It's fascinating when the companies say, "It's expensive to live in certain places such as Bay Area, Seatle, New York etc. That is why their pay is exponentially higher than yours". How could you compare a single person choosing to live in the Bay Area when their job does not require them to be there, comparing to someone with 5 physically challenged dependents living in Canada? In the new age, you are choosing to live in an expensive city. It's truly a luxury to enjoy its amazing weather and everything the city has to offer. Unfortunately, you don't get to choose your dependants. You do whatever you can to keep your parents and grandparents as comfortable as they can be in their old age. YOE: 6 (SWE) TC: 175k
It is just not the employees choices and preferences. Companies also want to concentrate in certain cities. They might believe in the talent in that city. They might want everyone to be present in those offices. They are willing to pay more for that.
And what about the companies that has employees spread all across NA with no physical offices?
There’s some potential gain if you say you’re be in hcol soon and never move there, not sure if it works out in the long run.
It’s just their game that they dob’t want to pay the same dollar. You don’t have any negotiation power unfortunately, they will not gonna take into account the number of your dependents. Either you have unique skills and it’s you who sets up the game or just look elsewhere.
Exactly! We don't have any negotiation chips and then we have to take whatever the TC they offer. Meanwhile, my coworkers are making almost the double of me.
Go work for Airbnb
Sure, any referrals?
No need. Let their recruiters find you.
Whoever gives that explanation doesn’t fully understand or isn’t willing to explain why salaries are higher for people who live in high cost of living areas. The sad reality is it’s never about taking care of employees or making it fair. Companies want to pay as little as possible for the best talent. Sometimes they can get a good deal finding someone good in a low cost of living area who would demand less salary, but a lot of top talent still lives in high cost of living areas who collectively demand higher salaries. This is changing with the migration of good talent away from these HCOL areas so maybe the future looks brighter. At the end of the day though, invest in yourself, demonstrate value, and if the company doesn’t see it, vote with you feet. I’m sure other companies will pay be willing to pay up.
Hopefully you are right. I haven't lost hope, I am still applying other places.
Good luck!!!
Companies pay according to the cost of hiring talent in a particular location. Not based on how many dependents you have. And yes they can and will lay off that expensive Bay Area worker and hire in Canada or india when they want to cut costs.
It costs the same when everything is remote. They don't really care where the person is coming from, but they make an offer based on their locations.
Because they want to hire that person and that person wants to live in Bay Area.