levels.fyi says principle level engineers are making $86,000 annually in Taiwan, with zero shares. $49,000 being the average for [software] engineers in Taiwan
there will be a shortage at that compensation range, which they can solve with higher cash and amplify with shares and a competitively short cliff like Meta and others have, of 3 months or less.
> Cost of Living Including Rent in Taipei is 59.0% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Salaries tend to scale with cost of living. The cost of living in Taiwan is lower than the US. The difference is particularly large if you compare Taipei, the capital where the cost of living is likely the highest, to San Francisco. Presumably, the salaries would be higher if they hire people from the US.
With the first type of statement, the industries are pursuing a call effect, an excess of demand, which translates into the second statement.
they are incentivized to underpay americans, complain that they "can't" find talent, to ensure the relevancy of Taiwan
but their arguments are weak and solved with compensation