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I'm almost 10 years older and still doing well as a non-manager. Have colleagues 10-20 years older than me too in the same boat. Don't worry too much about it a

I'm almost 10 years older and still doing well as a non-manager. Have colleagues 10-20 years older than me too in the same boat. Don't worry too much about it and do what you enjoy. You will probably have to deal with people a bit more, and every day life is less about coding and more about meetings and strategic plans.

pmiller2 7y ago
For me, it’s not about doing well. I know I’m doing well making over 3x the US median family income, even if that means I’m paying approximately the US median individual wage per year in rent. It’s about how I was chronically underemployed for several years before I broke into the tech industry, to the extent that my ability to retire at a normal age is in question. I would like to know what the rate of increase of pay vs years of experience is for both SWEs and engineering management. I’m a senior engineer right now, and, the next level is probably about 3 or 4 years away if things go as expected. Am I doing my bank account a disservice by not switching to management now? My impression is that it’s probably far easier to make the jump from M1 to M2, possibly even to M3, in those 3 years than it is from senior engineer to staff engineer. At some point, my career level will plateau, no matter what I do, but I want to find the place that leaves me with the most money at age 67 (full retirement age in the US).
daxfohl 7y ago
In my experience (21 years, decent but far from astounding engineer) you you keep going up, maybe more slowly. I think the statistic is skewed due to two things. First, high earners at 15 years moving off into management, moving into more fulfilling jobs, or retiring early, pulling their high salaries from the average. Second, other devs with 15 years moving from outside FAANGM to FAANGM, getting a pay bump for themselves but bringing down the FAANGM 15+ averages.

pmiller2 7y ago

For me, it’s not about doing well. I know I’m doing well making over 3x the US median family income, even if that means I’m paying approximately the US median individual wage per year in rent. It’s about how I was chronically underemployed for several years before I broke into the tech industry, to the extent that my ability to retire at a normal age is in question. I would like to know what the rate of increase of pay vs years of experience is for both SWEs and engineering management. I’m a senior engineer right now, and, the next level is probably about 3 or 4 years away if things go as expected. Am I doing my bank account a disservice by not switching to management now? My impression is that it’s probably far easier to make the jump from M1 to M2, possibly even to M3, in those 3 years than it is from senior engineer to staff engineer. At some point, my career level will plateau, no matter what I do, but I want to find the place that leaves me with the most money at age 67 (full retirement age in the US).

daxfohl 7y ago

In my experience (21 years, decent but far from astounding engineer) you you keep going up, maybe more slowly. I think the statistic is skewed due to two things. First, high earners at 15 years moving off into management, moving into more fulfilling jobs, or retiring early, pulling their high salaries from the average. Second, other devs with 15 years moving from outside FAANGM to FAANGM, getting a pay bump for themselves but bringing down the FAANGM 15+ averages.