Levels.fyi Google vs Facebook L6 and beyond
If you look at https://www.levels.fyi/?compare=Google,Facebook,Microsoft&track=Software%20Engineer#contribute-home, Levels E/L 3-5 are very similar, but then 6+ starts diverging significantly (with Google being about 100k less at L6 and 200k+ less at L7). There are a lot of data points for the salaries, so I don't think it's a lack of data points issue. What is the reasons for the divergence?
Levels.fyi
G is for resters/vesters, FB is for folks that can still do things. Can't expect the 2 groups to be paid the same. This is most pronounced at higher levels.
Don't you responsibilities increase at higher levels, meaning that even at G you can't exactly rest?
On paper yes, in practice you work 2 hrs a day at G leisurely reviewing code or slowly writing docs as an L7. Who is going to question your authority?
Many things influence this, but one possible explanation could be the company's retention strategies. Fb doesnt so counter offer which means it needs to be able to so a better job at paying top dollars to everyone they'd like to retain. These, unsurprisingly, are at the higher levels (especially give e5 is the terminal le el at fb, not e4). The attempt is to make people feel that if they just do a great job, they'll get paid fairly. No need to interview outside and ask for a raise. The person sitting next to you at the same level will make a similar comp to you. Google takes a different approach. If a good performer interviews outside and gets a high offer elsewhere - google will counter. This can create more divergence in salaries at the same level which will make avgs tricky. Top performers in google that play it right will get paid very well...
Refreshers at facebook are significantly higher than at Google. Examples: L/E5: 105k vs 138k L/E6: 160k vs 220k L/E7: 220k? vs 440k Those are base refresh amounts. Multipliers for meets/exceeds/greatly exceeds/superb are 1/1.25/1.4/1.6 at google vs 1/1.25/2/3 at facebook
Ah I see, so I understand the how now, but not the why. Why do the companies have it set up to that they have fairly similar comps up to L5, and then have it diverge?