Hey all, I’m an IT manager at a reputable architecture firm in San Antonio. While my education isn’t IT related (thanks, PoliSci), I have 11 YoE growing from Service Desk to SysAdmin to Exchange Specialist to Infrastructure Management. I look around and see the 100k+ base salaries and eyewatering TCO and wonder how I can make it happen for me. I’m at 85k base. No bonuses, stocks, and the like. Am I selling myself ridiculously short? If so, how do I break out and get what I’m worth? Do I need to move to another market?
Look at the cost of living. San Antonio is fairly cheap, and $85k there is about $180 in SV. Pay is a bit low for your YOE though.
Are you comparing yourself to SWE salaries, which includes big money specializations, or to FAANG IT roles? Cost of living in San Antonio I’m sure is far less than the SF Bay Area. e.g., a nice single bedroom rent is $3,500+ to an average TC of $135k. Compare that to your income.
I’m comparing apples to apples as best I can. It’s the FAANG IT roles, not the SWE ones, that I’m trying to gauge.
For your education and your experience and your location..I think you are just doing fine.
Google/Facebook has enterprise technical roles. I heard they are not in the same eng ladder, but could be a way in!
Google has a middle ladder "O" that is technical but does not require as many coding interviews. It may or may not have a system design. TSE/TSC/WSC fall in this ladder. TAM may as well. Some roles can be on either the T or O ladder depending on the team. E is the non-tech ladder.
Thanks!
You’re a rich person’s chauffeur- you still drive a car (more expensive one with more controls) — you make more money than driving a not-so-rich person’s car. Same principle applies.
Move to big tech. FAANGMULLA.