Re:Ask HN: Salary Increases Over Time
by michaelochurch on Thursday December 20, 2012 @10:32AM
(#4948182)
If this occupation is so leveraged that 10% annual salary gains are "average", and 20% are "expected", there is going to be some heartache at some point.
I don't think "leveraged" is the word you want.
Obviously, it stops at some point. I think most people get to a point where they care more about autonomy and control over their own time than they do about money. Once you can afford to buy a house, raise a family, and take vacations, how much more do you need? I think most people focus on doing more interesting and meaningful work at that point, not pushing up their salary.
But as long as I am going to be following orders and putting my time into others' ideas, I want either (a) a 20%-increase track or (b) enough autonomy to get the skills that will help me along that curve.
How many years are you talking about being employed? Because doubling your salary every 3-5 years is completely unsustainable. If this occupation is so leveraged that 10% annual salary gains are "average", and 20% are "expected", there is going to be some heartache at some point. That isn't happening anywhere else on the planet.