[ffdjjjffjj]

Not even close to FAANG level compensation in my experience. I’m just a moderately experienced backend/infra person and VC backed startups would straight up tell me they can’t compete when I told them what FAANGs had offered. We’re talking well over 100k difference in TC, and a significant difference in cash, and that’s not even accounting for liquidity.

[ghaff]

It's not just startups. The reality is that (as a developer or certain other types of positions) if you can get a job at one of these companies and are OK with working for them, especially in SV, no one else outside of maybe finance for certain skills is going to seriously salary match. Some people are less concerned about the money but many are indeed focused on maximizing their comp.