3 ms·

I wonder how strongly this holds after you're into the higher end of the salary range? My best increase ever was going from my highschool/college web dev job t

I wonder how strongly this holds after you're into the higher end of the salary range? My best increase ever was going from my highschool/college web dev job to freelance, where I more than tripped my hourly rate from $12.50/hr to $45/hr. (It probably wasn't quite 3x after accounting for taxes and healthcare and such, but it was still a good jump, and brought more flexible hours too.) Since then, I've gotten 20-25% increases a couple of times, topping out at $120k. I was switching more like every 3-5 years, so a 5%/year raise actually ends up being in the same ballpark, if not slightly better. Every two years might be better from a pure cash perspective, but I didn't feel like I was "done" with my roles until the 3-5 year mark - I think I learned more delivered more value, and achieved a better sense of accomplishment doing it my way. I also live in Ohio, with the exception of one year I spent in SF. I imagine I could double my current salary moving back to SF or over to NYC, but I'm happier here. (And $100k+ goes a bit farther here...)

theandrewbailey 9y ago
> I also live in Ohio, with the exception of one year I spent in SF. I imagine I could double my current salary moving back to SF or over to NYC, but I'm happier here. I once joked to a recruiter in SF that California dollars aren't worth much. He understood. Have you tried/considered charging SF/NYC rates to companies that are based there?
- nfriedly 9y ago
  > Have you tried/considered charging SF/NYC rates to companies that are based there? Yep, that's basically what I do :D Moving to SF and then moving back was one of the biggest boosts - both in the immediate pay raise, and in giving me the sense of self-worth to ask for more in future roles. I'm now at $126k base + bonuses and retirement and such. I know that's on the low end for SF/NYC, but I've definitely seen jobs there offer less. I lease a small office that's a 6-min bike ride from home for $250/month and work from there most days. All told, I'm pretty happy. ($60-80k is upper end around here. Elsevier once offered me $100k to work on site in Dayton - apparently they have trouble finding smart people who don't hate them - but I was already up to $120k and working from home at the time.) My rate when I quit freelancing full-time was $125/hr, mostly working for companies in bigger cities. I'd charge more than that today, and probably switch to a daily or weekly rate.

theandrewbailey 9y ago

> I also live in Ohio, with the exception of one year I spent in SF. I imagine I could double my current salary moving back to SF or over to NYC, but I'm happier here. I once joked to a recruiter in SF that California dollars aren't worth much. He understood. Have you tried/considered charging SF/NYC rates to companies that are based there?

nfriedly 9y ago
> Have you tried/considered charging SF/NYC rates to companies that are based there? Yep, that's basically what I do :D Moving to SF and then moving back was one of the biggest boosts - both in the immediate pay raise, and in giving me the sense of self-worth to ask for more in future roles. I'm now at $126k base + bonuses and retirement and such. I know that's on the low end for SF/NYC, but I've definitely seen jobs there offer less. I lease a small office that's a 6-min bike ride from home for $250/month and work from there most days. All told, I'm pretty happy. ($60-80k is upper end around here. Elsevier once offered me $100k to work on site in Dayton - apparently they have trouble finding smart people who don't hate them - but I was already up to $120k and working from home at the time.) My rate when I quit freelancing full-time was $125/hr, mostly working for companies in bigger cities. I'd charge more than that today, and probably switch to a daily or weekly rate.