4 ms·

I disagree that it's usually the case that "really, really bad-ass programmers work for big corporations for good salaries." The number of "big corporations" th

I disagree that it's usually the case that "really, really bad-ass programmers work for big corporations for good salaries." The number of "big corporations" that pay "good salaries" is actually quite small and, in this field, limited mainly to the usual suspects (Google, Facebook, etc.). This is one of those assertions that is basically not provable and usually involves a hedged tautology of some sort ("if you don't work at X, Y or Z, you're probably not bad-ass <--> (almost) all bad-ass programmers work for X, Y or Z"). That said, I've yet to have any discussions, interviews, etc. with startups that lead me to believe they're truly interested in "rock star" talent. Like most big companies, they want talent that is just sufficient enough to shove a marginal but profitable product out the door at a low enough price-point.

gaius 12y ago
There is a lot, lot more to computing than the web. The guys working at HFT firms are serious badasses in programming terms, for example, and their pay dwarfs anything Google or Facebook could offer.
- Iftheshoefits 12y ago
  Yeah, the Valley definitely has "Web Goggles" on at the moment. That's why the "usual suspects" are the usual suspects--it's just what people out here seem to think of when they hear "programmer." It's a bit sad, actually. I moved here expecting the opportunities to be a bit more broad than they seem to be. As a result, I'm considering an attempt to move into the trading/finance space (I've a very analytical/quantitative background related to my prior life in scientific research, but little desire to return to that).
- kelukelugames 12y ago
  My friend got an offer with two sigma. He said no because Google was paying him a lot more. That's my anecdote. :)
mcguire 12y ago
I work for a (rather generic) government contractor and the pay around here is not out of line with what Glassdoor claims for Google. On one hand, I might be making more at the Goog' given my experience, but on the other I'm an idiot and spent far too many years working for lower pay at places that were "interesting" or "cool". On the other, other hand, I know many of the people around are making significantly more than I am (and we're not doing rocket science, by the way), and if I have any more hands, they're definitely not interested in "rock star" talent around here. This isn't HFT, either.
southphillyman 12y ago
It's not unusual for developers working for commercial banks to make $150-200K (or more). That's in low cost of living areas such as Delaware and North Carolina at that. Government contracting is another non silicon valley gold mine. The work may be boring with red tape, but the problems usually are some what sophisticated and always mission critical.

gaius 12y ago

There is a lot, lot more to computing than the web. The guys working at HFT firms are serious badasses in programming terms, for example, and their pay dwarfs anything Google or Facebook could offer.

Iftheshoefits 12y ago
Yeah, the Valley definitely has "Web Goggles" on at the moment. That's why the "usual suspects" are the usual suspects--it's just what people out here seem to think of when they hear "programmer." It's a bit sad, actually. I moved here expecting the opportunities to be a bit more broad than they seem to be. As a result, I'm considering an attempt to move into the trading/finance space (I've a very analytical/quantitative background related to my prior life in scientific research, but little desire to return to that).
kelukelugames 12y ago
My friend got an offer with two sigma. He said no because Google was paying him a lot more. That's my anecdote. :)

mcguire 12y ago

I work for a (rather generic) government contractor and the pay around here is not out of line with what Glassdoor claims for Google. On one hand, I might be making more at the Goog' given my experience, but on the other I'm an idiot and spent far too many years working for lower pay at places that were "interesting" or "cool". On the other, other hand, I know many of the people around are making significantly more than I am (and we're not doing rocket science, by the way), and if I have any more hands, they're definitely not interested in "rock star" talent around here. This isn't HFT, either.

southphillyman 12y ago

It's not unusual for developers working for commercial banks to make $150-200K (or more). That's in low cost of living areas such as Delaware and North Carolina at that. Government contracting is another non silicon valley gold mine. The work may be boring with red tape, but the problems usually are some what sophisticated and always mission critical.