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I'm sorry, but comparing just the gross pay between EU and US is superficial at best. (Taking Germany as an example, single, no kids) If you're offered say 100

I'm sorry, but comparing just the gross pay between EU and US is superficial at best. (Taking Germany as an example, single, no kids) If you're offered say 100k in Germany - due to heavy tax-burden and social security costs - you will get less than 60k net. But what is hidden from your paycheck is that the company has to double your social security. So in reality you're getting paid 115k. If you make more than 250k, that means you get an extra slap on the wrist: "wealthy tax" means every € you make above 250k gets taxed at an excessive 45%. Which is why at that kind of pay employees seek out different kinds of compensation schemes. And because of these schemes those people often aren't count in the employment statistics and thus lower the average pay. On the plus side: From what I hear from European expats in the US, a lot of your high pay gets eaten by having to pay private enterprises for things that are provided by the government in Europe (getting a degree, good schools or kindergartens, healthcare, using the courts/legal system etc).

gnulinux 8y ago
Well as I said, in the US if you have an engineering/CS/math etc degree from a reasonably good uni and want to work in tech, finding a 6 figure job in a major city stratight-outta-college is not only easy but also is the norm. Whereas looking at glassdoor expecting a 100k job straight-outta-college in Berlin is pretty much impossible, you better expect half of that compensation, and even then there is a chance to not find a job. So your math is unnecessary. Especially the wealth tax part. I can't even see 250k compensations for engineers, say, in Berlin even for senior engineers.
- woodpanel 8y ago
  Like I said, there are a couple of 250k jobs in Germany, they aren’t just part of the statistics of glassdoor et al. So let’s start with entry level: say 100k at Bay-Faang and 60k at a Berlin startup. Since you’re paid USD, 100k are actually just 88k. Your cost of living will be a lot higher in say SF than in Berlin so it begs the question: Is 28k more a year worth it? How much of that goes to paying back student debt, housing, healthcare (the big ticket items eventually) and - if you plan on having kids - kindergarten and education?

gnulinux 8y ago

Well as I said, in the US if you have an engineering/CS/math etc degree from a reasonably good uni and want to work in tech, finding a 6 figure job in a major city stratight-outta-college is not only easy but also is the norm. Whereas looking at glassdoor expecting a 100k job straight-outta-college in Berlin is pretty much impossible, you better expect half of that compensation, and even then there is a chance to not find a job. So your math is unnecessary. Especially the wealth tax part. I can't even see 250k compensations for engineers, say, in Berlin even for senior engineers.

woodpanel 8y ago
Like I said, there are a couple of 250k jobs in Germany, they aren’t just part of the statistics of glassdoor et al. So let’s start with entry level: say 100k at Bay-Faang and 60k at a Berlin startup. Since you’re paid USD, 100k are actually just 88k. Your cost of living will be a lot higher in say SF than in Berlin so it begs the question: Is 28k more a year worth it? How much of that goes to paying back student debt, housing, healthcare (the big ticket items eventually) and - if you plan on having kids - kindergarten and education?