It seems that most people don't know how much SWE actually makes. This year I started renting a bedroom for 900 in Bellevue. My landlord is a executive in a local logistics company, and he's also super proud of his two sons who hold store manager positions in their early 30s. They always give me career lessons and sometimes suggest me to get a business degree if I want to be baller like them. Recently at a together when they learnt that I make 400K by working remotely from their bedroom, they seemed super astonished. My landlord said he expected SWE to make around 100-150K, but he was surprised that I make more than what his entire "successful" family make in total. When I told them my friends making 500-600K at other places, they even looked sad and beaten up. Another anecdote. I have been dating with my GF for 2 years, and her mother decided to visit from her home county and "inspect" me. The visit ended badly. Her mother is a egoistical woman who wears all kinds of luxury brands on her. When she found that I'm renting a bedroom and drive a Honda Civic, she was looking at me from her nose. When she learnt that I'm mot from a rich family either, she became almost arrogant and commented on me randomly (for example I don't buy clothes for my GF, I tip too much, my hands are so small and my legs are shorter than my GF bla bla bla). After she went back to her county, she pushed her daughter to find someone better. However, after my GF told her that I make 400K a year and have 2 million in cash/investment, she was shocked and regretting what she said to me in person. She called and invited me to visit her and seemed a totally different person who's kind, humble and warm. These are probably extreme examples, but it seems that most people have no idea how much SWE actually makes. They usually have extreme emotions when they learn that an introvert 20s "kid" who went to a noname college and work from home all day makes more than the most successful friend or relative that they know. I don't know if it's jealousy or pure surprise. Also I feel that I'm very common among my peers. I have many friends who're on the same boat, making 300-600K a few years after college, driving an used economical car, renting a bedroom, backpacking a lot around the world and investing a lot of money in stocks. I like this lifestyle, and I don't think there's anything wrong about it. Is it normal that most people don't have any idea about SWE? For courtesy: 7 YOE 400K TC
Yea most people don’t but who cares? Don’t hang out with shallow people
I am more interested in your 2 million NW. how did you manage that with 7 YoE? Congrats bruh!
There’s still time to delete this bro
I didn't brag. I'm just a person who answers most questions honestly when asked. My landlord has a friend who is considering studying CS, so he asked me how much we make.
This post is weird dude. Get off blind and go buy some fucking clothes for your girlfriend
LMAO this post is a cringe.
OP's post is what people imagine a nerdy SWE writes when he makes $400k per year and has a GF who lacks clothes
I would love a GF who lacks clothes
Lol of course they don’t. I’ll be making more than most doctors in a month and I come from a less well known state school in the south. I’m at the point where I can no longer tell anyone close to me how much I make without them feeling some type of way..
Same experience here. I'm pulling $400k give or take. I once dated a woman who told me her parents wouldn't be happy with her dating an "engineer" because she was a pharmacist (with lots of pharm school debt) and her family wanted her to be with someone with a comparable income level. They thought engineers made less money and wouldn't be able to support a desirable lifestyle. Neither she nor her parents had any idea SWEs made a lot more than pharmacists. She was from a cultural background that is big on prestige and appearances and I was sure glad to be out of that relationship. My now wife's family also thinks SWEs are all modestly paid but couldn't care less about $ or prestige (Western Europe culture). Frankly I'm glad SWEs can fly under the radar for so long. Once word gets out that comp is high, the industry and our personal lives will be flooded with less than savory people.
Yes, I feel you. My GF is an MBA, so her parents want her to end up with someone equally respected in the world.
I agree. I don't think our job is any harder than other science and engineering displines. We're lucky to be flying under the radar.
Weird flex but ok
How is 400k bragging? Get off OP, the post is fine.
The post is fine but 400k is bragging as well. Crying in peanuts ;(