Hello, I am just wondering what is realistic TC expectation for a PHD fresh grad in deep learning in computer science. It seems that the TC can varies a lot in different companies. Even within FAANG, there are many different levels and TC packages. I estimate that for the low end, it is around "100K + no equity"; and maybe for the high end, it is around "170K + 500K(4 years vested) ". But I am not sure how many people are there in the low end and high end respectively (if 80% of the people are in the low end and only 1% in the high end, I probably shouldn't expect TC be very high). And I am also wondering that will the big internet companies (like FAANG, uber, airbnb etc) be able to continue to pay stocks to new hires in the future? What is the FAANG, uber and airbnb 30 years ago (are they semiconductor/hardware companies like Intel, IBM, Cisco, HP etc)? And do those semiconductor/hardware companies pay that many stocks to new hires 30 years ago (it seems that right now the total TC in semiconductor companies is quite low and they do not pay stocks)? The reason I am asking is that the stock actually accounts for a very big percentage of TC, and if the internet companies stop paying stocks, a high end TC will only be 170k per year (considering silicon valley is very expensive to live, 170K is very hard to save up anything). So I am just concerned that maybe in one day, the internet company will stop paying stocks, just like the semiconductor companies. Because I don't know anyone who is in the semiconductor industry for 40 years and don't really know what the TC was like working in semiconductor companies 30 years ago when there was a boom in semiconductor industry. If anyone knows anything about it, can you please shed some light on it? I am very concerned that history will repeat itself and internet companies will eventually become today's semiconductor companies. I am sorry for the long post. Thank you.
You think too much. It's not like semi industry workers are living under bridges now. Staying competitive has more to do with the person than the company. Sure, if you keep moving pixels for 30 years you'll probably lose your job to a robot, but you can also keep learning and be the guy who builds the robot. Both are viable paths within many big tech companies.
And given you're already in AI, don't worry. 90% of the society would have to lose their jobs before you become non competitive.
Yes, I do try to plan ahead as much as possible. Because I am not really sure if deep learning PHD will eventually become a VLSI PHD (semiconductor field). Because I know a lot other VLSI/Analog PHD do not get any stocks even from big companies like intel, Qualcomm, IBM etc (and the base salary is only around 100k in silicon valley). So I am just concerned that the internet companies will becomes the semiconductor companies eventually. Maybe when the internet companies' stock stops growing like most semiconductor comapnies, it will stop paying stocks and TC will drastically drop, is it correct?
Too many thoughts. Just get offers and take the best one.
I guess PhD is over. Time to take precision questions and answer class for you.
just leetcode and interview and see
Depends on your work and experience,if any , before Phd as well. If you are fresh out of college, 150k should be easy and 200k is a great start. After all, a PhD does not make you superman - just that you can go to much depth of a problem. But then , you would need the exact area of work which limits your options. In Rome, do what Romans do. If the stock companies are paying stocks, it’s great.If they stop, it would still be good as living costs would go down and it would still be great. Don’t overthink. Maximizing your potential to get the best offer you can , is the best outcome.
~220K is a good target
200k
Stocks are money cause they are now vested in a much shorter time. High-end machine learning Ph.D can get 400k-600k for a fresh graduate. But that represents probably the very top ones.
I would target for ~$200k as baseline. You can easily get that with SDE2 lvl at Amazon and MSFT. If you are from an elite group, maybe $350k for AI scientist position at Google or FAIR.
~150