Asking for a friend who recently got a Chicago offer for 250k 4 YOE. I am in NYC and have no idea how Chicago COL is. Edit: Offer for Google SWE. Friend had experience at another big tech and graduated at one of the top CS programs (think CMU, Cal, Stanford) if that matters. Had competing offers that got him to this number. He’s my referral so I am trying to help him.
How good the offer is depends on role and company. Without those details it’s hard to say.
Chicago Google with $250k is similar to new york $450k, depend on where you live and what life style. NY upper Manhattan by Central Park, or Brooklyn Williamsburg these places would double the cost of living in downtown chicago/Lincoln park/river north/lakeview
What are you smoking? Chicago is not that much cheaper than NYC. Nor are offers or wages that much lower here.
What are you smoking? Look at condominiums in Manhattan or Brooklyn, same level would cost $5000 for one bedroom if your one person. In Downtown chicago is like $2000. But I agree with you, the salaries aren’t much different between these two cities, except in NY there are more companies &firms. I see a citadel guy is here, they are probably the highest paid in Chicago
What company Chicago? With 4YOE 150K TC is the norm usually so this is unheard of unless it’s a hedge fund/prop trading company
Must be nice.
Too high for regular tech and too low for hedge funds/prop shops
Most prop shops don't actually pay stupidly high wages. But those places also have actual work life balance unlike Citadel or IMC. I know that I IMC offered me a lot more than I make now but under the expectation of me working at least 50 hours per week.
Lowballed.
L4 or L3?
Currently in Chicago, Moved last year from Cali... 250K in here is great offer + with Google.. makes total sense.. BUT.. There is not much in Chicago to enjoy.. apart from Lake Michigan and Downtown.. Life gets boring like Bay Area... because outdoor sucks.. State is Flat.. so no hill mountains and recreations.. COL, you can get a decent apartment in 3-4K downtown..so I wouldn't say its bad.. but all you can do is live and work.. I tried everything to get some activities like I use to do when I was @ Cali.. but I am getting lazier and fatter with this
Lake front and downtown area is the only think that's what I said earlier.. You can't go nowhere + its not safe too.. Crime outside of downtown is very unpredictable... I wouldn't dare taking risk.. I once was traveling in CTA and a Black dude slapped a girl as he was getting outta CTA right in front of me.. for no reason.. It kinda crazy to go anywhere outta 3 mile radius !! IMO, if you are a freedom seeker and extrovert.. avoid.. for introverts with city life.. yea it may work
SF is a shithole bro.. California is not Bay Area.. People gets sucidal if you only live in Bay.. but Cali as a whole package is incomparable IMO.. you can drive from snow capped mountain to sea beach in 8 hours drive.. no other place has that option. So comparing apple vs orange situation here. I live @ River North and all I can do is take a river walk, bike around and this being proper city .. people are rude AF so making connection is a big bummer. North Side.. yea if you got all the way to Evanston, you may have a decent life but as from my colleagues, he was super bored there.. Most ppl say Lake View / Lincoln park is great place to stay.. but its super over crowded... and check crime report.. you will be surprised how much you are unaware of crimes in that location. But I would give that lake front / Lincoln park is incomparable if you have friends or family with you
What company? I’m looking for jobs in Chicago
Google, stripe, trading companies, hedge funds will all pay 250+ in Chicago. Amazon also has a few roles there.
Wrong. Even Google/Amazon won’t pay you 250K for 4YOe in Chicago. 200K yes but not 250K which is basically L4 and L4 makes 250K+ in SF so as a rule of thumb subtract 20-25%