Coworker Increased salary by 60%. What should I ask for?

AT&T / Other
NPjf64

Go to company page AT&T Other

NPjf64
Nov 19, 2020 14 Comments

Hi there,

My deets:
- UX designer at telecomm
- Good at job (not to toot my horn, but I don’t suck)
- Masters in HCI
- TC is 115k
- Located in a low cost of living tech city

Here’s the situation. My coworker who is a content strategist got a job at a grocery store chain local to our state. Comes from advertising with 2 years of experience in UX writing. I helped her calculate her total comp at our company to help her evaluate her market worth somewhere else. She made 95k at our company. She ditched my calculations and asked for 175k at the new company. My OTHER friend who works at the grocery store chain was like “I heard your coworker asked for a crazy salary.” Well...my coworker turned out to be no dummy because they came down to 150k. In our city, that’s pretty generous.

Long story short, I just interviewed at FAANG today. And now I’m like...the salaries I’m seeing on levels.fyi and Glassdoor for this FAANG for UX design are like 130-150k base salary for the Bay Area! I used to think that was a lot, now I feel sad. If my coworker can get 150 at a grocery store chain with not much experience (she IS very smart and great at her job), what should I be negotiating for at a FAANG in California? Up is down and down is up.

#ui/ux #interviews #compensation #design

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TOP 14 Comments
  • Siemens
    abc10123

    Go to company page Siemens

    abc10123
    If you are not female then she has something which you dont. Sorry if i hurt someone but it is reality in this world and also sometime it is an disadvantage in tech as someone created a post about unconscious bias. So its both ways
    Nov 19, 2020 2
  • SunTrust
    ••|••

    Go to company page SunTrust

    ••|••
    The base salary may be comparable, but your friend is probably not getting the same bonus or equity that one might get at a FAANG. If $150k is her TC and not her base, then this is absolutely true.
    Nov 19, 2020 5
    • AT&T / Other
      NPjf64

      Go to company page AT&T Other

      NPjf64
      OP
      Nope. She didn’t. She was making 90k. Copywriter.
      Nov 19, 2020
    • AT&T / Other
      NPjf64

      Go to company page AT&T Other

      NPjf64
      OP
      Well fuck. Maybe I should get an offer from this FAANG because I think I did well today and try to get an offer from the grocery store again! Unless equity is gonna be worth more at FAANG. I feel like a fucking idiot for apparently not shooting out some crazy high number during negotiations. I was like “You’re gonna ask for 175k?” She’s like “I don’t know. It’s what I want.” (Shrug).
      Nov 19, 2020
  • Google
    Marketon🔥

    Go to company page Google

    Marketon🔥
    I think maybe your friend got a high number because there isn’t a lot of UXD’s that want to work for a Grocery store so they kind of have to pay a lot to be competitive. Also keep in mind that probably just salary that’s it. At a FANG company you get total compensation which makes your base lower yet your equity and bonus higher. Also, please take salaries on levels with a grain of salt. They aren’t verified and I can say pretty much anything however 130-150 sound about right for mid level Bay Area. If you think you are getting underpaid go interview, however if you are in a low cost of living area, you will get paid accordingly.

    Also hate to break it to you everyone I interview has a HCI degree, pretty meaningless to me honestly. I’d rather see proven launches and work experience.
    Nov 19, 2020 4
    • Google
      Marketon🔥

      Go to company page Google

      Marketon🔥
      No content strategy/writing is paid less I believe. Googles comp is competitive when you consider total compensation but when you talk base only I can leave work at a not so “sought after” role and get paid 30-50% more. But stock is a big deal and company/impact/work life balance is also a deciding factor.
      Nov 19, 2020
    • Google
      Marketon🔥

      Go to company page Google

      Marketon🔥
      Also always negotiate your salary, always no matter what
      Nov 19, 2020