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Comment by MrPatan | Hacker News Reader

FANGs? startups? contracts? It's been a while since I looked, is 200k the norm now? Asking for a friend...

I mentioned £200k because it's near the top end for a senior engineer in London (although not the very top). FAANG, some Unicorns, trading firms will pay this to a senior engineer. Bear in mind this is total compensation, so part of that will be in stock or options.

For engineers based in the UK that are shocked by this number I'd recommend reading this [0] article. It's about compensation in the Netherlands but the same principle holds for the UK.

[0] https://blog.pragmaticengineer.com/software-engineering-sala...

This was a great read, thanks.

In Boston and NYC I am seeing $150-200k at well-funded startups for "experienced IC" roles. If you have several years of experience, and you're actually a good engineer, and aren't at least above 150k in a market like this, you need to start interviewing, because your current employer is taking advantage of you.

> If you have several years of experience, and you're actually a good interviewer

FTFY.

It most certainly isn't the norm now, with exceptions of course. FAANG and some large banks can pay a lot, but most do not.

Yea 200-250k is starting base of seniors now. Options, RSUs, bonus on top of it.

Depends where in the US. 200k is not typical for anyone working outside of a FAANG in SV. I've got almost 17 years exp and not making $200k base, and recruiters who contact me balk when I ask for something in that range - to include someone who contacted me on this very site and put me through a multi-week interview process only to offer me considerably less than 200 (or even my current pay).

And considering the way the economy is going (at least in the West), it's probably smart to work a side gig and make as much money as you can, while you can, because work is going to dry up soon.

I am not working for FAANG. I am not in SV. I am based in the US. Working for an early stage start-up. Earning quite a bit North of $200K. My compensation is based on the value I provide, not where I live. Any recruiter or hiring manager who tries to tell me different is promptly ignored.

> I've got almost 17 years exp and not making $200k base

I am surprised by this. You can check levels.fyi to target the right companies. I guarantee you 100% that you can easily make > 230k base outside FANG for a remote position.

> I am surprised by this

Really? I don't personally know anyone making that much. My mother is a software engineer with an additional 20 years of experience on me and has never made that much (currently makes less than me, in fact).

Why do you think work is going to dry up soon?

This isn't the case in London (which is what the parent comment is referring to). In London you can probably half that base.

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