[us]

Every employer look at performance differently. Beyond the ability to code as a software developer, what other personality and characteristics do you display that meet other requirements that make you invaluable beyond your ability to write code. Writing code is one thing. Writing great code is another. Then add onto that the ability to contribute beyond just writing code is something entirely different. When you add all those factors together, raises and how much they increase vary a LOT even with known ranges within a given company much less comparison within an entire industry in any given city.

[jensv]

I think you are right. I've worked hard to keep a list of ways I've added value to the corporation. My most valuable contribution (from a dollars and cents perspective) has not been any bug fix or feature but rather stumbling across a program/organisation which subsidizes partnerships between academia and industry. We're hoping to hire 4 graduate students for a new team so if we offer a salary of $50k the company only shoulders half the amount. The potential savings of 100k is well over what the company is paying me....