[ojhughes]

Sounds like you have the wrong motivations for a career in software engineering. No offence but I wouldn’t want to work with someone who is purely in it for the money and people can easily suss out that kind of attitude. If you don’t have passion for the job it’s going to be hard to succeed in your goals

[ajkdhcb2]

Why would someone with passion for software choose to work at repugnant FAANG companies?

[globular-toast]

Because you get paid more than other companies and ethics is low on the list of priorities.

[blaser-waffle]

Considerably more, in some cases.

Not a lot of employment options like that anywhere and in any field, outside of being an executive, pro athlete, or other one-off / superlative opportunity.

And even if you're not an E6 or "Principal" or something, the Big Name on a resume opens doors later.

[lookACamel]

Money.