I am from Europe and arrived in tech quite late in my life. When I started to see the salaries in tech in the US, I freaked out. How the hell could people have a 300K TC? It’s just unheard of here except for a few positions in few cities of few European countries in few industries (like a regional bank director in France or Germany, let’s say). Obviously, after some time spent here on Blind and doing my homework, I realised that the cost of living in, let’s say, SF was twice higher than where I live with my "tiny" 80K TC. And that affording the purchase of a home was a dream in some areas, even for people earning more than 100K. So, yeah, I know that there is way less opportunities here in Europe but why do so few people in tech actually look to make the move? If you get a 150K job here in tech (which is totally achievable for the people on a 300K TC on Blind in the US), you could live like a king here. And living like a king in Europe is obviously much better than living like a king in India. If anything, it’s probably better in most parts of Europe than SF or Seattle which actually don’t seem like good cities to live in at all. Especially considering that there isn’t much to visit in terms of travels except Canada and Mexico. So, yeah, curious to know: why not Europe? Are the opportunities here really too scarce?
Everything else might be a personal choice, but where you are wrong is there is "nothing to travel except Canada and Mexico". US is fucking huge. And it probably has more to travel and explore than Europe. Don't get me wrong, the EU has a different "vibe", but the US in itself can be a traveller's dream. Also Mexico and South America have a lot to offer as well. Now apart from that, I just feel the energy of the US is not matched by any other place. Just the number of people working on 100 things and the amount of opportunities and learning is tremendous. If you want a quiet and well rounded life, I agree Europe is great, but the US has its own lure.
Having grown up in Europe and now being in the US, I can say that the energy and opportunity for personal and professional development are indeed much higher in the US than in Europe. Countries in Western Europe cuddle their citizens. There aren’t a lot of worries, and it’s okay not thinking ahead too much. Quite literally the opposite from the US. Now both sides are changing. The US is getting more socialist under the current administration, while Europe is finding out that things won’t stay as they are forever and are turning to the right.
Q for you VujiGMXp: I'm sort of the opposite. I was born in Europe to French parents then we moved to the US by the time I started school. After 10 years of my career in the US, I am thinking about moving to Europe. My chief concerns are (1) career mobility (2) flexibility to return to US and (3) my ability to save given the lower salaries -- I don't think cost of living is that much lower generally in Europe though I know it depends on location. I feel like (3) directly impacts (2) as well -- I think to retire in the US you need much more money than in Europe, but maybe I am wrong. I am thinking France, specifically, but I think Germany, Switzerland, or Netherlands might be where I end up given that that's where I see the most jobs (could be confirmation bias)
The tax and cost of living is EU is higher than U S, not only SF have tech company in U S.
Why India came into picture when you were comparing Europe with US?
That is for Indians living outside. I think you are European. Move “Back” is the keyword in that line.
I don’t think this is correct. I got my masters in a hard science in EU and it is think it beats the degree of many people that studied in the US. I did all subjects you mentioned above in the first 2 years. I was able to do QFT, GR, function theory, differential calculus, and also squeeze in a year of fundamental research in my state sponsored Applied Physics degree
Brazil has pretty much all those subjects in the Bachelor’s curriculum as well. In general, it has more hours and an extra year when compared to the US. I do think that’s not a great thing though.
The point is that with 2x the salary even with 2x the cost, you can save 4x and retire early.
That don’t math
I think that every other answer here is wrong in the sense that that's not what is important 😂 the real answer is that it is easy to assimilate in the US and become American after like 5-10 years here, whereas European countries have majority ethnicity and you ain't that. In the US your kids will be Americans no questions asked, in Europe as someone with a different skin colour, funny-sounding name, etc, you and your offspring will be standing out as non-native for ever, for Indians maybe with the exception of the UK. And finally, there's also the language barrier, again with the exception of the UK.
More money is more money. You make 2k a month and 1k rent, I make 4k a month and a 2k rent. You still have 1k after rent and i have 2k. Tech innovation is being banned in the EU as we speak. EU makes money in tech not by sprouting new tech companies but by robbing US tech companies at gun point. Europe is an open air history museum. You can work as an IT support in the museum, but it’s kinda meh, you know.
Why not EU? There’s nothing interesting in tech happening there. You think it’s a coincidence most the vaunted tech jobs are US born companies? Every EU peer team I’ve worked with has been weak. Indifferent to time sensitivity, slow to deliver, not innovative. That’s also why you all are worth less.
Nah IME when I know I am working with a German for example I expect them to be great and they typically are. A Frenchie... hmm I expect quite a bit less LOL. And I can say that as I am French myself but grew up in the US after spending my first years there.
Google you are the one "worth less" ... Clearly showing some "Googleyness" here.
I am in EU and I love living here. Also from India.
Mind sharing TC, location and position? Or what you can share without any risk of doxxing yourself.
130K in Luxembourg