I'm a 21M who is about to graduate with a 130K remote SWE job at a tech company (non-FAANGMULA). The breakdown of the TC is 100K base, 10K RSU, 20K bonus. I'm very happy with this offer but not sure where I wanna live. My main priorities are double or triple my TC in 2-3 years, having an easy time landing interviews, meeting other people in tech (I'd love to meet future co-founders. A dream of mine is starting my own startup), and moving to FAANGMULA after this position. I am in between Austin and SF and here's my breakdown of each place.

San Francisco (the city itself. south bay sounds boring):
- HCOL
- I'll have to have roommates which I don't mind
- #1 tech hub
- new city for me
- Salary will be adjusted (105K - 115K for base. 115K is less likely)

Austin
- MCOL
- would get a very nice 1 bedroom
- booming tech scene and #4 tech hub (after SF, Seattle, NYC. Don't wanna move to Seattle because of the weather)
- already have friends there (went to high school in Texas)
- no income tax

Since I'm looking to maximize my career growth, I'm worried about limiting my growth if I move to Austin. However, I don't know if the trade off between having roommates (I dont mind roommates, but obviously I prefer my own place) and not being able to save much is worth moving to SF. If my base was around 150K I'd definitely move to SF. Please keep in mind that this concern for me is only for the next 2-3 years of my life. If I end up living in Austin, I'll move to SF once my TC is more. Here are my top questions:

- Will I have an easy time landing interviews with big tech companies if I live in Austin?
- Is the tradeoff between COL and career growth worth it?

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TOP 19 Comments
  • Meta
    apesstrong

    Go to company page Meta

    apesstrong
    Austin is not number 3, NY is a much bigger tech hub.
    5d 5
    • Apple
      theNews

      Go to company page Apple

      theNews
      Let me say it this way: I've personally never heard anyone say, "hey, you should to New York, because it is a massive tech hub".

      I hear that about Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, Raleigh Durham. Maybe I'm listening to only the people that dislike NY.
      3d
    • Meta
      apesstrong

      Go to company page Meta

      apesstrong
      That’s not how tech hub is usually defined.
      3d
  • Apple
    hts8

    Go to company page Apple

    hts8
    You can include So Cal to this if you’re looking for fun. I lived in LA, there’s a lot of tech in all industries.

    I’m not as young as 21, but do design, and also have ambitions to start my own company. Feel free to DM if you like to potentially collab one day.
    5d 1
  • Wind River / Eng
    flak2270

    Go to company page Wind River Eng

    flak2270
    If you truly want to maximize growth and networking potential. Like you truly have a plan to leverage your location, go out and network, create a startup, meet investors... Then SF hands down. Look at the venture capital numbers (by city/state) if you have any doubts.

    Otherwise if you just want to meet some tech buddies, save money, grow in your role, then Austin.
    5d 1
  • Wheels
    zeea

    Wheels

    zeea
    Austin, its an easy choice. Bay area is ridiculously expensive. You would have to make 50k cash more after taxes to move there
    5d 0
  • Amazon
    pleaseRe

    Go to company page Amazon

    BIO
    TC 350k
    pleaseRe
    If you are good and this is entry level you can leetcode and make way more money in like 1.5 years
    5d 0