3 ms·

Glassdoor.com, which is the most decent salary source I can think of right now, lists Microsoft Software Development Engineers' average salaries as $94,387 with

Glassdoor.com, which is the most decent salary source I can think of right now, lists Microsoft Software Development Engineers' average salaries as $94,387 with 6000 data points. Software Development Engineers in Test are lower at 84k and 7000 data points. Take from that what you will regarding how much of a wage reduction that would be causing. Let's look at it from a different perspective. There are 1 million software developers in the US alone: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/s... There are 22 million stem employees in the US as of 2013: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf13311/ http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf13311/ The hand wringing here is about 85 thousand a year, a quota which was maxed out /only once/ before last year. A drop in the ocean. And somehow this is the reason US STEM graduates aren't employed in STEM fields, the reason why STEM isn't growing, the reason to blame for everything, etc etc.

jazzyk 12y ago
Don't know about the whole STEM industry, I can only offer anecdotal evidence: almost every big corp I consulted for had FLOORS of Indian people, many of whom barely had community college - equivalent diploma. H1-B has its place, but is should be reserved for REALLY qualified people - say the ones with MS or Ph.D in sciences who graduated from American universities.
- grinnbearit 12y ago
  Considering its the only real option for anyone in China/India to work in the US, what would you replace it with? Or do you prefer they stay right where they are?
  - jazzyk 12y ago
    All I am saying is that importing a small number of really bright, highly educated MS and PhDs _is_ beneficial to _everybody_ in the US(creates jobs, etc). Yes, it is brain drain. I am not sure why the US needs to provide work places for Chinese and Indian citizens? There are many US citizens who need a job these days. I don;t think I am being insensitive - most countries are very protective of their job markets. Try to get a work permit in France or Europe if you are not from a EU country.
    - grinnbearit 12y ago
      I understand your morals could be different from mine but heres how I see it. A Chinese or Indian citizen is an individual, like any other, just like you even. Through no fault of their own they've been born in a country that doesn't provide the same quality of life for them and their family that an American/EU resident enjoys. Don't they have the right to the pursuit of happiness just like you? For an extreme example, would you rather be a Chinese Foxconn employee or an unemployed American. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil_of_ignorance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil_of_ignorance )

jazzyk 12y ago

Don't know about the whole STEM industry, I can only offer anecdotal evidence: almost every big corp I consulted for had FLOORS of Indian people, many of whom barely had community college - equivalent diploma. H1-B has its place, but is should be reserved for REALLY qualified people - say the ones with MS or Ph.D in sciences who graduated from American universities.

grinnbearit 12y ago
Considering its the only real option for anyone in China/India to work in the US, what would you replace it with? Or do you prefer they stay right where they are?
- jazzyk 12y ago
  All I am saying is that importing a small number of really bright, highly educated MS and PhDs _is_ beneficial to _everybody_ in the US(creates jobs, etc). Yes, it is brain drain. I am not sure why the US needs to provide work places for Chinese and Indian citizens? There are many US citizens who need a job these days. I don;t think I am being insensitive - most countries are very protective of their job markets. Try to get a work permit in France or Europe if you are not from a EU country.
  - grinnbearit 12y ago
    I understand your morals could be different from mine but heres how I see it. A Chinese or Indian citizen is an individual, like any other, just like you even. Through no fault of their own they've been born in a country that doesn't provide the same quality of life for them and their family that an American/EU resident enjoys. Don't they have the right to the pursuit of happiness just like you? For an extreme example, would you rather be a Chinese Foxconn employee or an unemployed American. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil_of_ignorance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil_of_ignorance )