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That's really great but not even close to enough. GS-15 for tech jobs tops out at $145k all-in, and you need to have a PhD in some levels to get there. This is

by nunez 4y ago

That's really great but not even close to enough. GS-15 for tech jobs tops out at $145k all-in, and you need to have a PhD in some levels to get there. This is analogous to a principal engineer in scope. Meanwhile, they can turn around at clear $500k if they know their stuff at a place that doesn't require clearances and has good free food and stuff.

scarface74 4y ago
Out of the 2.7 million developers. Most don’t work for BigTech and a “senior developer” in corp dev is not the same as a senior developer in government
lolsowrong 4y ago
When I was a GS15, my box 1 on my W2 was nearly $240k. It’s still not $500k, but it’s not as low as you’re claiming. Yes, the GS table maxes out at ~150k, but they are also allowed to do locality (in DC that was ~34k), and some agencies are allowed to have a recurring bonus to more closely match external pay.
- sigzero 4y ago
  It depends on locality as well. Currently a GS-15 step 10 in the DC maxes out at 183500.
- nunez 4y ago
  didn't know that. thank you for the extra details!
pwinnski 4y ago
An extremely limited number of principal developers can clear $500k and get free food and stuff, but that is not the norm. Hacker News distorts common understanding, apparently. No survey I've ever seen suggests that is in any way the norm. Glassdoor suggests[0] that GS-15 comp is mostly in line with norms, especially based on the another commenter pointing out that your suggestion of $145k max is incorrect. 0. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/principal-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/principal-developer-salar...
- nunez 4y ago
  Scroll down. The companies on that list have an average salary in the high $200s. And that's just salary. Stock-based comp is what takes the total comp to >=$500k.
  - pwinnski 4y ago
    How is this a response to what I wrote? Are there people who exist in this world who make $500k total comp? Yes, I never said there weren't. Is that the norm, the average, or in any way common? No, of course not. The average, as listed at the top of that page, is $133,806 base pay, and $51,995 additional pay, for a total comp average of $185,801. Some big tech companies pay higher than average, especially for exceptional people, so yes, you can scroll down and imagine unmentioned stock grants and come up with whatever number you want to, but focusing entirely on the high end of the exceptions as if that were common seems disingenuous.

by nunez 4y ago

scarface74 4y ago

Out of the 2.7 million developers. Most don’t work for BigTech and a “senior developer” in corp dev is not the same as a senior developer in government

lolsowrong 4y ago

When I was a GS15, my box 1 on my W2 was nearly $240k. It’s still not $500k, but it’s not as low as you’re claiming. Yes, the GS table maxes out at ~150k, but they are also allowed to do locality (in DC that was ~34k), and some agencies are allowed to have a recurring bonus to more closely match external pay.

sigzero 4y ago
It depends on locality as well. Currently a GS-15 step 10 in the DC maxes out at 183500.
nunez 4y ago
didn't know that. thank you for the extra details!

pwinnski 4y ago

An extremely limited number of principal developers can clear $500k and get free food and stuff, but that is not the norm. Hacker News distorts common understanding, apparently. No survey I've ever seen suggests that is in any way the norm. Glassdoor suggests[0] that GS-15 comp is mostly in line with norms, especially based on the another commenter pointing out that your suggestion of $145k max is incorrect. 0. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/principal-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/principal-developer-salar...

nunez 4y ago
Scroll down. The companies on that list have an average salary in the high $200s. And that's just salary. Stock-based comp is what takes the total comp to >=$500k.
- pwinnski 4y ago
  How is this a response to what I wrote? Are there people who exist in this world who make $500k total comp? Yes, I never said there weren't. Is that the norm, the average, or in any way common? No, of course not. The average, as listed at the top of that page, is $133,806 base pay, and $51,995 additional pay, for a total comp average of $185,801. Some big tech companies pay higher than average, especially for exceptional people, so yes, you can scroll down and imagine unmentioned stock grants and come up with whatever number you want to, but focusing entirely on the high end of the exceptions as if that were common seems disingenuous.