[decafninja]

I would go further than that and say the worst of FAANG still beats not just "bottom tier companies", but many decent but mediocre companies where tech is treated as an unrespected cost center.

As the post I replied to above said, it's not just the pay, but also the intangibles like the prestige that will let you more easily pivot into other companies and potential lifelong networks of similar colleagues.

It depends on your priorities. Are you willing to make some sacrifices to get what is likely to be a golden ticket to catapult your future career?

If you're even considering FAANG, then you've already probably decided to make some sacrifices to go through the stupid leetcode grind.