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That's easy: most people aren't senior/staff engineers.

Considering that the overall category is "software engineering compensation", many people will be senior/staff engineers, unless people are constantly washing out in less than 5 years time.

Staff usually makes up less than 10% of people, and senior is above the median at most places.

Levels.Fyi further biases towards new grads. A more representative sample would likely move the median higher. And most people are at the low end of senior after five years, if that.

Let me reiterate that: the median silicon valley swe has under 5YOE.

I would just add that some people never make it to staff level. 5 years is a _minimum_ but majority of folks take longer to get there.

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