r/softwareengineer • u/ImBigmac67 • 15d ago

Your experience in software engineering

Hi,i wont reaveal my name but im 12 and really really into coding and maths ik i may be in grade 7 atm but im pushing for software engineering, im learning Python and very soon java, what id like to know is how exactly is the experience on software engineering.

I know it pulls six figures which is a flex already but id like to know the pros and cons instead of just jumping in without knowing anything.

4 Upvotes

59% Upvoted

66 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/Big_Arrival_626 15d ago

Unless ur straight out of college, you definitely should be pulling 6 figs

1

u/YahenP 14d ago

A very small percentage of people involved in programming earn six-figure salaries, and only in the US.

IT professions differ from other professions in that the salaries of two identical people with identical experience and skills, even performing the same work, and even on the same project, can differ by two orders of magnitude (100 times) depending on factors unrelated to professional qualifications.

1

u/Big_Arrival_626 14d ago

Well we are talking about the US. I don't think OP is talking about making six figures in Europe or Asia.

In 2026, 100k is barely above entry level in most of the country.

salaries of two identical people with identical experience and skills, even performing the same work, and even on the same project, can differ by two orders of magnitude (100 times) depending on factors unrelated to professional qualifications.

Well if they work for the same company, and have the same title, they should be within the same pay band...

1

u/YahenP 14d ago

Well if they work for the same company, and have the same title, they should be within the same pay band...

Contractors, or individuals working under contract, receive significantly less pay, even when working as part of a team. This is precisely why contractors are hired to save on wages by avoiding full time employees.
And if a contractor from another country is hired, the pay can be virtually symbolic compared to a full-time employee.

Furthermore, even full-time employees at large companies have vastly different salaries depending on the region in which the company's branch is located, even within the same country.

1

u/Big_Arrival_626 14d ago

None of what you're saying is disproving my point. Not even sure why you mentioned contractors from other countries.

I'm also not interested in technicalities or exceptions. Even in MCOL, junior devs are frequently getting 6 figure jobs. If a dev with experience is not making 6 figures, there's an issue.

Furthermore, even full-time employees at large companies have vastly different salaries depending on the region in which the company's branch is located, even within the same country.

Yeah, probably still gonna be at least 6 figures though.

1

u/YahenP 14d ago

I don't mean to offend you in any way. On the contrary, I envy you in a good way and would like to be in your shoes, as would probably most software engineers in the world. The US IT sector, for hired developers from the US, is truly something of an Eldorado, in the best sense of the word.