Best option L5
New grad, age 22, worked fulltime for 8 months. TC ~150k + 6k stock options (2018 gross wage is $102k). Working on backend API. I'm considering the following options: Stay at Amazon in current team and get promoted to L5 hoping no reorg happens. After promoted to L5, transfer to a different team at Amazon OR interview for Google or other company. I'm hoping to do ML data mining work. Not sure comparison of TC if I stay as L5 or transfer
Why do you want to leave?
I'm evaluating which pays more
You're definitely gonna get paid more when you transfer whether it's now or when you're a L5. I would suggest considering when you want to jump ship because employers won't like it if you do it too often. If you're happy with Amazon so far, then work ~2 years, get your L5 and then move to Google.
Keep in mind that Amazon L5<= Google L4, and Google is pretty myopic when it comes to YOE. So landing a Google L4 with less than 3 YOE is very rare.
Get an L4 offer at Google any time between now and 3 years into your career and you are solid
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