Azure L61 vs Amazon L5
Yoe: <3 years. L5 at Amazon. What to choose? Azure L61: Base: 32L Perf Bonus: 3.2L Sign-on Bonus: 10L in first year, 2.8L in second year Stocks: $120k (around 99.5L) First year pay comes around to be 70L, second year around 62L Amazon, pre-forte comp: Base: 40L Stocks: 16L Total comp this year: 56L At best it might go 60L this year after forte. Issues I see: * L61 doesn't seem like a good level to switch to, I would've preferred L62. But recruiter said not possible, they could get comp approval though. 32L base is also not good for future negotiations. * Azure team is Sovereign Cloud. It didn't seem like I would enjoy the work at all. The tech stack seemed boring. * To actually get full 70L, I need to stay a full year. Sign-on can be recouped if I leave before 12 months, stocks aren't paid out before end of 1year tenure. * Not sure of the WLB at Azure, my current WLB at Amazon is pretty good (can be hectic at times, but mostly very chill). Plus I really like my current manager. #tech #amazon #microsoft #google #meta #netflix
Do not take L61 as L5, the small upfront increase in pay is not worth it, especially if your current WLB is good and the team is in Azure. Raises and refreshers at MS are peanuts and you'll face a massive cliff after 4y. I wouldn't take an MS offer unless I was getting at least 1.5 levels up (so 64 for a fresh L5, 65 if tenured L5). Stick with Amazon for now and keep interviewing.
Thank you. That’s what I was thinking too. Atleast an L62, I have seen tenured L4s join as L61. And yeah WLB is amazing rn, plus manager is super cool. Thinking of trying for Uber and similar companies (tried for Google but recruiter later said they won’t qualify me for L4 because I don’t have full 3 yoe, after I had spent months interviewing)
Don't go from L5 to 61, minimum 63, not even 62.
Jesus such low TC for Indians. Pathetic
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Whyy?? Could you at-least let me know how's appraisals at MS? And am I allowed to move internally as L61?