[CalRobert]

It's not the heady days of 2022 but six figures shouldn't be impossible for someone with 10+ years of experience. But the trick is to (mostly) ignore the European companies and go for the American ones operating in Europe. Switzerland, Norway, and Ireland can be decent too.

I'm still stunned when I see what devs are paid in Germany and southern Europe though.

[FirmwareBurner]

>I'm still stunned when I see what devs are paid in Germany and southern Europe though.

Are German wages really low? I thought Germany as the richest country in Europe.

[CalRobert]

They seem much lower than, say, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, etc. Eastern and southern Europe are low but also lower cost of living. A fraction of the US regardless.

[FirmwareBurner]

I think you're only looking at big tech wages when you compare with Ireland. Norway doesn't have much of a tech industry.

[disgruntledphd2]

Yeah but there's lots and lots of no big tech US companies in Ireland. They generally don't have much equity or bonuses but the base is OK. I got 6 figures from a bunch of them in Ireland so it's possible.

[FirmwareBurner]

How much of that wage is left after taxes and Dublin housing?

[disgruntledphd2]

Feck all, unfortunately. Like, if you either 1. buy a house some years back or 2. get an off-books rental through someone you know then you can do well.

Alternatively, if you work for one of the Big Tech places then you'll get a really good wage (by irish standards) as well as enough benefits to make you feel a bunch better off. Additionally the bonuses and equity there help a lot.

But yeah, Ireland's super expensive. Our household is at about the 85% percentile income, and we have a (small/expensive) house but we don't have a lot left after all of our outgoings.

So yeah, you can get a better salary but you probably won't have a whole lot more disposable income (but apart from all that, ireland's a great place to live).

[okanat]

Usually one earns half to a third of net wage in Germany compared to East Coast US. A maximum of 100k total cash compensation is usually the norm for mid-size companies. That is for the most senior engineers. It is also taxed almost at 50%.

[FirmwareBurner]

Isn't that the norm everywhere in Europe?

[okanat]

Isn't what the norm? Europe is not the US. Each country has its own living standards and completely different tax laws. EU doesn't unify them. In Switzerland one pays much less tax. In Netherlands it is possible to get 30% tax break if you haven't lived there for more than 5 years. Both the Netherlands and Switzerland pay higher wages too.

[CalRobert]

Lots of countries are lower, especially in southern Europe.