Analysis of compensation, level, and experience details of 19k tech workers
https://huyenchip.com/2020/01/18/tech-workers-19k-compensation-details.html
8 replies (most recent on top)
nah people do
Interesting read. Thanks for posting.
Contrary to @mip I think that us lagging on the comp side makes things worse for IBM. We are missing out on good talent who may be an engine behind innovation and transformation and we are fostering a culture of complacency and flatlinning (e.g., cannot do anything more today, I am not getting paid well and there is no reason for me to help the company with extra work or ideas)
I think this is a good analysis though
To be a Distinguished Engineer at IBM is not as much about what you did technically, as it is about filling out a bunch of forms and being political and kissing a–. Most of the most amazing technical people do not want to bother with that b.s. so they never get recognized as such.
@mip it matters, because your people make your company successful and a company should want to retain talented staff. Your attitude is typical of IBM management though.
I don't understand the problem; if an employee feels they're not being paid fairly, why not leave for a better paying job?
IBM isn’t competing with FAANG companies so don’t see how this is relevant. Expectations by job level are also way different. No IBM Distingushed Engineer is worth a $500k salary so I would hope they’re not paid that much.
A more relevant comparison would be of salaries & levels for professional services or lower prestige tech companies like Oracle, Cisco, etc. IBM will still miss the mark by a long shot, especially when it comes to equity and bonuses. I just had a job interview on Friday with a VP from a professional services competitor to IBM. He was shocked that I have not been given equity in the company at my job level (B9) and that my average annual bonus amount was $500. But nothing that is said or published is going to cause IBM to start caring about their employees. Once per month for the past 3 years, my team has had someone walk out the door for double their current salary and I’m told by HR that we pay competitively. Ha!