[sidlls]

> it's not like the rest of America sucks for software jobs.

Yes, it does suck. Outside of major population centers where software/technology startups have been on the rise software work is terrible. It's not poorly compensated, but it's still on par with any other typical office job: mostly dead-end, shabby benefits, terrible work/life balance, and management who are euphemistically described best as marginally competent.

I will note that the stereotypical perks of software in the Bay Area seem to be declining: wages certainly aren't rising as much as they were even a few years ago, if at all.

[smrtinsert]

Laugable claim. Here in DMV all job inquiries I get brag about 3 or more wfh. I grill or fry something up for dinner regularly. Only the SV bubble tries to get you to eat all meals with them and never leave the office because "passion" or similar hand wavy bullshit.

[Bahamut]

As someone who used to work in tech in DC who relocated to the Bay Area, pay in the DMV is really bad for a tech hub. I got a near 100% raise just by leaving for the Valley, and at all but one of the companies I've worked for here, almost everyone is out the office before 6, if not before 5 (or even earlier - I'll sometimes leave the office between 2:30 and 3:30 & nobody blinks an eye). One of my own teammates works from home anywhere from 2 days a week to the whole week from home.

There's this myth that all companies here are 12+ hour a day grinders, but while there are some startups like that, there are a lot of companies here that advertise work-life balance being an important thing.

[sidlls]

I understand why it may appear so, but not everybody in the Bay Area works at Facebook, Google or for a startup. Some of us work for companies where the compensation is decent and the work/life balance is fantastic, and where the people in charge don't try to substitute "passion" for compensation.

[jogjayr]

What is DMV? Web search wasn't much help

[sidlls]

Likely DC, Maryland, Virginia. There is a lot of defense and government contracting in hardware and software in that area. As another person indicated pay is really not that great. I'd add the diversity of opportunity is constrained as well: if you aren't interested in helping the military blow shit up, three-letter agencies probe into private lives, or a handful of NIH- or DOE-funded research projects then you're mainly competing for jobs at much smaller companies, poorly paying jobs at larger companies or pharma labs, or desperately trying to get out.

[fjsolwmv]

How is grilling and frying regularly unique to DMV and better than having the option of a free grilled/fried meal provided?

[analognoise]

All of those "perks" are traps to get you to work longer hours and/or be available for work talk longer.

If I can grill in the office in the nude like I can at home, I'll consider it as free.