Software engineer, developer, programmer please stand up. 2011 Poll!

[iGas]

Please be honest.

I was in IT and my salary wasn't any where close to $100K per annum, however there are many people here claims that $100K++ is the norm for a developer.

Where do you live, rual or city?

 

[JS80]

In Santa Monica, every single software engineer at my last company made at least $90k, with the median at $110k. The freaking DBA admin made $100k.

At my current company, all the developers are in the Northeast, and I have not seen one salary below $110k.

Me = Director of Finance at Tech co.

 

[TecHNooB]

I can see guys in cali or oldschool cs guys making that much. Apparently an EE curriculum was part of CS back in the day.

 

[iGas]

I don't think many senior developer in my brother IBM office break the $100K mark. Many are close to it, including my brother (20+ years of experience with IBM), and the majority of his people are out source Indian developers in India that make way less than the people here in Canada.

 

[JS80]

I don't think many senior developer in my brother IBM office break the $100K mark. Many are close to it, including my brother (20+ years of experience with IBM), and the majority of his people are out source Indian developers in India that make way less than the people here in Canada.

The big companies will not pay as much in base, but will make it up with better fringe and better job security (than let's say a startup or small tech co).

But I will add that there was not one person in their 40s on the engineering payroll (except the VP of Engineering). Everyone was 20s-30s, and very bright. I can see some of the older developers making less at bigger companies. I can also see them getting outsourced to India.

 

[jingramm]

software engineers/developers make good money

but do you really want to stay in front of the computer and code all day and night....

 

[FoBoT]

it really depends on where you work. if you work for a Fortune 100 company, then i would think $75-$150k depending on years of experience

if you work for a startup or small company, it could be a lot less, whatever you can get

 

[zerocool84]

software engineers/developers make good money

but do you really want to stay in front of the computer and code all day and night....

Lots of people do. My brother does it and I work with people who live in front of a computer 99% of the time. They tell me they don't need a smartphone cus they never leave their computer.

 

[Gunslinger08]

This is going to be a pretty big range. It can be drastically different between 2 shops next door to each other, based on what they specialize in. If you work in something generic (ex. general PHP or .NET dev), you're going to make less than someone who works in a high demand, small supply technology. Experience makes a big difference as well. New guys probably aren't making within 50% of 10 year senior level devs. And then you have standard of living differences. Even a 30 or 40 mile commute can mean a 40-50% pay difference.

That said, for the demographic that this board serves, I'd say you'll have mostly lower to mid level devs making under $75k on average.

 

[tfinch2]

Base salary or including bonus?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Depending on where in the country you live and the needed skill set for a project, will affect the salary.

As an independent:
Example, in '07 - '10 time frame I went from

• $52 in Iowa - Low COLA, Low Skillset
• $78 in Alabama - Medium COLA, Medium Skillset
• $60 in Colorado - Medium COLA, Medium Skillset
• $125 in California - High COLA, Medium Skillset
• $60 in Colorado - Medium COLA, Medium Skillset
• $65 in Iowa - Low COLA, Medium Skillset

Turned down a $150 in NYC due to the COLA

 

[cKGunslinger]

software engineers/developers make good money

but do you really want to stay in front of the computer and code all day and night....

Fuck yeah, I do! :thumbsup:

 

[DesiPower]

Salaries vary a LOT by location...

 

[Engineer]

Fuck yeah, I do! :thumbsup:

Code for 5 minutes...NEF...er post on ATOT for 5 minutes.
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 10 minutes
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 15 minutes
quite coding...post 100% of the entire time on ATOT.

 

[ivan2]

Code for 5 minutes...NEF...er post on ATOT for 5 minutes.
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 10 minutes
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 15 minutes
quite coding...post 100% of the entire time on ATOT.

my typical day

 

[cKGunslinger]

Code for 5 minutes...NEF...er post on ATOT for 5 minutes.
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 10 minutes
Code for 5 minutes...post on ATOT for 15 minutes
quite coding...post 100% of the entire time on ATOT.

I have the distinct disadvantage of not having my own internet-connected PC at work. :'(

 

[Saint Nick]

I'm under $40k, but I only work 20 hours a week as an intern and get paid at a measly 15 dollars an hour with an undergraduate degree.
What the hell am I doing.

 

[Chris27]

I will be starting at $85k

 

[acheron]

Yeah, just saying "developer" could mean a lot of different things, and it also depends on location and cost of living. I live in Northern Virginia outside of DC, and from what I've seen $100k is pretty normal around here (and then we pay it all back out for housing )... not to start out certainly, but after several years of experience... how long exactly varies on what type of development and type of company you go to.

Note that while there are certainly small companies around, the majority of software development here takes place at gigantic companies (defense contractors and so on), so what's standard or average here is going to be different from someplace like S. California, which has a similarly high cost of living but is much more tilted towards small companies and startups. (again not everybody, but just relative to DC.)

 

[Schadenfroh]

Less than 40K, but I am a graduate research assistant working on my MS in CS, graduate students are not known for high incomes.

But, the tuition / fee waver is nice, out-of-state graduate school tuition to a state's flagship university is not cheap...

 

[Aharami]

i am in the 60-80K range, but I am underpaid.

 

[blackdogdeek]

java dev at investment bank. you wouldn't believe what i make.

EDIT - what's even more surprising is that i've been told i am underpaid.

 

[OOBradm]

This poll should use a "adjust for cost of living" converter, and we should all adjust to the same location...

http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layouthtmls/coll_start.html

 

[alkemyst]

underpaid right now...making a switch though and my new field is paying proper.

"Programmer" as a whole is at $86k at the 50%ile nationwide. In S. Florida that mark is $74k.

If any of you have been in careers that have been shitastic the last couple years, the IS/IT industry is bumping...get your resumes out there and move on.

 

[Aharami]

yep. underpaid and highly dissatisfied with my job right now. But before I start applying, I need to learn newer tech. Im wondering what I should be looking into...