3 ms·

If you're living in Europe then that's something that you just need to accept, the pay is nowhere near anywhere the pay in the US, I think in my country it caps

If you're living in Europe then that's something that you just need to accept, the pay is nowhere near anywhere the pay in the US, I think in my country it caps at something like 60k$ per year and that's if you're really good at what you're doing.

bb123 6y ago
I recently came to the same conclusion, but also realised that there is a lot more to it than just pay. Generalising here but switching for a similar role in the US will mean: * No more free healthcare * Much less PTO * _Significantly_ less parental leave for you and your partner * Less pension/401k contributions (typically) * Generally longer hours and a more intense working culture * Probably a higher cost of living Depending on your new salary you may find that these downsides are offset by more cash in hand, which is great, but it is definitely not a one way street.
- ehnto 6y ago
  Also no social safety nets, assuming you're moving from somewhere with safety nets. Where I live, I always know that if things get too bad I will always have enough to eat, and the ability to get medical care.
- DarkWiiPlayer 6y ago
  Finally someone points this out :D Even within one country, where you live can make a huge difference in terms of how much rent you pay, whether you can get by without a car, etc. If you get paid a lot but most of it goes directly to your landlord, you're not really any better off than someone who makes a bit less but keeps more of it.
- wombatmobile 6y ago
  The architecture, politics, arts, demographics, culture, and small talk are different too. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on how you feel about each of these things, and what you make of your experience. If you have children, note that the education system is different too.
Cthulhu_ 6y ago
While this is true, you also need to be aware of the pay ranges available in your country. A few years ago I felt underpaid, people younger than me were earning more, self-employed people that took two weeks to come up with a screen with some text and a button that didn't work showed up to the office in a Maserati, things like that. My then-employer did compensate though; I got a double pay raise because of performance, and another raise on top (for a lot of people in the company) because they realized they were behind on market rates. But now I feel like I'm at the top end; there will be some growth but nothing dramatic. To gain more, I need to either shift to a managerial role (and I suspect that if I stick with this job I'll slowly grow into that while the company grows), work for more desperate companies (but that'll increase my commute), US startups with bases in my country (but that'll involve US working culture and timezones), or go self-employed.

bb123 6y ago

I recently came to the same conclusion, but also realised that there is a lot more to it than just pay. Generalising here but switching for a similar role in the US will mean: * No more free healthcare * Much less PTO * _Significantly_ less parental leave for you and your partner * Less pension/401k contributions (typically) * Generally longer hours and a more intense working culture * Probably a higher cost of living Depending on your new salary you may find that these downsides are offset by more cash in hand, which is great, but it is definitely not a one way street.

ehnto 6y ago
Also no social safety nets, assuming you're moving from somewhere with safety nets. Where I live, I always know that if things get too bad I will always have enough to eat, and the ability to get medical care.
DarkWiiPlayer 6y ago
Finally someone points this out :D Even within one country, where you live can make a huge difference in terms of how much rent you pay, whether you can get by without a car, etc. If you get paid a lot but most of it goes directly to your landlord, you're not really any better off than someone who makes a bit less but keeps more of it.
wombatmobile 6y ago
The architecture, politics, arts, demographics, culture, and small talk are different too. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on how you feel about each of these things, and what you make of your experience. If you have children, note that the education system is different too.

Cthulhu_ 6y ago

While this is true, you also need to be aware of the pay ranges available in your country. A few years ago I felt underpaid, people younger than me were earning more, self-employed people that took two weeks to come up with a screen with some text and a button that didn't work showed up to the office in a Maserati, things like that. My then-employer did compensate though; I got a double pay raise because of performance, and another raise on top (for a lot of people in the company) because they realized they were behind on market rates. But now I feel like I'm at the top end; there will be some growth but nothing dramatic. To gain more, I need to either shift to a managerial role (and I suspect that if I stick with this job I'll slowly grow into that while the company grows), work for more desperate companies (but that'll increase my commute), US startups with bases in my country (but that'll involve US working culture and timezones), or go self-employed.