To clarify what people are saying: 200 k$/yr+ in base salary is rare (but not unheard of) in SV/NYC for programmers. It usually implies some degree of specializ

To clarify what people are saying: 200 k$/yr+ in base salary is rare (but not unheard of) in SV/NYC for programmers. It usually implies some degree of specialization beyond "Java programmer" ("highly available systems expert" being an example that I know has garnered that base salary.) 200 k$/yr+ in total compensation (ie, salary + bonus + RSUs, at a public company where RSUs are liquid) is much more common. I personally received that as a SDE II at Google, with 4 years of experience, and from my understanding, I was not in any way an exceptional case.