[bstx]

My starting salary in the bay area right out of college is higher than what I would have conceivably made my entire career in Germany. I understand that small companies that do business locally operate with different economics, but what's the excuse for multinational corporations?

My decision to work in the US wasn't based in any way on expected compensation but rather on the excitingness of the job. Still, it's nice to be treated well as an employee.