On: Introducing Open Salaries at Buffer

[overpaidprobly]

Does anyone have an opinion on how these numbers square with market rates?

I make $113k/year as a juniorish engineer at a VC backed startup in SV. Am I hilariously overcompensated?

[simoncion → overpaidprobly]

It seems that market rate for a junior (0->2 years experience) web developer is ~$110k + benefits. You are not hilariously overcompensated.

Ignore the various salary estimate sites. There's no way that they have an accurate view of the world.

[krisgee → simoncion]

Are you serious? I'd feel like a fucking idiot walking out of university with a brand new degree and demanding 100k off the bat. I guess the market is different outside SV though right?

[minimaxir → krisgee]

For fresh 2013 Carnegie Mellon CS graduates, mean salary was $94k, median was $100k.

http://www.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and-destinations/2013-sur...

[simoncion → krisgee]

I am absolutely serious. I know people who are pulling this salary with that experience.

I strongly suspect that salaries in the area have been depressed for a while and are now thinking about catching up to the rising cost of living.

[philwelch → krisgee]

In Seattle, you can get similar money and rent is cheaper.

[sgk284 → overpaidprobly]

Nah, that's pretty standard if not a little low. Without any change in experience, you could probably get up to $120-$130k with a little shopping around.

[smm2000 → overpaidprobly]

You make what you should make in SV - I think 100-120 base is about average for new hires. Guys at Buffer are underpaid though.

[rpedela → overpaidprobly]

$113k/year for a junior engineer is definitely overcompensated even for SV. Congrats. :)

software engineer 1: http://www1.salary.com/CA/San-Francisco/Software-Engineer-I-...

software engineer 2: http://www1.salary.com/CA/San-Francisco/Software-Engineer-II...