<$90k TC as Sales Engineer in Bay Area

New
eQIK41

New

eQIK41
Feb 11 20 Comments

YOE: 4
Base Salary: $80k
Year End Bonus: 5-15%
401k : None until after the first year

Hi everyone,

I’m a little bit in a bind right now. I used to work in semiconductor industry then switched couple months ago to a very very small biotech company because it’s better for my mental health and wlb. The salary cut doesn’t really bother me when I first started the job, even though I know I’m severely underpaid, since I did take a year break due to pandemic, but now I’m starting to regret my decision due to how expensive living cost is and how much I need to downsize.

Thing is, I like what I’m doing, but I’ve been doing a lot more than what my job scope is. Pretty much doing a job as a Sales/Product Manager bc the manager left the company a month before I started.

How do I navigate this situation? Asking a raise for $40k sounds like a reach since I’ve only been here for 7 months. Is getting a new offer with much higher TC a good strategy to have them match the market rate ? Or should I consider leaving this company for a much higher pay even tho I finally think I found something that I will not hate doing? Any advice is appreciated. I can also send my resume via DM to anyone who’s interested to review it.

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TOP 20 Comments
  • Cisco
    AaMA82

    Go to company page Cisco

    AaMA82
    Your best bet is to apply, interview, and leave for a better company / offer.
    Feb 11 0
  • Lynden Incorporated
    cpYO26

    Lynden Incorporated

    cpYO26
    What is a sales engineer? Like coding software for sales dept?
    Feb 11 2
    • A sales engineer does the “tech” part of (mainly) B2B sales. That might be anything from talking about the technical aspects of the product, to giving demos, to making complex prototypes. It’s a pretty important role.
      Feb 11
    • Lynden Incorporated
      cpYO26

      Lynden Incorporated

      cpYO26
      Thanks, I had no clue
      Feb 11
  • New
    sdtech

    New

    sdtech
    You need to focus on interviewing and moving on!!!! I work for a similar employer with a culture of low TC. Wasted way too many years thinking if i grind and work hard i would eventually be recognized, but there was always some excuse or carrot dangled. I went in guns blazing a few years back showing how i was worth 70% more etc etc... and got 18% out of it. Nowhere near enough, they then also clawed this back by giving comp increases roughly half of normal the following two years.

    You will not change this culture. They may give you something but you will continue to be behind your peers. Learn from my mistakes and move on before you waste too much time there.
    Feb 11 3
    • New
      sdtech

      New

      sdtech
      Yep same experience. I was naive and thought I was "different" and that by working hard I would be recognized. Which I was as far as praise and increased responsibility, without compensation to go along with it. I am now long since burned out. My guess is they will burn you out eventually as well.

      Anyhow I am here to learn and grow and do something about it. I wish you luck as well.

      Send me a DM if you want to take this to email and chat about resume and interview prep strategy.
      Feb 12
    • New
      eQIK41

      New

      eQIK41
      OP
      On it! Thank you so much!
      Feb 13
  • Google
    Dacipol

    Go to company page Google

    Dacipol
    The comp is way too low for the bay area. Anything under 100k is considered poverty / low pay. The bonus doesn’t seems to be that good for a sales engineer.
    I’d interview and move on.
    Feb 11 0
  • Hologic
    kryptou

    Go to company page Hologic

    kryptou
    They’re not going to pay you extra 40k even if you land another offer. Just interview and quit
    Feb 11 0