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> I need a payrise. Many software engineers do. Considering how much value they create with their work, they are massively underpaid. You could ask why? I'd
by brador 11y ago
> I need a payrise.
Many software engineers do. Considering how much value they create with their work, they are massively underpaid.
You could ask why? I'd argue it's anchoring to the magical 150k. For some reason SEs think that's peak engineering pay. It's not, and if you're doing meaningful work that adds top tier value you should be paid a lot more, or at a minimum given equity.
- ekianjo 11y ago> Considering how much value they create with their work, they are massively underpaid. Nothing preventing them from starting their own business if they believe they can earn much more.
- geromek 11y agoStarting a business might not have anything to do with being a good engineer
- ekianjo 11y agoThen one has to accept the salary they get then.
- brador 11y agoSome skill sets are only applicable at massive scale. So it's get hired by the company, or they hire you as a consultant for the project. Sadly, not everything rolls neatly into a startup.
- tonyedgecombe 11y agoHigh pay is a function of supply and demand in the employment market, not value created.
- brador 11y agoIt's a lot more complex than that. Missing, but vital, variables in your oversimplification include: Market lag, value perception over actual, price anchoring.
- tonyedgecombe 11y agoAll true but expecting salary to mirror the value provided to the employer is like living in cloud cuckoo land. An employer might make a million pounds from your work but if the going rate for the skills they need is £50K then that is what they will pay.
- vdaniuk 11y agoOnly if the market conditions can be described as such that are close to perfect competition. When top employers collude to prevent poaching of employees (Google, Apple, etc) the opposite happens. Compensation is artificially kept low in the interests of megacorps.
- tonyedgecombe 11y agoThat is a somewhat separate issue though and I believe it is outside the law.
- vdaniuk 11y agoIt shows that compensation is not a "function of supply and demand".
- brador 11y agoYou could add the indentured servitude of H1B visas to that list.
- vdaniuk 11y agoSure. Long stock options vesting periods also decrease the opportunities for engineers to switch jobs.
- yitchelle 11y ago> Many software engineers do. Considering how much value they create with their work, they are massively underpaid I hear this a lot, but what is your reference point that allow you to conclude that the engineers are underpaid. Do you use a percentage of profit generated from your contribution? (would you also pay the company for products that made a loss?) Really, how is this measured?