[blue11]

The salaries aren't low. The data capture mostly the lower end of the distribution. Keep in mind that the data are from H1-B visa applications, so these are relatively low level positions. There are lots of recent graduates (foreign students who studied in US universities) starting in their first full time jobs. There are also more experienced engineers hired directly from abroad, but they are somewhat of an unknown quantity and there is a higher risk premium, so their salaries are also a little on the lower side.

After a few of years on the job their salaries will be higher, but by that time they will also get green cards, so they won't show up in these statistics anymore.

Also, stock is not included in the data.

[yid]

> Also, stock is not included in the data.

This is the big one. None of those numbers include equity, which can often be 40% or more of total compensation for engineers.