Yes, it does suck. Outside of major population centers where software/technology startups have been on the rise software work is terrible. It's not poorly compensated, but it's still on par with any other typical office job: mostly dead-end, shabby benefits, terrible work/life balance, and management who are euphemistically described best as marginally competent.
I will note that the stereotypical perks of software in the Bay Area seem to be declining: wages certainly aren't rising as much as they were even a few years ago, if at all.
There's this myth that all companies here are 12+ hour a day grinders, but while there are some startups like that, there are a lot of companies here that advertise work-life balance being an important thing.
If I can grill in the office in the nude like I can at home, I'll consider it as free.
People talk about "cost-of-living" like it's some non-negotiable tax that you have to pay to the world. It's true you can't get the same lifestyle at the same price as a low CoL area - no humongous 5 bedroom house with a massive backyard. But it doesn't mean your life has to necessarily suck.
I think the only thing I miss out on by not working in SV is working with true world-class talent.
What I meant was you can't have the same lifestyle in SV as you would in a low CoL area - no humongous house etc. You'd have to adapt and especially downsize on living space. But if you're OK doing that the financial rewards are large.
SV is fine if you never want to buy a home, start a family, live without roomates etc..
However, I know things look good on paper and don’t always pan out that way once you’re actually there.
One of the things about SV is that I don’t fee quite so out of place and weird for wanting to work all the time.
I'd be interested in an analysis of job seekers vs. job openings from someone like Hired - is the Bay Area better for developers or employers?
Edit: as an employee the SF job market can hardly be beat though.
I certainly count myself fortunate to be able to afford to live here with my family. But I can't see the value of moving people to the area (as I was contemplating moving team members from out of state here). Even at six figure salaries they'd have to share an apartment to be able to save anything at all.
- Better weather, but LA is arguably nicer & less expensive.
- Better community of techies who somehow inspire you to do better? After being here for a year and attending meetups and community event, I know for a fact that's not true. Despite the density of people here, people are surprisingly disconnected, chance encounters are rare at best. Most of the interactions seem shallow at best and conversations often seem transactional.
- Better job prospects for devs? I guess for a software engineer it'd come down to better job prospects, but to be honest, it's not like the rest of America sucks for software jobs.
- Better social life? This may be availability bias as I am not single and live in the 'burbs with my family, but every single person I know seems pretty miserable & isolated. A couple of them actually moved out of the area because of the poor quality of human interaction/dating. It seems everyone works all the time. (Which works great for me as I'm on the employing side).
+ If you run a tech company & have enough money to move here and hire from the local talent pool, it's a decent proposition.
+ Relative to other places in the country it's pretty diverse and progressive
Some might say access to VCs and funding etc, but that seems to take some pretty serious effort and it might be a better idea to make the hike up from Gilroy or Hollister and not spend a 6 figures in rent for the privilege.
I think the area is beginning to emulate the inequalities that I saw growing up in a 3rd world country. The amount of homeless working people in the area is mind boggling. It seems like most people in the area are just too busy/too successful to do much about it (I include myself in this group unfortunately). California has been having an exodus of residents, but mainly middle class down. I don't see how this is sustainable long term.
*https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_script...