god dam where they getting that
this post was submitted on 04 May 2026
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Maybe that's the monthly pay
If do contract work that's not even that much
True, then insurance and no time off or other benefits would suck.
It's only "no time off" if that's what you want. It's time off whenever you want (and sometimes when you don't want).
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Nah, that’s a normal paycheck for a medium level engineer in any American big city.
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That's not that outrageous as a higher-level IC in a big tech company in a big city. But if you're that senior you're not questioning why you became an engineer.
There's a reason the typical dev career pipeline ends at farmer. People get tired of all the bs and leave never to be seen again.
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I mean, you definitely do. I know numerous people that dropped the field entirely (including me) even though the pay is ridiculous.
Already farming?
Sometimes it is just a really intense garden.
I also left, the industry is toxic right now. Circus for me
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Eh, that looks like typical take home for a staff level engineer in a big city.
Edit: Assuming they get paid every two weeks, that’s an annual take home of $161,122. Depending on state taxes, insurance coverage, 401k contributions, dependents, etc, that’s a base salary of $200-250k. Which, yeah, that’s what I budget for a staff salary.
$161,122
Heck, I'd be pulling more than that if I were a self-employed consultant rather than under a consulting firm, in our small city in northern Scandinavia.
Now I'm raking in a little below that, and I'm taking out like a third of it as actual salary and saving the rest, to avoid high taxes, and to to pay for a leased car, pension saving, extra insurance etc, before taxes. But after all that I'm probably saving $3k every month tax free, and maybe $1,5k in my bank account.
Engineering life is pretty okay. Still can't afford a house yet though. Thanks boomers.
Key phrase is "big city". I'm a staff and there's a mid on my team that moved to Seattle. His cost of living adjustment when he moved allows him to make more than I do.
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I think for a SF based company 200 - 250k salary is typical for even a senior engineer.
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Lockheed Martin
Lol they are not
It doesn't say it's salary. A lot of companies pay out bonuses right around now.
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Mechanical Engineer (union) with 20 years experience, slightly underpaid at $76.33/hr in (just north of the) Seattle area.
If that's monthly pay, that's at or below average.
If that's bi-weekly......fuck I need to up my engineering game.
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California. It goes with high cost of living.
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That reminds me, I need a raise
Why should you get a raise? You're terrible at your job!
Not a single downvote, and you call yourself a downvote hunter smh
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You got a job?
I guess I'm getting scammed then.
Or comparing European vs US wages
At least we don't have to deduct 45% of our wages for the eventuality of needing a doctor and also walking 10km with a broken leg to avoid an ambulance ride.
In Germany we get deducted around 40% directly, before the money even reaches us q.q Tbf that includes health care as well as taxes already and also we are a smidge farther away from fascism.
Yeah don't Americans get paid taxes included? Here in Italy I get my wage with income tax, welfare costs etc already deducted.
I am.in the US, taxes come out of the paycheck before its paid.
On my check, before Inget it it pays
Taxes
Social security
401k
Health insurance premium
Dental insurance premium
Union dues
I think a few other small misc things.
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Engineering is just alternating between existential dread and direct deposit therapy.
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Engineering as a whole is now diluted with a bunch of money-hungry STEM’s who were never even that good at engineering. Their parents probably pushed them into the degree. It’s sad.
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Where tf did you get that pay lmao, maybe its regional, but I need a raise like that, I'm a BE Dev 2, awaiting performance review for 3 (Senior) and sadly not as close to that as I'd like.
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I think for many, money isn’t why they became an engineer but it is why they remain one.
You would have to have an incredible grindset to become a decent engineer without actually enjoying any of it. You could become a shitty one just by passing tests, I guess. (And probably many people do)
Omg, this is so true
sign me the fuck up for $6k per pay period.
Hope you're willing to relocate to SF and still spend 50+% of your income on housing.
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My job is also tough and more recently I felt despair because of pressure. But I remind myself that I chose my career because of good pay, which could improve once I leave my shithole company.
If money isn't an issue, I would pick a more relaxed job. There is plenty of snobbery against blue collar jobs, but they are the most relaxed jobs I have ever had.
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