Hired as level 60 a couple years after graduate school by Microsoft’s Bing Ads engineering team to do non engineering work. 2012. Offered $96k, 6k stocks vested over 3-5 years I believe. Was 32 at the time and had been a contractor for Bing Ads for 2 years, had a masters degree in business from UW. Promoted to level 61 a year later. 7 years later (2019) I’m in a terrible rut and still there as 61 making like $125k I think with an annual bonus of around $9-10k and maybe $2-3k in stocks. So many re-orgs, kept getting lost and depressed. FINALLY pull out of this misery during the pandemic quarantine (thank god for it) and score an awesome new job with Developer Relations as a Technical PM doing analytics for media and content and also some creative work writing, video production, etc. hooray! Totally crush it and get promoted to 62 eight months later (level adjustment my boss and skip called it) with a $25k bonus and $25k in stocks. Hooray! Get re-orged shortly thereafter and struggling to find my place again but just want to level up and make more money. Currently at $135k base salary. I’m working super hard now and very motivated, but once again trying to find where I belong in terms of project ownership etc. I’m 39, single in the city, rent and parking is almost $3k and I literally /just/ moved out of my 350 sq ft studio of 12 years into my first ever place with a bedroom to reward myself for my level 62 bump. It was super exciting until I start thinking more critically about salaries and asking my friends what they’re making in all sorts of positions and industries and the answers have me doubting this $135k a year is all that great at my age, education, experience… but maybe that’s what I get for lying in that rut at Bing Ads for so long. Or maybe it’s great. Any thoughts? I eventually want to buy a nice car for myself. And not at age 50. Still putting 50% of my salary into my 401k and another 15% goes to the ESPP so btw those two I feel like I’m making my way toward a safe retirement but I dunno. #tech #microsoft #salary #women
This reminds me so much about my career at microsoft. Joined at L59 PM, one year to 60 then 2 years to 61, then got stuck, 8 years past and 130k total, jumped ship to FAANG with 60% bump in salary, stayed for several years and doubled my salary, now ready to jump again for another 60% bump. My advice is look outside and don’t believe too much on the career path your manager told you.
You’re an incredibly diligent saver. Don’t feel guilty buying a car when you have a savings rate like that. Keep saving and enjoy your money!
Keep saving as much as you can afford and don’t compare yourself to others.
Congrats! And enjoy!
Congratulations... Remember to run your own race. Once you start comparing yourself to other people, one of two things will happen. You will either feel ashamed or cooky. For now, celebrate 🍾 what you have accomplished, but also take time out to design a career strategy to get you to level 63 and beyond 😉