I don't particularly want to live in the bay area but want the competitive TC of top tech companies. Should I apply to some FAANG companies in the bay area, to get a baseline TC (I really care about what I can save per month after expenses) and use that to help negotiate with companies I'm wanting in my desired cities? Do Microsoft, Amazon, and Google's offers vary widely by which city you tell them you want to work in?
You want top dollar, you have to live in those markets. No one will pay you what you are looking for so you save 95% of your salary while living in Timbuktu
The only way is that you work in top company and in bay area and then move to Austin after some time. Apple does that. They reduce your base by 10% but then again, no state tax compensates for it. You essentially end up getting the bay package
Ok yeah that's not worth it for me, I was just wanting to ensure the companies I get offers from are as competitive as possible.
It wont happen othwrwise. Companies in low COL wont give you a bump no matter how good you are.
Why should someone in Phoenix pay you a San Francisco salary? No troll. Serious question. I want to understand.
What is it to the company? Why do they care what they pay me when I can complete the same amount of work in Phoenix as in SF. I understand it's because they can pay me less in Phoenix they will, but then why don't companies try to do most of their hiring in low cost cities? Also I was not expecting them to pay the same, but I would be evaluating the offers based on where I can save more.
Supply and demand. Capitalism 101.
When I worked for a big company, they were willing to keep your current rate if you transferred to another group in another city. I know people getting Bay Area pay in ridiculously cheap parts of the country.
This. I’m considering an offer in a location that matches my lifestyle. The salary is lower and that’s ok but if I can transfer with my current co. to a location in the same region, I keep my salary which would be ideal but I’m not holding my breath.
Yes this is 💯 true but a huge catch... your career progression is over
There’s a lot of bad answers in here. I earn (and have been) Bay Area level pay from Atlanta at a number of FAANGs. The differential is TINY and the cost of living difference huge. Have friends doing it from almost every major city in the US as well.
Ok and how did you get your TC? Did you just apply and they handed it to you, did you grow with the company and they kept TC competitive, did you negotiate? All 3?
Pay levels in Atlanta have been SF like for some time in certain industries. It’s also a nice city. (I grew up in Decatur.)
Just be really unique and good. And do something that is 100% about the deliverable vs. presence. Warren Buffet lives in freaking Omaha. Just be really good at what you do.
I live in Phoenix and do ~ 165k tc cash. You can get a townhouse with a garage in the 2nd wealthiest zipcode that has a pet spa, movie theater and chef that comes in weekly WITH mountain views for 2k a month. No shit. Hot for 4 months of the year but great for the other 8. Plus half your coworkers will have cabins in Northern AZ and won't be around in the 110. 90 minutes youre out of the heat. Amex has summer hours and people on my team straight leave the state in July. If you get close to 200k here and don't mind the heat, property taxes are basically 0%, and the state doesn't pick your pocket. You won't get 360ktc but you will get a way lower CoL and more amenities.
Can you give me the zipcode, or one of these townhomes?
This. Yes my wife lived in Phoenix for a year after college and loved it (before we were married). I visted often and it's a great city. I also was looking at full blown houses with a pool for $2k/month. Phoenix is at the at the top of my list for cities, but just looking for good companies. You like working for AMEX?
OP. This is a good idea. Me and wife worked in the valley for 10+ years. When our kids were ready for school, we moved to Austin. She quit from SWE. I got same base pay, which can sustain higher living standards.
TC is location dependant. No company is going to match top SV TC in low COL cities.
Yes, but will they match what I could save after expenses? Ie maybe in SF I could have an offer that would allow me to save $100k per year where in Austin I could only save $50k per year. Would this case bear any weight? Or am I better off just getting as many offers in my desires city so its apples for apples
No, they won’t. Get offers from FAANG in satellite offices if you want the best TC outside the bay. If you‘re really dedicated you could join at HQ and transfer to a satellite office and ask to keep your pay, but the request will most likely be denied unless you’re moving to NYC which is basically just as expensive.