Amazon TC in smaller cities?
For smaller cities with not high cost of living, what numbers should I target? SDE1, 4months SDE work in another company, recent grad. Needing gc sponsorship. Either TC, or base/bonus/stock/PTO days information would be very helpful! I was lowballed in my first job so I don’t want to make the same mistake again but also don’t want to turn the offer down.
10 bananas.
If you are in the US, you can negotiate the same TC as Seattle. I know this from experience. I work in a Midwest city and am at the top of the Seattle SDE2 band. If you are an SDE1 ask for 130k TC and let the recruiter break it down into base/bonus/RSU. 130k is not pushing it. I was offered 125k 4 years ago as an SDE 1 8 months out of college with no negotiation. I asked for 120 and they offered 125. They won’t negotiate on PTO. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
Thank you so much bananas! Can I ask how some people have 150k-170k TC? Is 130k average and those 150-170 are just exceptions?
170k is the bottom of the SDE2 band in Seattle. In NYC and the Bay Area, compensation is higher and an SDE1 with competing offers could get it. 150k is doable for Seattle / rest of US. It’s up to you how hard you want to negotiate. You could politely ask for 140 and see where the recruiter comes in. Maybe the recruiter will offer 145 to close the deal. I doubt they would rescind your offer if you asked for 140. Worst that might happen is they meet you in the 130s.
It is NOT cost of living-based, adjustments by geo are market rate-based. I don’t know what parts of the US are discount markets, but I’ve gone to a much “cheaper” place to live and it was still a standard market so bands matched Seattle.
Didn’t know that. Thank you for the advice!
You mind revealing that "cheaper" place?
What city?
That might almost reveal who I am so can’t really say. It’s relatively small office. Not california.
online resources say cost of living is 35-40% higher in seattle than this office