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This doesn't factor in stock compensation AFAIK. For instance, I started at Amazon at around $90k in salary plus signing bonus of $20k so like $110,000 my first

by plandis 10y ago

This doesn't factor in stock compensation AFAIK. For instance, I started at Amazon at around $90k in salary plus signing bonus of $20k so like $110,000 my first year out of college back in 2013. I made about the same in 2014. In 2015 I got promoted to SDE2 and my salary is closer to $118,000. But additionally I also got like $60k in 2015 in stock and this year my stock compensation is just about $100,000. I'd imagine this is the case for a lot of tech companies so comparing salary alone probably isn't going to make a good argument one way or another. Also taxes. WA has no state income tax so add an additional 10% income buying power

nkassis 10y ago
But there has also been an incredible growth in amazon stock value during that time. This isn't going to be typical of someone starting to work for Amazon today (or another tech company) as your stock grant was most likely calculated at a much lower stock price then it is now while theirs would be calculated on today prices and we don't know how the future will go. Experience definitively varies.
- dingdongding 10y ago
  You're underestimating Amazon. I still think it can achieve same returns if not more in next 4 years like last 4 years
  - user5994461 10y ago
    Tell that to the LinkedIn employee whose stock went down ;) Stock is hit or miss. The big 4 had tremendous growth in the past few years and that made some people lucky. Don't count on that again in the future.
  - nkassis 10y ago
    Not underestimating, worked there and believe in the company. But speaking from experience, the stock can take dives from time to time based on market whims as it happened when I left and t my RSU vested below their estimated price. Which sucked as I needed cash at the time to move. The thing is you can be lucky or unlucky with RSUs during short or long term periods.
ryandrake 10y ago
Keep in mind stock vests after some time and then you're back to base salary. I've found the practice of yearly "evergreen" grants to be rare even in the Valley.

by plandis 10y ago

nkassis 10y ago

But there has also been an incredible growth in amazon stock value during that time. This isn't going to be typical of someone starting to work for Amazon today (or another tech company) as your stock grant was most likely calculated at a much lower stock price then it is now while theirs would be calculated on today prices and we don't know how the future will go. Experience definitively varies.

dingdongding 10y ago
You're underestimating Amazon. I still think it can achieve same returns if not more in next 4 years like last 4 years
- user5994461 10y ago
  Tell that to the LinkedIn employee whose stock went down ;) Stock is hit or miss. The big 4 had tremendous growth in the past few years and that made some people lucky. Don't count on that again in the future.
- nkassis 10y ago
  Not underestimating, worked there and believe in the company. But speaking from experience, the stock can take dives from time to time based on market whims as it happened when I left and t my RSU vested below their estimated price. Which sucked as I needed cash at the time to move. The thing is you can be lucky or unlucky with RSUs during short or long term periods.

ryandrake 10y ago

Keep in mind stock vests after some time and then you're back to base salary. I've found the practice of yearly "evergreen" grants to be rare even in the Valley.