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This is all in the greater thread's context of whether you are more likely to get rich working for someone else or yourself. Sure, only the top engineers get p

This is all in the greater thread's context of whether you are more likely to get rich working for someone else or yourself. Sure, only the top engineers get paid $300k+/year, but an even smaller number of founders are able to pull that sort of effective salary. I'd wager that these days a smart engineer is financially better off at a big co than even starting a startup. For more specifics, large, prestigious companies such as Google have salary and equity bands based on levels. The majority of engineers at Google are going to be above $200k total comp (salary + bonus + equity). Here's a glassdoor link for context: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Google-Senior-Software-Engineer-Salaries-E9079_D_KO7,31.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Google-Senior-Software-Engi...

ryandrake 10y ago
> This is is all in the greater thread's context of whether you are more likely to get rich working for someone else or yourself. The point I'm trying to make is that both likelihoods are very small. Maybe you have a 1 in 1000 shot at becoming a multi-millionaire by working at BigCo vs. a 1 in 2000 shot at a startup. Some people are claiming that Google, Facebook, etc. are simply pumping out millionaire after millionaire and this is obviously not true. And when you call them on this, they trot out the usual "Bbbbut I know That One Guy At Google Who..." anecdote to somehow prove that everyone in the valley is printing money. I generally don't trust equity figures when looking at Glassdoor, because there are no details. My guess is most of what's self-reported as yearly equity is really just signing bonus equity that vests after 4 years and then you're back to making base salary.
- usaar333 10y ago
  Fair point, though I do believe it is reasonably common for a new grad that starts at FB, Google, etc. to have saved a million within 13 years. (An individual making $200k/year can readily save $80k/year) > My guess is most of what's self-reported as yearly equity is really just signing bonus equity that vests after 4 years and then you're back to making base salary. Generally, I think people would be reporting what they are going to make this year. (e.g. #shares vesting this year * value). Companies continually issue refresher equity as time goes on. At year 2, you'd be expected to be vesting significantly more equity than you did at your start date (especially if you have been promoted)

ryandrake 10y ago

> This is is all in the greater thread's context of whether you are more likely to get rich working for someone else or yourself. The point I'm trying to make is that both likelihoods are very small. Maybe you have a 1 in 1000 shot at becoming a multi-millionaire by working at BigCo vs. a 1 in 2000 shot at a startup. Some people are claiming that Google, Facebook, etc. are simply pumping out millionaire after millionaire and this is obviously not true. And when you call them on this, they trot out the usual "Bbbbut I know That One Guy At Google Who..." anecdote to somehow prove that everyone in the valley is printing money. I generally don't trust equity figures when looking at Glassdoor, because there are no details. My guess is most of what's self-reported as yearly equity is really just signing bonus equity that vests after 4 years and then you're back to making base salary.

usaar333 10y ago
Fair point, though I do believe it is reasonably common for a new grad that starts at FB, Google, etc. to have saved a million within 13 years. (An individual making $200k/year can readily save $80k/year) > My guess is most of what's self-reported as yearly equity is really just signing bonus equity that vests after 4 years and then you're back to making base salary. Generally, I think people would be reporting what they are going to make this year. (e.g. #shares vesting this year * value). Companies continually issue refresher equity as time goes on. At year 2, you'd be expected to be vesting significantly more equity than you did at your start date (especially if you have been promoted)