Is Blind really a bubble??

New / Eng
bjWl88

New Eng

bjWl88
Mar 28 31 Comments

Background, in my early-mid 20's, not the typical "engineer" type, and because of this, most people I hang around and go out with are in front-office type jobs (finance, sales, etc.). I was talking about compensation the other day with some buddies who thought they made a lot (nicer apartments and cars and other things), and they asked me what its like in tech, and I gave a number which ended up being 2-3x what they make, and I also work about 70% less hours. It made me feel bad after because I didn't want them to question their career paths, they're all great guys and I don't care about how much friends make.

Seeing all the TC's on Blind, mine feels quite low (~190k @ 1.5 YOE, no debt/loans). Is Blind and the tech industry in general just a massive, sheltered bubble? I never assumed that there is such discrepancy between employees at great companies in other fields who work hard. If it weren't for my ignorance, I wouldnt have shared what TC looks like, but my other buddies in tech and from what I've seen on blind may have corrupted my expectations.

TLDR: Are top tech/blind TC's really top of the top (especially for younger professionals), I'm not one to compare myself to others because of money, but I'm curious out of ignorance.

#tech

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TOP 31 Comments
  • StockX / Eng
    adhdbsbk

    Go to company page StockX Eng

    PRE
    StockX
    adhdbsbk
    Honey, 190k at 1.5 YOE isn’t low.

    And yes it’s a bubble. Most SWE at shitty F500 companies make 150k with 15 YOE
    Mar 28 11
    • New / Eng
      bjWl88

      New Eng

      bjWl88
      OP
      I get what ur saying, but 200k in HCOL is not even comparable to <80k in MCOL, especially as young single guys
      Mar 29
    • Oracle
      dEkd65

      Go to company page Oracle

      dEkd65
      That's true. If they moved to HCOL, they'd be making 100K-130K. I still wouldn't feel bad about it.. If anything, just encourage them to come to HCOL or something.
      Mar 29
  • Amazon
    TjVI53

    Go to company page Amazon

    TjVI53
    Yes, almost none of my college grad friends make close to these numbers.
    Mar 28 0
  • EXL
    feitan

    Go to company page EXL

    feitan
    A lot of the folks here boast about their TCs and there is always someone who's making more than you, nothing you can do about it lol
    Mar 28 2
    • New / Eng
      bjWl88

      New Eng

      bjWl88
      OP
      Yea I get that, and no matter how much you make, there will ALWAYS be making someone more than you. I'm fine with that but just seems like the numbers on Blind skews expectations based on YOE (For example, I am expecting to hit 500k within 6-8 YOE, and most people outside of Blind would say thats impossible or incredibly rare. Yet there are people with 2-3 YOE that are already there).
      Mar 28
    • EXL
      feitan

      Go to company page EXL

      feitan
      I understand your point. But you need to consider the fact that if a person is in a top tier tech company that pays a lot (like snap or Netflix maybe) then they'd have a compensation much greater than the rest with the same yoe but at the same time a person with lesser yoe but working at an HFT like Jane Street or Hudson River would've much greater TC than the same people
      It's all relative
      Mar 28
  • Meta
    NciO74

    Go to company page Meta

    NciO74
    I had the same thoughts when I first heard about FAANG comp a few years back. It’s a bubble tied to high-paying companies, but after almost a decade of becoming a better engineer at a smaller place, still in my early 2010s compensation ideals mindset, I finally “woke up” to what I was missing which was both a bit bitter and also motivating. I don’t think it’s good to feel bad but now you know what is out there and can decide if you want to go for it. Because until a friend got an offer and told me numbers and then I began digging into the Levels.FYI/Leetcode world, I had assumed the compensation improvements would be marginal. I’m glad for the wake up call, but it shouldn’t be something that makes you feel bad.

    Finally, all that said, 190k @ 1.5yoe is great. My story is barely 200k @ 9yoe until I was woken up, so honestly you’re in a pretty good spot.
    Mar 28 1
    • New / Eng
      bjWl88

      New Eng

      bjWl88
      OP
      Glad to see that in your case, friends discussing comp helped push your TC forward massively! I want to be more mindful when people who are not in the same field discuss though, because many times it does not seem possible unless you're, for example, a sales prodigy, or an IB who can stick it out long enough
      Mar 28
  • Look around you'll find most people really struggling with high gas prices, student loan debt into their 30s and 40s and medical problems that leave people broke. Tech world is a huge bubble.
    Mar 28 0