[_dztf]

I would have thought so too. But when I applied with a floor of $160K, a lot of the responses I got claimed they don't pay that high. Then I was quite floored when a friend of mine who works in the area told me to ask for $135K. Also, how much does technology matter as long it's mainstream? I'm looking for .NET openings, but my general impression is .NET is not that popular in the Bay Area as I see a lot more Java openings. Do Java folks stand to make more money in the same positions?

[epicureanideal]

If they claim they don't pay that high they are not really looking for Principal Software Engineers. Maybe the title system is different where they are. As I understand it, a Principal Software Engineer is between one and three steps above a Senior Software Engineer. If it's only one step higher for them and they're a relatively low to average paying company, then perhaps they don't pay that much. But if it's 2 or 3 steps higher than a Senior Software Engineer and they're at least an average paying company, you should be able to get more.

[brd]

I would imagine that the answer is yes, Java will pay more than .NET in the Bay Area. .NET seems to be oddly popular in niche markets and demand drives up salary in those specific areas but otherwise the market is lukewarm at best.

Some quick and dirty google-fu shows a 1:3 ratio of .NET:java in Boston.

The .NET:java ratio is San Francisco is 1:25

On a side note, Louisville is a very hot .NET market and their job ratio is 1:1

[epicureanideal]

Can I ask where you've applied so far? Or at least what kind of companies? Are you applying at large enterprise companies? Startups?

[_dztf]

It has mostly been startups. But the figure of $135K I got from a large company (Symantec). I know they're a Java shop, but they do have .NET teams, and again - this figure is not "official" - it was suggested to me by my friend who works in Symantec when I asked him how much I should ask for.