Did you join Airbnb before its IPO perhaps? I suppose pre-IPO companies usually offer higher base since their equities can't be liquidated until post-IPO.

Yes, must be that and the remote aspect.

Remote salaries will generally be lower than SF salaries.

Cost of living adjusted though, they may be higher.

> Context: Was a senior SWE in SF for Airbnb until 2020.

Working in San Francisco, in-person/hybrid, at a company that ranks among the top of the industry is always going to pay higher than remote jobs hiring anywhere.

Part of the goal of remote hiring is to expand the candidate pool, which reduces the need to hire at exorbitant salaries in small, highly competitive markets.

People complain about remote workers getting different pay, but at the end of the day it means higher compensation for people outside of those few select cities.

lots of people moved too

Anecdotally, I found a new job this year, and my last one was in 2021. Salaries are across the board lower and more competitive. Seeing remote jobs offering Seniors $120-150k is pretty normal now, where I think in 2021 you would have seen $150k as a bottom. Some of the remote Series B and Big Tech places pay better though.