Exactly, we hire a ton of technical Fed contractors, but the pay range capps out at $150k and starts at a level most of HN would find insulting.

But it’s considered “tech” at least by NPR.

It's insulting that people think most of HN are highly paid. I dont really fit in anywhere. I suppose I don't even fit in on here. $150k would be a very nice raise for me, one that I'm not capable of abtaining.

HN is a very Silicon Valley focused website. $150k in SV isn’t very much at all. You get more than that even at startups as a senior engineer. New grads at FAANG will get at least that or more.

Isn't $150k the standard number for the common top end grade? They make adjustments based on location for COL. So it could be more there. Even so, the majority of developers live outside of SV where even the $150k number is attractive (given the national dev median is around $110k).

> Isn't $150k the standard number for the common top end grade? They make adjustments based on location for COL.

COL adjustments are HR policy, not laws.

SV caliber talent typically don't get those, wherever they end up working from.

"COL adjustments are HR policy, not laws."

We're talking about federal jobs. Compensation is infact laid out in regulation. Stuff like a GS15 step 10 (top) has a set base number, but is then adjusted for duty location.

Just wanted to tell you that you’re not alone. Obscene salaries compensating for societal failures should not be seen as the way to go.

That said, i dont advocate for lowering salaries in general.

I guess the idea is that HN is mainly tech and much of that demographic makes higher than the societal median.

Which is fine. But what is more applicable here would be the median for tech, which $150k is still over that.

He said it caps out at $150k. Starts much lower.

Yes, and their point was that people on HN wouldn't even be interested at the $150k cap because they make more in the private sector.

I don't think this has anything to do with any specific money figure.

I'm not from US or another international tech hub, I work remotely as a freelancer from the Italian country side.

Still, I make 93k, which puts me 4 times above the italian average. I'm in the top 1% globally, top 2% in Italy/Europe.

Not that I care much that I'm richer, but to reiterate that I care to struggle less for money than the average worker which was the best financial part of being in tech.

Going back to the median is not an appealing option to be honest.

It is tech; it's just not just Silicon Valley "I Don't Know How To Count That Low" FAANG style tech.

Those of us who don't live in San Francisco that have been job searching have found salaries average about $125k. Over here in the real world tech doesn't make that much money.

Also, it's crazy that anyone would complain about that salary. By any metric $125k is more than enough money for a decent living.

> Those of us who don't live in San Francisco that have been job searching have found salaries average about $125k. Over here in the real world tech doesn't make that much money.

Incorrect. Most people I know in this industry never lived in SF and make well over that amount. Putting in some time on the West Coast is not a bad idea though - doesn’t have to be SF.