Stay or ditch?
Amazon subsidiary in a low cost of living area. Austin is 30% to 45% more expensive for comparison. $200k buys a low end 3,500+sq.ft. house here. YOE: 13 SDE/SRE Most of it at this subsidiary; everything from frontend, backend, and operations. Tech Lead/Manager by this point; subsidiary job level/naming doesn't match up to Amazon corporate for a good comparison. TC: $110k + $30k per year of RSU÷4 (Amazon buyout was a minor blessing. TC used to be well under $100k with no options.) I built the vast majority of the tech stack that generates 60% to 80% of the entire subsidiary's monthly revenue and in the low tens of millions a year. Stay or ditch?
Stay
What is your move target? If Austin, it might be worth it. Austin is still low cost as compared to Bay area or NYC or Seattle. Your future earnings potential might be lot more plus more cultural/entertainment/education/outdoor opportunities for family. Austin, Denver/Boulder, Portland all are still cheap but still have decent opportunities in all all aforementioned categories including pay potential.
Anywhere I can get good Japanese food if I moved. No family. Portland and Austin are on the short list.
Check out the Amazon Austin office (over 1000 blue badge employees) - there's a handful of senior SDE openings. With an L6 role, you should be able to easily clear 200+ TC
If the cost of living is low it could be worth it. If you are responsible for that much of the tech stack you should have been getting paid better with that size of revenue depending on company size.
That is why I am researching. The area is comfortable for the pay rate, but a bit too lonely.