I knew someone at Google who was hired as L3 straight out of college (as all non-PhDs are) and got promoted once a year to L6 (Staff) so 3 years. He got promoted to L7 2 years after that.
It's a rare combination of talent and the right circumstances but it does happen.
I tried to hint at this by using quotes, I don't doubt that L6 is possible. But, please elucidate, are there L6s at Google making "low 7 figures"? From levels.fyi, there are no such reports. The average is about half and matches what I know from other companies. Those that are approaching 7 figures have at least a decade of experience. Anyway, the pay he describes is much closer to L8.
The only way L6s are making "low 7 figures" is because of large movements in the share price after they were given grants.
Low 7 figures is realistic for L8s without the share price noticeably appreciating. With discretionary grants some L7s may squeak into that club. But L6? No way.
I knew someone at Google who was hired as L3 straight out of college (as all non-PhDs are) and got promoted once a year to L6 (Staff) so 3 years. He got promoted to L7 2 years after that.
It's a rare combination of talent and the right circumstances but it does happen.