Am I failing as a senior level engineer by not earning $300K at a MANNG in the Bay Area?
Levels.fyi suggests that’s the norm, and my parents wonder why I work late yet don’t match their friends’ kids’ MANNG salaries.
With 11 years of experience, I reached Principal at a mid-sized financial firm, making up to $240K. I tried a MANNG role, but the culture and relocation weren’t right. After a failed startup (offshore and reduction in force), I’m back at a medium-sized company (similar TC).
I am going to assume your parents are South Asian solely based on “friend’s kids salaries”. This is a game that will never end as it will become “where the friend’s kids got college acceptances” and even “where the friend’s grandkids got college acceptances”. I don’t have a solution for you. Please do your best to “opt out” of this game.
Are you parents living reality where a $240k job is consider a disappointment? You are likely more than independent and can support a family with this income. They should be proud of that.
Perhaps your parents friends are boosting bogus wages to impress their friends. At the end of the day, it's your own welfare. If you are happy with your job and know you are compensated equitably, then that's all the matter.
Sure, you can steer your career trajectory towards the $300k mark, but there's got to be the right opportunity at your employer.
All through reading that, my concern is always those jobs are a lot harder to align with my personal work culture, balance, whatever you want to call it. There will always be somebody doing better, question is are you happy with where you are at and what you are doing? The grass isn’t always greener and there is probably a lot more to those friends kids stories.
Short answer no. It could be worse, you could be going backwards from 180k down to 80k, count your blessings and keep open to new ops. 11yrs isn't very long for a great wage, which you have.
Rising Star
Stop telling your parents how much you make. Do work that makes you feel good, don't chase a title or company name someone else picks for you.
Screw your parents and their friends. How shallow can people be? Don’t compare salaries with jerks.