5 ms·

How much under what you were expecting, exactly? 10% under? 50%?

fermienrico 9y ago
It is hard to say the exact percent because of my unfamiliarity with the cost of living; but I was expecting about 30-40% higher...perhaps even more. I interviewed with several engineers and really got to understand (and appreciate) the kind of work they do.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- baseethrowaway 9y ago
  Why not share the numbers?
  - fermienrico 9y ago
    Apologies, I will be very transparent: Offer was about $100-110k in the Bay Area + other perks (bonus/stock). I have 4-7 years of experience. This offer was before negotiation (which I didn't end up doing as I thought it was a fruitless endeavor). If I did negotiate, I always negotiate the base salary - that is a guaranteed pay. Bonus/Stock could be slashed, altered and neutered in future. The funny thing is that I currently make more than that outside of California (I wish to not disclose my location if that's ok). I am hearing from others that Bay area housing is approximately $2k / bedroom and that's not super nice. This leaves a bad taste for working in the Bay area where competition is insane, cost of living is through the roof, and compensation isn't adequate. Others are pointing out the thrill of working for Tesla/SpaceX has some value - that is, to work for the next gen American manufacturing. I am a bit more objective and less emotional I guess. I do have a question: Is expecting $130-140k too much for a Mechanical Engineer running one of the most critical areas in their manufacturing line? Edit - removed personally identifiable information.
    - mi100hael 9y ago
      In the Bay Area I'd expect a role like that to be in the neighborhood of at least $175k + RSUs/options/bonus.
      - fermienrico 9y ago
        I think I could have negotiated up to $120 if I was lucky. I’m sick of the corporate grind. If people are interested in contacting me for a robotics startup, I could be reached at the email address on my profile.
        deepnotderp 9y ago
        We're hiring. We're a chip company, not exactly robotics, but your role would be embedded systems on a board. I couldn't find your email, so if this sounds interesting, email me.
        ryanwaggoner 9y ago
        There’s no email in your profile, just FYI
      - Judgmentality 9y ago
        Based on what, exactly? That seems high, especially for mechanical engineers (who don't make as much as software engineers). The general rule of thumb I've seen is as you become more experienced, stock becomes at least half of your compensation, so you're expecting $350k for a moderately experienced engineer? Obviously some people are paid this much in the Bay Area, but I'd hardly consider it normal.
        sidlls 9y ago
        At my company "senior" engineers can expect to start at around $160k/yr plus RSUs (worth about 10%-20% of base per year at current market rates) and an 8%-12% bonus target. Leads start at around $190k/yr.
        ethbro 9y ago
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]

It is hard to say the exact percent because of my unfamiliarity with the cost of living; but I was expecting about 30-40% higher...perhaps even more. I interviewed with several engineers and really got to understand (and appreciate) the kind of work they do.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
baseethrowaway 9y ago
Why not share the numbers?
- fermienrico 9y ago
  Apologies, I will be very transparent: Offer was about $100-110k in the Bay Area + other perks (bonus/stock). I have 4-7 years of experience. This offer was before negotiation (which I didn't end up doing as I thought it was a fruitless endeavor). If I did negotiate, I always negotiate the base salary - that is a guaranteed pay. Bonus/Stock could be slashed, altered and neutered in future. The funny thing is that I currently make more than that outside of California (I wish to not disclose my location if that's ok). I am hearing from others that Bay area housing is approximately $2k / bedroom and that's not super nice. This leaves a bad taste for working in the Bay area where competition is insane, cost of living is through the roof, and compensation isn't adequate. Others are pointing out the thrill of working for Tesla/SpaceX has some value - that is, to work for the next gen American manufacturing. I am a bit more objective and less emotional I guess. I do have a question: Is expecting $130-140k too much for a Mechanical Engineer running one of the most critical areas in their manufacturing line? Edit - removed personally identifiable information.
  - mi100hael 9y ago
    In the Bay Area I'd expect a role like that to be in the neighborhood of at least $175k + RSUs/options/bonus.
    - fermienrico 9y ago
      I think I could have negotiated up to $120 if I was lucky. I’m sick of the corporate grind. If people are interested in contacting me for a robotics startup, I could be reached at the email address on my profile.
      - deepnotderp 9y ago
        We're hiring. We're a chip company, not exactly robotics, but your role would be embedded systems on a board. I couldn't find your email, so if this sounds interesting, email me.
      - ryanwaggoner 9y ago
        There’s no email in your profile, just FYI
    - Judgmentality 9y ago
      Based on what, exactly? That seems high, especially for mechanical engineers (who don't make as much as software engineers). The general rule of thumb I've seen is as you become more experienced, stock becomes at least half of your compensation, so you're expecting $350k for a moderately experienced engineer? Obviously some people are paid this much in the Bay Area, but I'd hardly consider it normal.
      - sidlls 9y ago
        At my company "senior" engineers can expect to start at around $160k/yr plus RSUs (worth about 10%-20% of base per year at current market rates) and an 8%-12% bonus target. Leads start at around $190k/yr.
      - ethbro 9y ago
deleted 9y ago
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