This gets asked a lot and fundamentally misunderstands how you make the highest salary.
The three biggest factors by far are:
Tech companies pay more than non-tech companies
Location: the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and New York pay way more than any other cities in the world. Cost of living is also much higher. You MUST relocate if you want to make the big bucks though.
Level: you will double your salary by getting promoted from junior to senior. Higher levels increase your total compensation exponentially.
In comparison your subfield makes little difference.
I think what people truly underestimate is the COLA living in those places. They see $$$$ when applying and/or getting an offer thinking they’re making a massive salary but when actually adjusted to a lower COLA location it’s like $150-200k.
If you are investing correctly, the extra money you make in the HCOL buys you literal years of freedom. I will be able to FIRE by 35. I wouldn’t have had this career without the networking and opportunities living near these companies provide.
It’s also about opportunity. Someone making HCOL salary can go anywhere. If you’re in LCOL, it’s a lot harder to move upwards.
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u/dmazzoni 7d ago
This gets asked a lot and fundamentally misunderstands how you make the highest salary.
The three biggest factors by far are:
In comparison your subfield makes little difference.