My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

Post by throwaway33441 » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 5:12 PM UTC

el_benhameen wrote: post #516

throwaway33441 wrote: post #508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My path is one of the underappreciated hybrid: started in major metro (DC/NY/Boston) and moved to small town in the south after many years, finding good gigs offering remote work for DC-, NY-, and SF-based companies. Found a nice niche in security/ops/development in gov & healthcare tech. So, here goes: DB/Ops Engineering 1999: $60K base. Fresh out of masters program, large F50 DC gov tech firm (#1) 2001: $100K + $5K…

Thanks for sharing. After you (I assume) went remote while working for the same company, how did you go about getting new remote gigs at large tech companies? I’m remote now and would like to stay so, but I’m finding that companies that pay the sort of comp I’m looking for are often remote-averse.

Post by jiveturkey » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 5:15 PM UTC

Post by secabeen » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 5:18 PM UTC

friedman23 wrote: post #460

scarface74 wrote: post #454

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's low compared to FAANG, but it's much higher, even adjusting for COL, than most of the "perfectly normal" lower salaries in these comments. That's not good: those lower salaries should be considered abnormally low; mine should be considered on the high end of average These are the "average" salaries across the industry in different metro areas: https://www.matrixres.com/salary-surveys As far as $200K being high…

>As far as $200K being high adjusted for COLA, in the burbs where I live. $330K gets you a house - brand new build in a top rated school system with five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3000 square feet with a yard, two car garage, and a separate nice size office. What does that get you in SV? Nobody actually plans on retiring in SF. When I'm done working here for 10 or 15 years I'll have enough to move and own a mansion in wha…

Post by friedman23 » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 5:19 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #512

friedman23 wrote: post #492

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm going to give up 15 years of my life -- the time that most people spend getting married, having 2.5 kids, etc. to live in SV -- when I could spend those fifteen years living in the burbs in a big house with the white picket fence in almost any other major city in the US? First of all I'm not "giving it up" and I have no desire for your lifestyle. It honestly sounds horrible. Enjoy your life.

I was hoping that the "2.5 kids" part would enforce that I'm not talking about me in particular since no one can have half a kid, but I was using the cliched "average number of kids per household".

Post by digianarchist » Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 5:20 PM UTC

cgh wrote: post #507

digianarchist wrote: post #487

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UK salaries are dire. When I moved from the UK to Canada my salary doubled and my expenses in the UK (Brighton) were actually higher than here in Canada. I could probably double my salary again moving to the US but I don't want to stay in a place that doesn't have a solid route to citizenship. The TN visas being temporary, non-dual intent and not allowing my spouse to work. Maybe my company will transfer me on an L1.…

What's funny is Canadians often lament their lousy salaries compared to their US counterparts. But I've found that by "US", they really mean "Silicon Valley". It's not a fair comparison. Also, quality of life matters and should be factored in.