I didn't know how well you could be paid as a software engineer, and I didn't try to maximize compensation in any way.

I did a masters of comp sci in my late 20s, and instead of going for FAANG internships, I took a role that was similar to what I was doing previously (Dev Infra/DevOps). I was stubborn and thought "Why would I be an intern? I was managing two teams at my last job", but didn't realize that FAANG interns actually made equal or more money than I did, and an entry level FAANG offer was much higher than the role I had accepted. I just didn't know, and I had nobody helping me.

So, here I am, mid-30s, making less than my peers at a trading company for the same work because I didn't come from FAANG. This is actually a big reason I'm ready to quit tech. It just doesn't seem worth it. A little over a year ago, I was hiring someone, and the internal recruiter slipped up on a phone call with me while talking about putting together an offer. They mentioned what an indirect report of mine made as a comparison. His base was more than my total comp. After that, I pretty much checked out for a year and did the bare minimum.

At this point, the only way for me to increase my comp is to move companies, likely to FAANG, and from what I hear, I'll be 'down-leveled' coming from outside of FAANG, and in a similar position I'm in now. At most non-FAANG companies, my next comp package will be driven off of my current one, so I'm pretty boned. It feels like the only option is to get competing offers from multiple top-tier companies, which I just don't have time for. My day job is already super draining, so I'm not sure how I'll have time to prep for interviews to the level that will get me those multiple offers.

That's a lot of text to say I'm underpaid, and have been for most of my career because I didn't know what I should be getting paid.

I'm guessing he means office politics. That's the way I feel anyways - if I had participated in politics and the games the company plays rather than just be the best technical person I could, then I would be much better off. I know a guy that started a year after me. He's a manager now (3-4 promos), making at least $30k more than me, while I'm just a midlevel (1 promo).

There's a lot to that, but I'm actually half decent at the politics. I held a fairly senior role previously, and still play the game pretty well. I'm just underpaid and pissed off about it, to the point that it effects my performance.

Yeah, similar to your pay comment, I've become disillusioned by the company screwing me over and passing me over. I consider salary/raise/promo negotiations to be part of the politics and games. What else would you say is the root cause of you being underpaid?

Starting my career with lower comp. I detailed this in a post in this same thread, just a little higher up.

Cool. That's part of what I did too - lower starting comp and stayed at the same company (8 years now).