5 ms·

I don't think this holds water since Amazon engineers in Vancouver, five hours north of Seattle, experience a 30% pay differential from their U.S. counterparts.

I don't think this holds water since Amazon engineers in Vancouver, five hours north of Seattle, experience a 30% pay differential from their U.S. counterparts. The simple fact is that quality Canadian engineers will accept jobs for lower pay. I expect that over time, the software engineering market will demand higher pay. I hope OP does start that company in Waterloo to kickstart the whole process.

acchow 9y ago
You haven't countered my point at all....Amazon Vancouver isn't going to offer Seattle comp if no one else in Vancouver is. It takes multiple companies all making bay-area-style profits to create upward pressure on labor prices to end up with bay-area-style salaries.
- linkregister 9y ago
  ? You have completely changed your goalposts. I will remind you of your previous points: 1. Canadian companies don't make much money so they can't afford high salaries 2. Canadian companies don't forecast they will have high growth after expensive hires. Please tell me if I have misinterpreted your comment.
  - acchow 9y ago
    Sorry, let me clarify. My primary point was "The motivation to pay more for talent is to make more money" (quoting myself). Companies won't pay top dollar if they don't think they will make more money by hiring top talent (#2 above), or they don't have the money to afford the top talent (#1 above), or...let me add #3: Companies won't pay more for top talent if they can acquire that talent for cheaper (which happens when there is no competition for that talent). Tho #3 is kind of a metafeature - the ecosystem needed for #3 to be satisfied requires many companies that all satisfy #1 and #2.
    - linkregister 9y ago
      I agree with #3; I dispute #1 and #2 are true in Canada.
sqeaky 9y ago
Doesn't Amazon try to screw everyone pretty much the time? Don't they just do whatever they can get away with? I think pay statistics from multiple companies would be mcuh stronger for your argument..
- AzzieElbab 9y ago
  True as it may be, Amazon is top payer in Vancouver

acchow 9y ago

You haven't countered my point at all....Amazon Vancouver isn't going to offer Seattle comp if no one else in Vancouver is. It takes multiple companies all making bay-area-style profits to create upward pressure on labor prices to end up with bay-area-style salaries.

linkregister 9y ago
? You have completely changed your goalposts. I will remind you of your previous points: 1. Canadian companies don't make much money so they can't afford high salaries 2. Canadian companies don't forecast they will have high growth after expensive hires. Please tell me if I have misinterpreted your comment.
- acchow 9y ago
  Sorry, let me clarify. My primary point was "The motivation to pay more for talent is to make more money" (quoting myself). Companies won't pay top dollar if they don't think they will make more money by hiring top talent (#2 above), or they don't have the money to afford the top talent (#1 above), or...let me add #3: Companies won't pay more for top talent if they can acquire that talent for cheaper (which happens when there is no competition for that talent). Tho #3 is kind of a metafeature - the ecosystem needed for #3 to be satisfied requires many companies that all satisfy #1 and #2.
  - linkregister 9y ago
    I agree with #3; I dispute #1 and #2 are true in Canada.

sqeaky 9y ago

Doesn't Amazon try to screw everyone pretty much the time? Don't they just do whatever they can get away with? I think pay statistics from multiple companies would be mcuh stronger for your argument..

AzzieElbab 9y ago
True as it may be, Amazon is top payer in Vancouver