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Yes, it's enough to rent in a decent place, live comfortably, and save ~20K/year.

A senior engineer in Seattle can do the same, and save ~100K/year.



I'd love to live in your world! How much do you think senior engineers earn?

Most people would do well to save 20% but even assuming people save 33% then you reckon senior engineers earn over 300k?


Senior engineers at Microsoft/Amazon/Google earn ~200-400K USD. (All-in)

If you can 'live well' in the more expensive Vancouver at a 110K CAD salary, you could easily save an extra 100-200K USD by moving to Seattle.


Those companies are very much outliers. Does those 3 all have development operations in Seattle?

Your figures don't seem to stack up RE Google:

https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/Google-Seattle-Salaries-EI_I...


Those GlassDoor salaries are cash. Stock and bonus add another 50-100%. My anecdotal experience with Vancouver is that some employers will throw you 15%, on a good year.

Microsoft pays a bit less, but also employs ~30,000 people in the area.


50-100% sounds high for stock and bonus when you're on 200k+ but my main point was these companies are the exception, not the rule.


The stock and bonus are included in the 200-400k number.

Microsoft and Amazon are hardly an exception in Seattle - now that Boeing is leaving, they are by far the biggest employers in the region.


Yes, Amazon and Microsoft HQ are both in the Seattle area. Google has 2 locations here in Fremont and Kirkland. $200K+ for senior engineers sounds about right from people I've known who went to those companies.

Housing is getting expensive, but you can still buy a small 3br for about $400K in my neighborhood just south of Bellevue, so saving $100K does sound plausible.


"All-in" means total compensation (stock and bonus included), not just salary.


You're very wrong. I have actual wage data from all 3 of those companies.




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