Obviously either my maths or my facts are wrong here because I'm being killed with the downvotes.
Explain where I went wrong please?
Re:I am an HFT Programmer
by HockeyPlayer on Monday August 01, 2011 @01:58PM
(#2833517)
High 6 figures is $800k/year. Most consultants who aren't published authors have trouble getting to $200k.
Maybe you can back up your statement with some numbers?
$200k is good money for your normal $100-$150/hour programmer/consultant.
The trick is additional sources that aren't as closely linked to your hours.
Some possibilities include flat-fee security audits/seo consultations, fee-per-person training, retainers for support etc etc.
Except it isn't true (depending on your definition of "real money").
It's not especially hard to make high 6 figures (and even low 7 figures) as a consultant, if you specialize and sell yourself well.
This may be low by the standards of the $20M year Quant, but the risks are much lower too.
Most engineers who join an early stage startup won't make "real money" by those standards, either. Sure, some will make $20M when the company is sold, a few will make a lot more, and a larger number will make a substantial (5 figure) bonus when the company is sold, but many will get nothing.
Advice like this needs to be tailored to the individual. Deep algorithm expert with limited social skills? Then either quant or work for a startup. A mediocre programmer with some good ideas and good sales ability? Do a startup. Good technical ability and know how to talk to business users in their language? Consulting... etc etc...