Feel like im only earning half of my potential salary

Pfizer DLep64
Jul 17 41 Comments

It seems like everyone here is making $300k TC and yet I'm only making $80k in san diego.

I've been looking at rooms in the palo alto area, and they're surprisingly cheap, there's several on craigslist for 1200ish. In the part of sd that im in, rooms also go for around 1200. It seems like a no brainer, why would anyone be a developer anywhere else than the bay? Everywhere else seems like peanuts

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 TOP 41 Comments
  • Workday / Product xoyp
    Palo Alto room for 1200 maybe the outdoor shed of a mobile home.
    Jul 17 0
  • Google / Eng pumaupma
    Come to Seattle maybe?
    Jul 17 3
    • LinkedIn agenam
      Yes - from year long 70 degrees and best beaches on the west coast to 8 months of 50s and gloomy.

      No brainer.
      Jul 17
    • LinkedIn nubody
      Word
      Jul 17
    • Google / Eng pumaupma
      TC or GTFO
      Jul 18
  • Facebook / Eng e999
    You can DEFINITELY make more than 80k in San Diego. You can start from finding a higher paying job over there.

    Doesn’t hurt to first interview with few companies here. Might bring you back to reality if you get all rejects and no offers. Or maybe you’ll land a 300k job on the first try. Wouldn’t know until you try.
    Jul 17 0
  • Cruise Automation memepool
    Downtown PA goes for 1400+, East PA which is a much more dangerous neighborhood goes for around 1000-1200. Keep in mind, just because you see good deals for 1200 doesn't mean you'll get the room. You'll be competing with 20 other viable tenants.
    Jul 17 7
    • Cruise Automation memepool
      Your windows will get broken
      Jul 17
    • Pfizer DLep64
      OP
      Not like i own the place so that doesnt sound too bad
      Jul 17
    • Cruise Automation memepool
      Your car windows will get broken, happened to many people I know that lived in the area, multiple times
      Jul 17
    • Google / Eng pumaupma
      Drove around there and it looks nothing like the rest of the Bay area.
      Jul 17
    • Uber / Eng HJWx12
      Car windows don’t get broken if you leave your car unlocked.
      Jul 18
  • In Palo Alto you're looking at more like $2000 for a room. Still the TC difference more than compensates for that
    Jul 17 5
    • Amazon loolooloo
      Ya if you live by yourself. Op is talking about a room
      Jul 18
    • That's a room. A studio is more like 2500 unless you're willing to live in a cardboard box
      Jul 18
    • Amazon loolooloo
      False I live in Palo Alto bear Stanford and I pay 1300 to split a nice 3br house
      Jul 18
    • Amazon loolooloo
      Near
      Jul 18
    • Fair enough, I was speaking from personal experience. Maybe my standards are too high 🤷‍♂️
      Jul 18

  • This comment was deleted by original commenter.

    • Pfizer DLep64
      OP
      That's crazy, if you get roommates you're set for life
      Jul 17
    • Amazon TDKU11
      Until you have a wife and kids lol
      Jul 17
  • LinkedIn
    tendies

    LinkedIn

    BIO
    sex work, quantum computing, and crypto HFT
     tendiesmore
    Snap back to reality, oops there goes gravity
    Jul 17 1
    • Pfizer DLep64
      OP
      Guess you're part of the 1% making less than 300k?
      Jul 17
  • Google wkkjy
    Warning! The Palo Alto you are seeing is "East Palo Alto". A completely different city. Run! Dont walk!
    Jul 17 0
  • ServiceNow / Eng rokyracoon
    It would help if you joined a tech company
    Jul 17 8
    • ServiceNow / Eng rokyracoon
      150k 1 yoe
      Jul 17
    • ServiceNow / Eng rokyracoon
      But yeah if you don’t particularly love SD move to the bay, you’ll make more
      Jul 17
    • Pfizer DLep64
      OP
      You're making more than people with phds and 10 yoe :o

      Do all of your peers make that much money?
      Jul 17
    • ServiceNow / Eng rokyracoon
      Lol they make way more, but it’s because servicenow stock has been performing like crazy and they joined ealier/ have higher rank
      Jul 17
    • Dude your info is outdated. Go look at levels fyi and filter for San Diego. You can easily make 120k+ even at startups if you interview well.
      Jul 24
  • New pFzK45
    Move to the Midwest and live like royalty! No joke for $400k in Cincinnati you can get a 5,000sq ft home and get paid more than you make in San Diego (likely $120k) with great emerging firms, plus make your mark on the community.
    Jul 18 0
  • Delphix / Eng Qeou08
    For 1200 you arent getting much in the bay area.
    Jul 17 0
  • Amazon ‘desi
    Your Bay Area numbers are not correct
    Jul 17 0
  • General Atomics Tz314
    What are you doing? software engineering?
    Jul 17 1
  • Apple appl3
    As others said it’s cheaper probably because it’s EPA. With that said, the area is undergoing a lot of gentrification, and a lot of the crime issues are getting better, especially the areas closer to the 101. However I still wouldn’t live there rn lol
    Jul 17 0
  • Pfizer DLep64
    OP
    1 YOE btw
    Jul 17 0

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