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Salaries overall in the UK are comparable to the US (similar median), but programming falls at a different place on the salary curve. In the US, programmer is a
by _delirium 9y ago
Salaries overall in the UK are comparable to the US (similar median), but programming falls at a different place on the salary curve. In the US, programmer is among the highest-paid professions, often earning 2-3x what would be a typical salary in other white-collar, professional jobs. In the UK that's not the case, and programmers earn just a typical white-collar salary that you'd earn in any job that requires university-level qualifications (or equivalent experience).
Unlike the US, I don't believe there is much of a perception of a "STEM shortage", which may be a contributing factor. Programmers are just not seen as particularly hard to find, at least no more than any other skilled profession. Especially after the fall of the Iron Curtain, which brought in a lot of highly skilled STEM folks into the common market.
- jazzyk 9y agoThere is no shortage of programmers in the US, either (except, temporarily, in SF/SV). There is this myth, which uses an example of a handful of lucky "tech" people like Jobs or Gates or Zuckerberg who got rich and famous. In fact, none of them were/are programmers (though Zuckerberg _can_ hack around a bit) A few numbers to refute your point about programmers being among the highest paid professions: - doctors $400K-$800K - lawyers - starting salary $160K[2], can go into millions, if you make it as a partner - MBAs - even lowly "marketing managers" - often glorified secretaries - can make $150K or more - chemical engineers - at least comparable with SW - pharmacists https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/business/dealbook/welcome-to-your-first-year-as-a-lawyer-your-salary-is-160000-a-year.html https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/business/dealbook/welcome...