7 ms·

Wait, are you saying 150-250k is standard and you can get more at FAANG? Most senior devs I know aren't breaking $130 in a flyover. To be clear, a lot aren't b

Wait, are you saying 150-250k is standard and you can get more at FAANG? Most senior devs I know aren't breaking $130 in a flyover. To be clear, a lot aren't breaking $100,000.

trhway 6y ago
It _was_ standard few years back and is still for anybody who hasn't changed job in the last 2-3 years. In our BigCo we're loosing people fast (only lazy sediment like me - Google gave me only 1x - is still there), and the new people, not much of them around though, are getting $300K+ .
- throw1234651234 6y ago
  I am lost between not believing you and questioning what I am doing with my life.
  - mrep 6y ago
    It's about 180k for beginner level, 260k for the level above that, and 370k for seniors at G/FB [0]. And if you consider Chicago flyover, then you can get close to those numbers even in flyover as I'm in Chicago and pulling about 5% less than those numbers. Although it definitely is easier to find those jobs in NYC/Seattle/Bay area. [0]: https://www.levels.fyi/company/Facebook/salaries/Software-Engineer/ https://www.levels.fyi/company/Facebook/salaries/Software-En...
    - pc86 6y ago
      You're saying that senior devs in Chicago are $350k? Because that doesn't jive with literally any piece of data I've seen. Even on the high side I can see somewhat reputable sources saying seniors are in the $180-200k range.
      - mrep 6y ago
        Can get close to those numbers Senior devs don't get those numbers on average in the bay either. Facebook/Google are the top (NFLX too but they only hire senior engineers) and few other companies close behind like amazon, apple and some fintech. I'm saying you can get those numbers because I myself am making 5% below those numbers (245k for mid level) in Chicago for what levels.fyi is showing what FB is paying for their engineers.
      - ryandrake 6y ago
        Every time compensation comes up on HN, people come out of the woodwork quoting some super high outlier salary that someone they know makes, and then they extrapolate that to "all FAANG software engineers must make $500K". Sometimes they quote that "anecdote aggregation" website whose name I won't even mention as evidence that these super high outlier salaries are the norm. As far as I am aware, the data powering these sites (and HN's comments) are voluntary and self-reported, and there is no correction for this self-selection bias. Few people making average or below average compensation really want to admit it or post about it in public, so you're only going to see evidence of above-average salaries, biasing the resulting average figures.
      - infinite8s 6y ago
        Outside of finance, right?
azemetre 6y ago
Take a look at levels.fyi (not affiliated). The base at senior typically varies between 160k to 220k where the majority of compensation comes from stock. Seniors at FB tend to make between $300k to $450k. This also includes generous perks like 401ks, health insurance, etc. At Netflix it can even be astronomically higher. Levels is a cool site, had no idea how high some salaries can be. Kinda motivates me to get on the leetcode grind.
thelean12 6y ago
One promotion from junior at a FAANG can get you to mid 200s. This is the reason I have a really hard time with the "cost of living" arguments people make when talking about living in the bay area. $2.5k/mon rent is 30k. Even if I'm getting free housing elsewhere, it's generally not worth it.
qes 6y ago
Not sure if MN is a "flyover" state. I lucked into a great job with a good, generous boss that values technical expertise and domain knowledge who also built a growing, successful business with high margin, recurring revenue. I'm getting close to $250k as the lead dev/CTO. I wouldn't take a FAANG job for $350k. Maybe 2x/$500k. Though I'd be afraid I wasn't cut out for it, and frankly, I'm not going to put in the work to get an interview and 2x offer from a FAANG so it's a moot point. I expect if I ever have to change jobs I'll be taking a pay cut. Our mid-level devs are getting $120-150k. We'll hire a junior - as in their first dev job - at like $70k but they'll be hitting $100k in 2 years. Raises slow down some after that but 10%/year is common. No grind culture, flex schedule & location (we have some people who live out of state).

Wait, are you saying 150-250k is standard and you can get more at FAANG? Most senior devs I know aren't breaking $130 in a flyover. To be clear, a lot aren't breaking $100,000.

trhway 6y ago

It _was_ standard few years back and is still for anybody who hasn't changed job in the last 2-3 years. In our BigCo we're loosing people fast (only lazy sediment like me - Google gave me only 1x - is still there), and the new people, not much of them around though, are getting $300K+ .

throw1234651234 6y ago
I am lost between not believing you and questioning what I am doing with my life.
- mrep 6y ago
  It's about 180k for beginner level, 260k for the level above that, and 370k for seniors at G/FB [0]. And if you consider Chicago flyover, then you can get close to those numbers even in flyover as I'm in Chicago and pulling about 5% less than those numbers. Although it definitely is easier to find those jobs in NYC/Seattle/Bay area. [0]: https://www.levels.fyi/company/Facebook/salaries/Software-Engineer/ https://www.levels.fyi/company/Facebook/salaries/Software-En...
  - pc86 6y ago
    You're saying that senior devs in Chicago are $350k? Because that doesn't jive with literally any piece of data I've seen. Even on the high side I can see somewhat reputable sources saying seniors are in the $180-200k range.
    - mrep 6y ago
      Can get close to those numbers Senior devs don't get those numbers on average in the bay either. Facebook/Google are the top (NFLX too but they only hire senior engineers) and few other companies close behind like amazon, apple and some fintech. I'm saying you can get those numbers because I myself am making 5% below those numbers (245k for mid level) in Chicago for what levels.fyi is showing what FB is paying for their engineers.
    - ryandrake 6y ago
      Every time compensation comes up on HN, people come out of the woodwork quoting some super high outlier salary that someone they know makes, and then they extrapolate that to "all FAANG software engineers must make $500K". Sometimes they quote that "anecdote aggregation" website whose name I won't even mention as evidence that these super high outlier salaries are the norm. As far as I am aware, the data powering these sites (and HN's comments) are voluntary and self-reported, and there is no correction for this self-selection bias. Few people making average or below average compensation really want to admit it or post about it in public, so you're only going to see evidence of above-average salaries, biasing the resulting average figures.
    - infinite8s 6y ago
      Outside of finance, right?

azemetre 6y ago

Take a look at levels.fyi (not affiliated). The base at senior typically varies between 160k to 220k where the majority of compensation comes from stock. Seniors at FB tend to make between $300k to $450k. This also includes generous perks like 401ks, health insurance, etc. At Netflix it can even be astronomically higher. Levels is a cool site, had no idea how high some salaries can be. Kinda motivates me to get on the leetcode grind.

thelean12 6y ago

One promotion from junior at a FAANG can get you to mid 200s. This is the reason I have a really hard time with the "cost of living" arguments people make when talking about living in the bay area. $2.5k/mon rent is 30k. Even if I'm getting free housing elsewhere, it's generally not worth it.

qes 6y ago

Not sure if MN is a "flyover" state. I lucked into a great job with a good, generous boss that values technical expertise and domain knowledge who also built a growing, successful business with high margin, recurring revenue. I'm getting close to $250k as the lead dev/CTO. I wouldn't take a FAANG job for $350k. Maybe 2x/$500k. Though I'd be afraid I wasn't cut out for it, and frankly, I'm not going to put in the work to get an interview and 2x offer from a FAANG so it's a moot point. I expect if I ever have to change jobs I'll be taking a pay cut. Our mid-level devs are getting $120-150k. We'll hire a junior - as in their first dev job - at like $70k but they'll be hitting $100k in 2 years. Raises slow down some after that but 10%/year is common. No grind culture, flex schedule & location (we have some people who live out of state).