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In a lot of companies Managers and Directors make more money than being a Developer. On top of that the perception of status is higher from the outside if you a
by 100011_100001 6y ago
In a lot of companies Managers and Directors make more money than being a Developer. On top of that the perception of status is higher from the outside if you are a Director vs a Developer.
Smart tech companies have two paths, the management and the engineer path. Where they both have certain expectations but there is no pay ceiling. Bad tech companies tend to disregard this and there is a point that you can no longer get a raise unless you "move up" and become a manager.
- jedberg 6y ago> Smart tech companies have two paths, the management and the engineer path. In my 25 working years, I've learned this is mostly lip service. Yes, there are ICs who make as much as a VP. But look at Amazon. There are maybe ten people in that company that are IC level making what VPs make. And thousands of VPs. To be a VP, you have to be a really great manager. To get VP pay as an IC (ie. Distinguished Engineer), you have to be the best in the world in your field. So yeah, it's possible to have equivalent tracks, but the reality is that you will never make as much as an IC than if you switch to the management track.
- 100011_100001 6y agoAbsolutely true. Even non FAANG companies have that problem. For example in IBM you have to start producing new patents etc. In short the qualifications a VP vs an IC (as you called them) are in different stratospheres.
- throwawaygh 6y agoThis is true within companies but at least in Software is often not true between companies. E.g., the 2nd/3rd-to-last rung of a FAANG IC ladder makes much more than managers and directors at most other companies in the USA. This is significant because it's much easier to become a senior IC at a FAANG than to become a Regional Director at the typical company in the USA.