[nandemo]

OP also mentions $12k worth of rent subsidy. Not bad, I think.

I believe there's an implicit "keep up with the Jones" factor here. Surely there are plenty of non-programmers living with less than $70k in San Francisco.

In Japanese companies, you need to get to senior level (implying at least team lead but more likely project manager) to earn $70k a year. And it's not like Tokyo is a cheap place to live. I told a Japanese coworker that in the US new grads get U$70k right out of the school and he thought that was crazy.

[crag]

"rent subsidy"?

Are you kidding? Man, I must be living in the wrong town. In Florida, the fact that we offer medical insurance and matching 401k sets us apart from most business here.

Though we do have a few other perks.. you cell service is covered by the company. Also everyone gets an ipad (it's yours once you past 6 months). But really though, these "perks" help us (the company) more.

But this just proves, bubbles exist.

[ChuckMcM]

"But this just proves, bubbles exist."

No, it just proves that the market for tech talent is stronger in the Bay Area than it is for Florida.

[enjo]

I'd also imagine the average talent level is higher in the Bay (by quite a bit).

[ChuckMcM]

Surprisingly you would find this isn't necessarily true. The reasoning goes like this:

Pool of available jobs is smaller, so the competition is fiercer, so the mediocre talent takes itself out of the game and all your are left with are the stars who don't want to move. I know lots of engineers in N. Carolina around the Research Triangle Park area who are way more talented than some folks in the Bay Area but they don't abide the culture that is Silicon Valley and so they don't move here.

[crag]

Typical myopic "bubble" comment. We have talent in South Florida.

The problem we have, is it's a small community. Poaching is out of the question. Cause word does get around. So we interview hoping we nail someone good before someone else does.

But being South Florida no one considers us tech heavy. Even though we are a "banking" & medical center and wealth is everywhere.

I was complaining about this to some state senator a while back. There was talk about creating a tech area in Miami/Fort Lauderdale (they talk about it every year). He told me, "You take care of your yacht here; your computers in New York".

And that sums up Florida's tech problem.

[colmvp]

Sometimes even more. I know of recent graduate engineers at some of the bigger giants (like Facebook, Google) who get large stock options, signing bonuses, and a six digit salary... right off the bat.