How can I find my true market value based on my various experience leading a team and performing architecture reviews?
Last 2018, I started as a mid level software engineer at my previous company. After one year, I got a chance to lead a team of 6 devs and 3 testers.
So overall, I was leading 9 head counts. The project is a rearchitect and migration to a new implementation that requires a high skill as it requires familiarity of three programming languages, namely, Go Lang, Java and NodeJS. The team members were mostly new to the technology. For my FrontEnd members, they were experienced on ReactJS but the client is using PolymerJS. For my Backend members, they are skilled at Java. None of us knew Go and NodeJS prior to that. However, we are required to learn those because Java and NodeJS are their existing implementation.
Fast forward, the project was stellar and my knowledge went exponentially compared to when I was a mid level. After that, Project Managers love me and I went on full throttle after they give me three projects at the same time. Aside from that I have organizational business contribution:
- Mentored junior, mid-level and senior level
- Taking technical interviews on candidate screening for AWS, Java, Go and NodeJS
- Project estimate for project bidding
- Project Managers asked me to work part time on C# & C++ projects (this one is hell, i cannot explain why)
So the timeline was:
2018 - Mid level
2019 - Senior level
2022 - Tech Lead
2023 - (Present) Solutions Architect
Given on the scenario above. I would ask the community, how can I gauge my current salary to the market and make sure I am paid well for my skillset? Because I am limited based on the market value in the country I live. And I’m looking at US and AU right now and the market is paying there like crazy. For a solutions architect, it’s like 200K USD (annual) comp for US and 143K AUD (annual) for Australia. Do you think I can find a remote company that pays well based on their market if I stay in my country? Or do you suggest to look for a company that offers a relocation?
Discussion
(4 comments)- 0a month agoEng @ Taro
I would look at total compensation for senior engineer positions at big tech companies (FB, Google, etc.) in the US on https://levels.fyi/ to get a sense of your market value.
Do you think I can find a remote company that pays well based on their market if I stay in my country?
Most of the time companies will pay you depending on where you live. I'm not sure where AU lies in that equation, but usually the highest remote pay bands are for employees that live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, or New York.
If you are trying to maximize compensation, it might make sense to find a company that will help you relocate to one of the above metro areas. Most of the larger tech companies have RTO, so you will most likely have to relocate if you do want to join a company that pays on the higher end.
- 0a month agoSolutions Architect [OP]Taro Community
Thank you for the insights. I appreciate it.
Around 2022, I received an internal offer of my previous company (because I already left the company last year as I write this) to relocate to the Santa Monica Bay, LA, California with a total compensation of around 83K USD annually to be an onshore tech lead of my team and act as interface between the customer. The relocation covers the ticket and accomodation good for 10 days. I rejected the offer knowing that it did not exceed 100K and the location was Los Angeles. They raised it to 88K USD annual fixed package with an annual increase of around 8-10%. On top of the offer, there is a health coverage and a J1 visa sponsorship.
Now, I rejected the second offer with no regret because I found out the salary of the US tech lead in my team which he was earning 120K USD annually. He was laid off due to unable to meet customer's expectations, hence, my old company evaluated that there is no need to hire another tech lead from US because the customer prefer to relocate me to the US given the offer.
But I believe my worth is more than 88K USD because comparatively, I was better in technical and interpersonal skills that I won the heart of the customer and the project manager there. But unfortunately, that was the ceiling price I could get.
- 0a month agoTech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
It's true that people who get promoted rapidly within an organization are generally paid less than others. So given your progression, your hunch is right that you might be able to earn more elsewhere.
One interesting nuance of your story is that you got to the Senior Eng level, and then switched into Solutions Architect, which is usually a role which is compensated lower. It's also harder to get industry benchmarks for SA, since there are much fewer solutions architects compared to software engineers.
To answer your question directly, the best way to gauge your current salary is:
- Get a competing offer
- Check with your network about how much they're being paid
You mention salary in your post, but be aware that the more important number is your Total Compensation (TC), which includes salary, bonus, and equity.
If career growth is important for you, I would not recommend remote work. You might get paid more, but it's harder to build relationships which you need for promotion.
- 0a month agoSolutions Architect [OP]Taro Community
Thank you for the insights.
One interesting nuance of your story is that you got to the Senior Eng level, and then switched into Solutions Architect, which is usually a role which is compensated lower.
I would expand here to provide some context about my journey.
The project got disbanded due to the 2023 US layoffs. We were badly hit that the outsourcing company I worked with had to endorse me to other project and unfortunately my TC for that client is high that other projects would no longer accept me because it's out of their budget.
My current title is a bit misleading, it is only on paper but the actual work is more than a Solutions Architect. I may be underrated but I already navigated all the roles in the SDLC process in just 3 years which made my stellar promotion. In fact, I'm still on the level of Software Architect or Tech Lead that I could innately navigate complex systems and requirements and turn them into a production ready code.
That itself is just an icing on the cake. Organizational-wise, I mentored 70+ developers/testers and mentored a fresh graduate to become a successful tech lead in just 2 years time, if I compare that to our internal requirements for a tech lead it would take around 5-7 years and he broke the record in just 2 years.
It's also harder to get industry benchmarks for SA, since there are much fewer solutions architects compared to software engineers.
After we got disbanded, no one among my peer became an Solutions Architect as it takes a lot of expertise and understanding of different technologies. The population is small and the demand to architect cloud has been increasing.
To answer your question directly, the best way to gauge your current salary is:
- Get a competing offer
- Check with your network about how much they're being paid
I will try to get a competing offer because that's the only way for me to find out.
You mention salary in your post, but be aware that the more important number is your Total Compensation (TC), which includes salary, bonus, and equity.
Thanks, I will keep note of that.
If career growth is important for you, I would not recommend remote work. You might get paid more, but it's harder to build relationships which you need for promotion.
I will consider your reco when I apply for abroad.
