Look if you normalize it across all jobs yes but I'm talking about specialized jobs. The ceiling is much higher in the US and it's not even close. A doctor migh

Look if you normalize it across all jobs yes but I'm talking about specialized jobs. The ceiling is much higher in the US and it's not even close. A doctor might hope to make 140k towards the end of their career in Germany, a new grad will make this in the US. > But if you're salaried and in tech in the top quartile of the labor market, post-tax savings is pretty much the same in western EU vs U.S. There's no 10x difference in wages, (excluding equity performance, which is not a tax/benefits policy issue). As someone who's worked in top companies in Germany and the US, I feel confident enough to weigh in on this. Top earners might make 200k TC in Berlin, but engineers at this caliber will earn 500k+ in NYC. And no, rent and tipping in restaurants does not take up that 300k difference. > If they're making bigger heaps of money, it's because of startup equity comp, not because of tax or benefits policies. They're making more money because American companies pay more money, because they make more money, they have access to more capital, they hire in a more competitive market.