I wasn't born to elite colleges or elite majors. I fought for stuff and this is what I have today. How am I doing? What should be my next move? T+0: Grad college, started grad school. TC $24-30k. T+5: Finished PhD (Physics). First job TC $90k. T+6: Fucked up work environment. Changed teams. Started to pivot to ML and AI. TC $95k. T+7: Internal promo mid year. TC $120k. T+8: Moved to Microsoft as L63 applied ML scientist, TC $240k. T+9 (today): Still at Microsoft, TC $270k (with stock appreciation). For my YOE, I know I am underperforming since you can get L5 at G/F in 5+ yrs and TC $400k. For MSFT as far as I can tell getting L63 takes 6-8yrs on average with TC mid $200k. But since I did PhD and a useless one at that, I decided to give 3 YOE from grad school instead of 5 YOE, because it's not directly relevant, so my total YOE is 3+3 yrs before MSFT and 1+ yrs after MSFT, totalling 7+ YOE now. That seems to put me at average by MSFT standards and definitely underperforming FAANG standards. My next move is to get L5 at G/F and ex unicorns to get $400k TC. Target to move after a year. Would prefer to make real impact before leaving. Yea? Nay?
I don't think you should compare your TC with SWEs; (applied+research) scientists have a different trajectory- I believe it grows faster I mean, you're making 240k at 3y work ex, that's average FAANG I'd guess
You got L63 with only 3 yoe. That’s pretty spectacular!
I’d say your Physics PhD is *far* from useless: it’s why you were able to pivot so easily to into ML. Linear algebra and probability doesn’t scare you, nor does diving into an intimidating new field.
Fundamentally strong , doing above average and scope to increase TC is also huge , congrates mate