4 ms·

Ask HN: What are highly paid areas in CS/Software Development

12 points by mr_o47 5y ago

What are some highly paid areas in CS/Software Development where you can make good amount of money

smarri 5y ago
I've seen lead Node developers get paid very well.
- connectsnk 5y ago
  Is that true. Can anyone else verify?
cpach 5y ago
It can depend a bit on where you live. Working for a FAANG in the US can pay very well.
- cpach 5y ago
  Addendum: While this is not a direct answer to your question, I will take this opportunity to post some links. I’m quite sure reading this will help you when planning for your future career. Best of luck! https://jvns.ca/blog/2016/08/16/how-do-you-work-on-something-important/ https://jvns.ca/blog/2016/08/16/how-do-you-work-on-something... https://jvns.ca/blog/2018/09/30/some-possible-career-goals/ https://jvns.ca/blog/2018/09/30/some-possible-career-goals/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pr... https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/
muzani 5y ago
I'm doing native Android development. My salary alone is well above the median household income for the most expensive district. If I had qualified for a couple of remote jobs I interviewed for, a single person salary would be well within the top 5% of household income. It may not be the highest, but it is a good amount of money. Native iOS development pays a little better, though.
jstx1 5y ago
Country, city, company and level of seniority influence compensation a lot more than the area of CS/software development that you focus on.
- mr_o47 5y ago
  I heard trading companies pays you really well
  - Wonnk13 5y ago
    Those pay well if you're in a front office position and coding algorithms that are directly affecting trading strategies and making the firm money. If you're doing back office work / stuff that just keeps the lights on you won't be paid any better than any other random dev job.
    - marto1 5y ago
      To be honest even the back office ones are paid at least a bit better. Although much duller from what I know from friends.
    - mr_o47 5y ago
      I totally agree if you are directly impacting the business with your code you might be making good amounts of money
joshxyz 5y ago
Imo, anywhere where you're nearer to product management decisions, and sales.
- 71a54xd 5y ago
  Care to elaborate? I'm actually seriously considering moving from the tech side to product side.
burntoutfire 5y ago
Web, backend, mobile are the big ones. If you're after money, avoid: embedded, graphics, scientific, math-based, systems programming (aka the interesting ones). Also, maybe it's anecdotal, but amongst my peers, its the devops folks who are currently getting most money. Might be because everybody is transitioning to cloud and there's a shortage of people who know how to set it up.
71a54xd 5y ago
I think the real answer here in terms of long term career "scaling" and upward mobility is to work in product with prior experience in engineering. Clearly unless you're brilliant or credentialed enough to eventually be a principal engineer, the engineering side is a never ending treadmill with a glass ceiling that emerges way earlier than most would think.

12 points by mr_o47 5y ago

What are some highly paid areas in CS/Software Development where you can make good amount of money

smarri 5y ago

I've seen lead Node developers get paid very well.

connectsnk 5y ago
Is that true. Can anyone else verify?

cpach 5y ago

It can depend a bit on where you live. Working for a FAANG in the US can pay very well.

cpach 5y ago
Addendum: While this is not a direct answer to your question, I will take this opportunity to post some links. I’m quite sure reading this will help you when planning for your future career. Best of luck! https://jvns.ca/blog/2016/08/16/how-do-you-work-on-something-important/ https://jvns.ca/blog/2016/08/16/how-do-you-work-on-something... https://jvns.ca/blog/2018/09/30/some-possible-career-goals/ https://jvns.ca/blog/2018/09/30/some-possible-career-goals/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pr... https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/

muzani 5y ago

I'm doing native Android development. My salary alone is well above the median household income for the most expensive district. If I had qualified for a couple of remote jobs I interviewed for, a single person salary would be well within the top 5% of household income. It may not be the highest, but it is a good amount of money. Native iOS development pays a little better, though.

jstx1 5y ago

Country, city, company and level of seniority influence compensation a lot more than the area of CS/software development that you focus on.

mr_o47 5y ago
I heard trading companies pays you really well
- Wonnk13 5y ago
  Those pay well if you're in a front office position and coding algorithms that are directly affecting trading strategies and making the firm money. If you're doing back office work / stuff that just keeps the lights on you won't be paid any better than any other random dev job.
  - marto1 5y ago
    To be honest even the back office ones are paid at least a bit better. Although much duller from what I know from friends.
  - mr_o47 5y ago
    I totally agree if you are directly impacting the business with your code you might be making good amounts of money

joshxyz 5y ago

Imo, anywhere where you're nearer to product management decisions, and sales.

71a54xd 5y ago
Care to elaborate? I'm actually seriously considering moving from the tech side to product side.

burntoutfire 5y ago

Web, backend, mobile are the big ones. If you're after money, avoid: embedded, graphics, scientific, math-based, systems programming (aka the interesting ones). Also, maybe it's anecdotal, but amongst my peers, its the devops folks who are currently getting most money. Might be because everybody is transitioning to cloud and there's a shortage of people who know how to set it up.

71a54xd 5y ago

I think the real answer here in terms of long term career "scaling" and upward mobility is to work in product with prior experience in engineering. Clearly unless you're brilliant or credentialed enough to eventually be a principal engineer, the engineering side is a never ending treadmill with a glass ceiling that emerges way earlier than most would think.