4 ms·

Foreign IT pros in USA get paid more than Americans

7 points by sound 16y ago

nailer 16y ago
My personal experience is that people who change countries for a career really give a shit about that career.
- GFischer 16y ago
  I don't understand that POV. I have a friend working for Microsoft in Seattle, and he was willing to sacrifice living in his home country for the chance to work with some of the top people in our profession (he worked with Anders Hejlsberg on C# as a SDET). I doubt that is "giving a shit"... Also, he was the top talent in my class (graduated on time, which is HUGE here in Uruguay, and rose to the top very fast) - no wonder he should be paid more than your average US developer. OTOH, I wouldn't expect myself to be paid above the average US programmer, but then again, I haven't had the drive to emigrate.
  - DilipJ 16y ago
    I think you may have misunderstood nailer's point. I think what he was trying to say is that if someone feels compelled to leave his country (and his family and everything he knows) to further his career elsewhere, then that must mean he must be really committed to that career path, and probably has the drive and motivation to succeed in that area, to a greater level than someone who wouldn't make that same sacrifice
    - GFischer 16y ago
      Ahh... you mean "give a shit" signifies that they care deeply for it.. (as opposed to "don't give a shit"). Not the most fortunate choice of words, but I get your point now (remember I'm not a native English speaker :) ). Thanks!
      - nailer 16y ago
        Yes. Giving a shit means caring. Not giving a shit means not caring.
Rantenki 16y ago
How is it surprising that when a company has to hire out from the global talent pool, rather than the local one, they have to pay a premium? If the local talent pool were that good (and hence worth the $$$), they wouldn't need to look outside it. Flip the question around in your head; how do salaries for ex-pat Americans compare to the locals in foreign countries? I bet that an American working in Beijing/Dubai/Hong Kong makes more on average than the local equivalent does. Why? Because they aren't really equivalent.

7 points by sound 16y ago

nailer 16y ago

My personal experience is that people who change countries for a career really give a shit about that career.

GFischer 16y ago
I don't understand that POV. I have a friend working for Microsoft in Seattle, and he was willing to sacrifice living in his home country for the chance to work with some of the top people in our profession (he worked with Anders Hejlsberg on C# as a SDET). I doubt that is "giving a shit"... Also, he was the top talent in my class (graduated on time, which is HUGE here in Uruguay, and rose to the top very fast) - no wonder he should be paid more than your average US developer. OTOH, I wouldn't expect myself to be paid above the average US programmer, but then again, I haven't had the drive to emigrate.
- DilipJ 16y ago
  I think you may have misunderstood nailer's point. I think what he was trying to say is that if someone feels compelled to leave his country (and his family and everything he knows) to further his career elsewhere, then that must mean he must be really committed to that career path, and probably has the drive and motivation to succeed in that area, to a greater level than someone who wouldn't make that same sacrifice
  - GFischer 16y ago
    Ahh... you mean "give a shit" signifies that they care deeply for it.. (as opposed to "don't give a shit"). Not the most fortunate choice of words, but I get your point now (remember I'm not a native English speaker :) ). Thanks!
    - nailer 16y ago
      Yes. Giving a shit means caring. Not giving a shit means not caring.

Rantenki 16y ago

How is it surprising that when a company has to hire out from the global talent pool, rather than the local one, they have to pay a premium? If the local talent pool were that good (and hence worth the $$$), they wouldn't need to look outside it. Flip the question around in your head; how do salaries for ex-pat Americans compare to the locals in foreign countries? I bet that an American working in Beijing/Dubai/Hong Kong makes more on average than the local equivalent does. Why? Because they aren't really equivalent.