I was you, 5 years later I am working at a FAANG making 400k/yr

Mind you I was making only 80k less at my last job, a non-FAANG startup. So not saying FAANG is everything, but the workload is sufficiently less than the mad max startup lifestyle.

EDIT: Just read that you said "80k less", not 80k. Actually, that's okay for me. As long as the work is quite interesting, but I'm not making anywhere near 320k.

Yeah, less workload, better pay, what not to like? I guess I just need to get better now.

What did you do in the 5 intervening years?

Worked for three startups then started my own. I got an offer from a FAANG company that I couldn’t turn down, so I put my company on pause.

Will probably return to my startup after I leave my current gig

leetcode

In your case your pay increased 5 times too.

Who wouldn't want such a life.

FWIW, they mentioned their previous job’s pay was only 80k less, not absolute.

You're also likely not paying as much for living either.

The difference barely matters for the discrepancy between regular and FAANG salaries.

I live in NYC (cries in the corner)