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> Europe [and their] limited high knowledge industries (tech) Huh, where’d you get that idea?

runawaybottle 6y ago
Their salaries suck. I would love to be told I’m wrong about this, and that parts of Europe are up there with tech hubs like NY and Cali.
- pjc50 6y ago
  The same global companies exist in both places, for example Facebook Dublin: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/facebook-ireland-staff-coin-it-as-average-pay-reaches-154-000-1.3714642 https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/facebook-irel... Even within the US, it's been the case up until 2020 that the premium for having a worker in SF or NY was absolutely huge. Now that everyone has been forced to manage over Zoom for a bit, is that sustainable? I genuinely don't know. (I have a 97th-percentile UK salary living in Scotland from an employer based in Austin, but that still probably doesn't compare to SF numbers)
- viraptor 6y ago
  California tech hubs are not a common US thing either. There's only one silicon valley and it comes with its own numerous issues. The actual cost of living and services is also very different. Pointing just at the salaries in SV won't give you a good comparison. (In the same way that pointing out lack of them in Broken Bow, Nebraska doesn't make the US as a whole bad at tech)
- dep_b 6y ago
  Contracting salaries are much more similar. Not the same, but in the same ballpark. The ability to fire people easily, less holidays and less perks leads to higher salaries in the US but contracting jobs pay relatively bad.
- UncleMeat 6y ago
  The US is a lot bigger than just NY and SF/LA. Further, there is a tremendous amount of poverty and near-poverty in these cities as costs like housing continue to rise. It is a great setup for software engineers at top companies being paid hundreds of thousands. It is less good for the restaurant chef or the retail worker or the car mechanic.

Their salaries suck. I would love to be told I’m wrong about this, and that parts of Europe are up there with tech hubs like NY and Cali.

pjc50 6y ago
The same global companies exist in both places, for example Facebook Dublin: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/facebook-ireland-staff-coin-it-as-average-pay-reaches-154-000-1.3714642 https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/facebook-irel... Even within the US, it's been the case up until 2020 that the premium for having a worker in SF or NY was absolutely huge. Now that everyone has been forced to manage over Zoom for a bit, is that sustainable? I genuinely don't know. (I have a 97th-percentile UK salary living in Scotland from an employer based in Austin, but that still probably doesn't compare to SF numbers)
viraptor 6y ago
California tech hubs are not a common US thing either. There's only one silicon valley and it comes with its own numerous issues. The actual cost of living and services is also very different. Pointing just at the salaries in SV won't give you a good comparison. (In the same way that pointing out lack of them in Broken Bow, Nebraska doesn't make the US as a whole bad at tech)
dep_b 6y ago
Contracting salaries are much more similar. Not the same, but in the same ballpark. The ability to fire people easily, less holidays and less perks leads to higher salaries in the US but contracting jobs pay relatively bad.
UncleMeat 6y ago
The US is a lot bigger than just NY and SF/LA. Further, there is a tremendous amount of poverty and near-poverty in these cities as costs like housing continue to rise. It is a great setup for software engineers at top companies being paid hundreds of thousands. It is less good for the restaurant chef or the retail worker or the car mechanic.