Hacker News Reader

Comment by rdouble | Hacker News Reader

Right, but where are these elusive low CoL places one can make $120K+ as a programmer? A $120K salary in NYC is equal to $40-60K in other parts of the country, sure. But in most other parts of the country, you will indeed be making $40-60K as a programmer.

View on HN

Knoxville, TN.

Granted, if you've only been programming for five years you're probably going to only be looking at 80K if you're good (50-60 if you're merely okay). But 100-120 with ten years experience is in the range of what I've seen locally.

Also, you'll need to know .Net or Java.

Edit: Also, TN has no state income tax.

At Amazon or Microsoft you can pull down a $120K compensation package your first year and Seattle is (relatively) cheap.

Ah yeah that's a good one. I've also heard it's possible in Austin and Portland.

I don't think $120k is possible as a new grad in Austin.

New grad rates tend to be $50 - 70k, while some bigger companies offer ~$90k.

$90k in Austin is a much better standard of living than $120k in Bay Area though...

I do that remotely from the Caribbean.

wow.. my dream life. I truly hope to be in a similar position someday (just starting my 1st job). If you feel like it.. do tell a bit more.

Shoot me an email with any questions.

Do what? The showing off?

No. Make a good living writing code as a remote programmer. I do so from an unlikely place.

Los Angeles. There are plenty of places with low CoL (Culver City, the Valley, West LA, Mid-Wilshire) located right next to high CoL locales (i.e., Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com