Ask HN: How to get DC rates for remote work?

#1

Post by dcdevthrowaway » Sat, Feb 22, 2020, 2:41 AM UTC

Hi guys,

I'm based in the DC metro area and due to general life circumstances (sharing parenting responsibilities while spouse also works full-time, etc) I'm hoping to find a position where I can work remotely.

Thus far, companies I've talked to about remote work have generally not offered what I consider to be competitive salaries in this region.

For example, one such company had a remote senior Java engineer position, which apparently topped out around $160k plus stock valued ~$20k. The recruiter explained that they have a pay range for employees who live in and around NYC and another for "the rest of the East coast".

It seems crazy to me that they play the pay-based-on-location game, but yet would pay the same to an employee in DC or to an employee in Bangor, Maine (nothing against the lovely state of Maine!).

I know I'm not going to get SV rates for remote work here (although I wouldn't complain if I did!), but I'd expect the first digit of a senior Java engineer's salary around here to be a 2.

Is HN aware of any remote shops offering such rates to DC-area folks? Or maybe I'm currently overpaid and my expectations are out of line?

Re: Ask HN: How to get DC rates for remote work?

#2

Post by bradknowles » Sat, Feb 22, 2020, 6:41 AM UTC

IMO, if you want to work remotely, then one of the things you have to accept is that the employer is likely to pay you less. Otherwise, they’d be paying local salaries to local employees, and you wouldn’t get the job.

Now, in this case, since they already recognize the cost of living in NYC is different from the rest of the country then you could make the case that you should be making near NYC level of money, because DC is also extremely expensive. But I think that’s a real uphill battle, and I think you’d be likely to lose the offer.

A good employer should be willing to have that conversation with you, but good employers are more rare than hen’s teeth.

So, I think you have to decide if you want to work remotely and get remote-work scale pay, or if you want to get DC-scale pay.

Re: Ask HN: How to get DC rates for remote work?

#3

Post by gardnr » Sun, Feb 23, 2020, 9:53 AM UTC

In the past, I have negotiated salaries based on what the employee is worth in the area where they are employed. It would be hard for them to argue that you are not in NYC and you don't deserve a competative DC salary. If they want you then they need to offer competative rates that make it easy to decide to join them. If they can't do that then jog on. As senior talent, the job market is currently in your favor.