380 of 420 posts

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's good that you don't mind being poor, 'cause that's what you're gonna be. I hope that start-up is worth it.

Good bunch of guys, and they're helping me add backend development to my skillset. That's how I look at it. Don't care much for equity.

Move. Seriously. You're harming your future.

I made very nearly that as a fresh graduate with an unremarkable degree and no relevant experience. Out in the sticks with more reasonable living expenses. Thirteen years ago, and I'd come close on several better paying positions. (Tip BTW, £400/mo after rent won't be enough for independent living.)

You're letting loyalty cloud your judgement; you can do better for yourself. Counting pennies isn't fun and you don't need to.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#372

Earlier quoted context omitted.

London cost of living isn't so bad. Public transport is cheap and abundant, competition keeps prices down for restaurants and shops, and there are a lot of free events to keep you busy. The main expense is in the accomodation, which most people in their 20s combat by sharing houses in undesirable areas. (This is a problem UK wide though as they have managed to keep our housing bubble inflated unlike in the US.) Londo…

Public transport in London is anything but cheap. It is simply the most expensive urban public transport system I know of in terms of cost of monthly passes (or travelcards). Currently a monthly travelcard in zones 1-2 is £116.80 ($177.30). In comparison, a similar monthly pass in New York costs $112, $74 in San Francisco, $167 in Tokyo, $84.50 in Paris, $99.95 in Berlin, $100 in Chicago, $67.96 in Melbourne and so o…

Yes, and I pay about that much petrol month just in petrol to get to work. London's a swings and roundabouts thing, I can see the attraction TBH.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is more in "the old class system" (or the caste system) than just attending elite college. It is genes. You like it or not, breeding matters a lot. What all those companies buy is not grades, it is not even a particular phenotype, it is a few generations of fine breeding, well-educated parents and relatives, etc. So, most of those guys "with a sociology degree" worth it, you like it or not. It is just one of th…

LOL, did you mean in-breeding within a limited pool? We are talking about UK high class, right?

Why, no. There are lots of offspring of world's elites in top-tier US colleges.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#374

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are you better off if an overpaid VP is laid off and replaced with a cheaper VC? Try to be specific. The word "irrational" doesn't mean "idiotic", by the way.

The company has an extra $150k to spend on everyone else, R&D or sales, or distribute as profit. I think it's a net positive (for the employee, company and/or society).

Before the VP got his pay cut, you made $100k. After the VP got his pay cut, you made $100k. Explain to me how this is a rational thing, in the economic sense of "rational", for you to care about.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#375
post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment nicely captures a misconception about how employment markets work. If, stipulating the dollar value of the whole comp package, a comp package appears fair, it is still fair no matter what that company pays anyone else . Wages are "fair" or "unfair" based on prevailing rates and supply/demand.

Then why all the hand-wringing about a "shortage" of engineering talent? Because the market cannot operate, it is suppressed by the class system.

I am not smart enough to understand what this comment is trying to say.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#377
post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bus is £2.40 now ...

The overwhelming majority of non-season ticket bus fares are paid via Oyster. The cost for paying by Oyster is £1.40

You can also pay for buses using a credit/debit card with contactless payment for £1.40, which is pretty cool (particularly when my Oyster credit runs out) http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/26416.aspx

BTW I work/have worked in other companies in the Forward group, the parent of Forward Labs, and can confirm it really is a great place to work

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#378
I assume a Dutch software engineer would not have problems living and working in London? I'm currently living in a remote area that I really like, but it feals a bit 'dead'. I'm yearning to get back in to a more action-packed working environment.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#379
post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So at 60k you can't find devs maybe that's not high enough. Try offering 100k, see how many applicants you get. If you can get lots of CV then you've found the market price. Remember, to attract people you'll also need to attract people who are in jobs already. For that you'll have to offer something better than what they have.

Yes, I understand this, although I don't see any difference in number of applicants when I mention the salary and when I don't (I usually don't). I'm not seeing many good people who would be ready to join if I paid them more (it happens occasionally and we usually find a compromise). My recruiters are telling me that increasing the offer wouldn't give me more applicants. However, if the harsh reality is that I must b…

Personally, I get a little bit turned off by offers around £60k-£100k because I associate them with working in finance, which is something I don't want to do and I know a lot of folks I know also don't want to do that. Making subject lines or ads a bit more explicit and descriptive as well as offering those large sums might work just fine. How are you describing the company and the current growth of the company?

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineers in London, what's your annual salary?

#380
post #321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_brick_university One of 6 particular universities. A similar term in the USA would be something like Ivy League: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

Erm, no. Red Bricks are ex-polytechnics or newbuild universities, generally specialising in quality degrees like urban forestry and golf course management. Oxford BROOKES is an example of a red brick. But not Oxford.

You are 100% wrong about red brick universities. Are you English?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_brick_university

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