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I'm sure the hive-mind will make itself known in response to this, but I think the 'problem' is more nuanced than just "you pay X in SF, I want X". I agree com

I'm sure the hive-mind will make itself known in response to this, but I think the 'problem' is more nuanced than just "you pay X in SF, I want X". I agree completely that location shouldn't really affect the pay - I've worked with a company (heavily skewed to remote work) that favoured (Central/Eastern) European workers because they could hire 2 for the price of a single US worker to do the same job. I think the issue with the OP's case specifically is that SF salaries are ridiculously over-inflated - the solution is to pay people less and encourage them to live somewhere that's actually liveable. Factor in how much money the company is probably spending on it's own costs in SF (i.e. office rental etc) and they should probably pay the remote workers more because they provide the working space/etc themselves.

autotune 8y ago
That’s fine if you hire employees to work remote outside of SF only, but if you try to pay less in the Bay Area an employer is only going to get either poor quality employees or those who will switch companies immediately when a better offer is inevitably presented. Have to be competitive if you want good talent in the Bay Area.
- stephenr 8y ago
  There is "good talent" literally all over the world, that's the point. We hear stories about people moving from all over the place, to be in SF and the ridiculous salaries, and simultaneously how it's so expensive to live there, and then how it's expensive to hire/retain "good talent". Both sides of the fence are to blame for this ridiculous catch-22 of bullshit. But ultimately, thats what startups are all about isnt it? Burning through insane amounts of money for no real gain. Why am I so surprised the same logic applies to the salaries of their workers.
apta 8y ago
> I think the issue with the OP's case specifically is that SF salaries are ridiculously over-inflated When the employing company is making billions of dollars, it's only fair to pay its employees accordingly. This attracts talent. There's a reason why you generally find the best tech workers in the Bay Area and other tech hubs.
- stephenr 8y ago
  You're suggesting that SF salaries are high purely because a small number of the companies in the area make billions of dollars in profits, and the rest are just playing "Keeping up with the Jones" on salaries? You think it has nothing at all to do with ridiculous cost of living caused by a massive influx of workers, in turn caused by an almost cult-like obsession with a particular geographic location funded by billions upon billions of other peoples money?
  - apta 8y ago
    It's cyclic. When employees are highly paid, rents will go up. Other people will also want in on the high salaries, so competition goes up to acquire the best employees, salaries go up, rents go up, rinse and repeat.
    - stephenr 8y ago
      Landlords don't know what their tenants earn. They know when there is a lot of demand for available living space. Higher demand means they can ask for more rent, with a greater chance someone will agree to what they ask for.

autotune 8y ago

That’s fine if you hire employees to work remote outside of SF only, but if you try to pay less in the Bay Area an employer is only going to get either poor quality employees or those who will switch companies immediately when a better offer is inevitably presented. Have to be competitive if you want good talent in the Bay Area.

stephenr 8y ago
There is "good talent" literally all over the world, that's the point. We hear stories about people moving from all over the place, to be in SF and the ridiculous salaries, and simultaneously how it's so expensive to live there, and then how it's expensive to hire/retain "good talent". Both sides of the fence are to blame for this ridiculous catch-22 of bullshit. But ultimately, thats what startups are all about isnt it? Burning through insane amounts of money for no real gain. Why am I so surprised the same logic applies to the salaries of their workers.

apta 8y ago

> I think the issue with the OP's case specifically is that SF salaries are ridiculously over-inflated When the employing company is making billions of dollars, it's only fair to pay its employees accordingly. This attracts talent. There's a reason why you generally find the best tech workers in the Bay Area and other tech hubs.

stephenr 8y ago
You're suggesting that SF salaries are high purely because a small number of the companies in the area make billions of dollars in profits, and the rest are just playing "Keeping up with the Jones" on salaries? You think it has nothing at all to do with ridiculous cost of living caused by a massive influx of workers, in turn caused by an almost cult-like obsession with a particular geographic location funded by billions upon billions of other peoples money?
- apta 8y ago
  It's cyclic. When employees are highly paid, rents will go up. Other people will also want in on the high salaries, so competition goes up to acquire the best employees, salaries go up, rents go up, rinse and repeat.
  - stephenr 8y ago
    Landlords don't know what their tenants earn. They know when there is a lot of demand for available living space. Higher demand means they can ask for more rent, with a greater chance someone will agree to what they ask for.