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My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

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Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#621

Post by throwaway19435 »

I'm from South Africa. I've got 100% in the HackerRank test, and considered very good. My salary history is pretty depressing in comparison to others, although I was blissful in my ignorance until I met people who were open to talking about their salaries.

2008-1 Y0E-$12,000-Software Dev

2009-2 Y0E-$15,500-Software Dev

2010-3 Y0E-$17,000-Software Dev

2011-4 Y0E-$19,000-Software Dev

2012-5 Y0E-$23,000-Snr Software Dev

2013-6 Y0E-$27,500-Snr Software Dev

2014-7 Y0E-$31,000-Snr Software Dev

2015-8 Y0E-$34,000-Snr Software Dev

2016-9 Y0E-$43,000-Snr Software Dev

2017-10 Y0E-$54,000-Snr Software Dev

2018-11 Y0E-$63,500-Snr Software Dev

Average rent per year is about $8,500.

Average house cost is about $142,000 with interest rate of 10% pa.

Income tax rate is about 40%.

My biggest problem was working at the same company for about 9 years, cause after that my salary almost doubled. I'm seriously considering emigrating though, I'm working too hard and my savings are paltry.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#622

Post by mistermann »

throwaway19435 wrote: post #621

I'm from South Africa. I've got 100% in the HackerRank test, and considered very good. My salary history is pretty depressing in comparison to others, although I was blissful in my ignorance until I met people who were open to talking about their salaries. 2008-1 Y0E-$12,000-Software Dev 2009-2 Y0E-$15,500-Software Dev 2010-3 Y0E-$17,000-Software Dev 2011-4 Y0E-$19,000-Software Dev 2012-5 Y0E-$23,000-Snr Software Dev…

This may cheer you up a bit, your salary vs cost-of-living ratios are far better a typical senior dev would enjoy in Vancouver or Toronto Canada, people here would love to be able to buy the average house outright for 3.7x after tax income. It would take you something like 6x or 7x after tax income just to get a 500 sqft bachelor suite.

Choose where you immigrate to carefully!

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#623

Post by quickthrower2 »

daneyh wrote: post #519
GlennS wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it makes you feel any better, Australian software salaries seem pretty high compared to most of the world. I more than doubled my salary moving from the UK (Bristol) to Australia (Sydney), while my living costs only went up a little higher.

I went from Australia (Sydney) to UK (London) and wondering how your costs only went up a 'little'?!

I found London -> Sydney that rents were cheaper with more value for money in Sydney.

Food is a lot more expensive - but I guess if you eat cheaply or take advantage of office perks it could get the cost down.

Alcohol / going out is a lot more expensive.

Fuel / public transport is cheaper (but public transport is not as good in Sydney).

Tax is slightly less with no National Insurance to pay, and the employer is not paying it an sticking that into your Superannuation (Pension) instead.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#624

Post by tybit »

sumedh wrote: post #229
tybit wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At 2 years experience I was on ~50k package in Melbourne, and at 6 years ~200k. The pay tends to start off a lot lower here compared to the hot spots in the US but somewhat catches up from what I’ve seen.

Can you describe you position, I am assuming an architect?

Just a senior dev but contracting.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#625

Post by ng12 »

fma wrote: post #218

Everyone is posting salaries... How about hours worked. I sometimes feel like a frog in a pot and am in the office for 45 hours a normal week and at times 50. Once in a while a few hours of production support on nights and weekends. The only time I worked 40 hours was government... I realize it could also be the nature of the application. Looks like the author is mainly on UI while my application, and at my previous…

I average 35, if that. Work in fintech. Once or twice a year there's a week where in pushing 60+ but that's usually on my own volition.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#626

Post by PopeDotNinja »

throwaway2016a wrote: post #446
acconrad wrote: post #387

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Nick Zakas is an acclaimed author in the JavaScript world. He probably makes a decent amount more from speaking and conferences, but it's still surprising to me that in spite of having multiple books under his belt that was all he was making considering how much of a value add it is just to have his name for whatever company he was working for.

> He probably makes a decent amount more from speaking and conferences As someone who speaks at conferences regularly with a resume similar to his, I can tell you this probably not true. Tech conferences don't usually pay well if at all. Possibly for a keynote speaker but even then not much. Most conferences I've spoken at don't even pay for you travel and hotel, never mind additional amounts on top of that. They exp…

>> He probably makes a decent amount more from speaking and conferences

> As someone who speaks at conferences regularly with a resume similar to his, I can tell you this probably not true

My first thought was that he meant speaking at conferences was a great self promotion technique for lead generation.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#627

Post by throwaway991123 »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #11

Nice money at those big American companies. In Australia, you have to become a plumber to get to those levels :-)

They're high but not enormously so, IME if you're in Sydney or Melbourne and are competent you can be making $110k+ with 5 years experience. Even more if you're skilled in something that's in demand (data science and DevOps ATM).

From what I've seen I actually think we are lucky to have the highest dev salaries outside of the US. Which is kind of suprisingly in a way, because we don't have too many large internet companies headquartered here and the startup scene isn't huge.

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#628

Post by Aeolun »

nnnate wrote: post #335
Aeolun wrote: post #224

I’m a bit sad about seeing some of the numbers here, and happy about seeing some others to add some perspective. For me: - 2010 Company A €37000 - Netherlands - 2011 Freelance €21000 - Netherlands - 2012 Company B €34000 - Netherlands - 2013 Company C ¥2.5M (€19000) - Japan - 2014 Company C ¥3.6M (€27000) - Japan - 2016 Company D ¥5.0M (€38000) - Japan - 2017 Company D ¥5.5M (€42000) - Japan - 2018 Startup E ¥6.0M (€…

How was your transition into a Japanese work environment? Were the raises you got working at the same company asked for or just given by the company?

The first company in Japan I aaked for a raise, but more in the sense of “need more or cannot live here”.

The second time it was part of a merger and realignment of working conditions (which also increased expected hours from 7 to 7.5).

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#629

Post by qqn »

ambicapter wrote: post #530
qqn wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny you should say that. So here's my situation: college diploma (massage, 2005-07), BSc (bio/psych, 2007-11), MSc (psych, 2013-15), MSc (econ/bus, 2018-19)... and yet my main money-maker continues to be massage because: 1. $110 CAD ($83 USD)/h 2. I set my own schedule, both weekly and time off (self-employed). 3. Zero stress: no one's ever stressed coming in, and I get to directly help people in pain. These people…

> Zero stress: no one's ever stressed coming in Isn't stress a reason to go get a massage?

Yes, but not once I'm with them (unlike a dentist or a car mechanic, for example).

Re: My somewhat complete salary history as a software engineer

#630

Post by lnkmails »

sures wrote: post #505
blrdev356 wrote: post #483

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quality of living sucks though. The same money won't buy you same comforts. Commute is terrible. Housing sucks. Coming from a small village, I often feel alien here :). Though its a different kind of alien when compared with when I was in USA for short visits. Healthcare is usually way cheaper and you can hire maid+cook. All I can say is that money shouldn't be primary driver for your decision unless you are doubling…

I agree with this comment. The quality of life in a place like Bangalore or Mumbai is quite bad when you compare with an American city. Imagine spending 60 minutes to 90 minutes for one way commute to work just 6 miles away!

Ok. I have to make a choice between driving 60 mins for 6 miles vs getting shot at Walmart :). I am joking but I knew already commute is a problem in India. Is work from home more prevalant there?
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