BS vs MS Career Path
I came to States on student visa and did MS, joined a descent sized startup and got into a really big org. I managed to get SE2 with TC approx 170. Though my TC is less but I am fine with that. But I see a lot of guys around me who are way too young (23-24) but are on my level. It keeps on bugging my mind all the time that why even the top tech companies give same levels to new grads no matter what degree you got BS or MS ? I understand that its not about degrees but talent. But i have taken interviews and most the time the interview is defined by yrs of exp and so the offer made if cleared. Bcos they start early, by the time they are of my age(28), they are se3 or senior. What's the best I can do from here to climb the ladder ? Again TC is just a part of it, I am more worried about climbing the ladder on IC levels.
Some career ladders count MS as work experience, but that's fairly uncommon in software because of the pace the industry is growing and changing. Best signaling you can get through MS is if the main study areas are relevant or if the school is better than the one you went for BS. If you've had significant research experience it can be viewed positively by some companies, though often not in a way that bridges the work experience gap directly. I think such experience correlates well to long term potential as an IC and the best way is to take up challenging projects and grow faster than others.
MS guys are not supposed to be research oriented and treated same as BS guys. It's like if you aren't doing PhD, then MS isn't worth. BS and MS both starts at same level after graduation.