Inflation… what inflation?

[an]

[quote=deadzone]Question for Corona and AN related to Engineer’s salaries. What website do you use to see San Diego salary data? Has it shown significant salary increases in recent years for apples to apples jobs (i.e. inflation)?

Many of you have been reporting big increases in salary and/or difficulty hiring. It sounds to me like you guys are hiring for very niche positions. Although admittedly I am one of those folks you mentioned that is stuck in 90s/00s technology and mentality so the jobs you describe are completely Greek to me.[/quote]
There isn’t one place for this data. For me, it’s a combination of talking with recruiting team (they do a yearly salary assessment and they ask every candidates what their salary expectation are), looking at what candidate’s salary expectations are for the positions we have open, and keeping tab on LinkedIn. I’m seeing signification salary increase in the last few years.

We’re on the MERN stack, so definitely not niche. If you do web development, this is the most popular stack and have the biggest pool of candidates.

[an]

You nailed it Coronita

[sdrealtor]

[quote=deadzone][quote=sdrealtor]That is not what either of us are arguing. We aren’t saying more people. We are saying more highly compensated and rich people. These days po folk need not apply[/quote]

Perhaps due to changing job environment, but not necessarily related to remote work, which I don’t believe is going to be major factor one way or the other relating to SD home values in the long run.

And the fact remains that RE values are going up all over the Country, not just SD. SD is going up more, admittedly. But is that difference really attributed to all of these new high paying jobs, or, is it just the good old sunshine tax we’ve always had.[/quote]

Because your track record of anticipating the markets moves is stellar. And thank you for finally admitting I was correct all along. Things are going up here more. A lot more

[Anonymous]

[quote=an][quote=deadzone]Question for Corona and AN related to Engineer’s salaries. What website do you use to see San Diego salary data? Has it shown significant salary increases in recent years for apples to apples jobs (i.e. inflation)?

Many of you have been reporting big increases in salary and/or difficulty hiring. It sounds to me like you guys are hiring for very niche positions. Although admittedly I am one of those folks you mentioned that is stuck in 90s/00s technology and mentality so the jobs you describe are completely Greek to me.[/quote]
There isn’t one place for this data. For me, it’s a combination of talking with recruiting team (they do a yearly salary assessment and they ask every candidates what their salary expectation are), looking at what candidate’s salary expectations are for the positions we have open, and keeping tab on LinkedIn. I’m seeing signification salary increase in the last few years.

We’re on the MERN stack, so definitely not niche. If you do web development, this is the most popular stack and have the biggest pool of candidates.[/quote]

Do you use Indeed and Linkedin to find candidates? I may need to do some hiring this year so need to get prepared. Also, I want to be knowledgeable on salary situation so I can take care of the folks that work for me. Looking back at last year, my company provided less than 2% for COLA. I guess they got that number from some questionable government figures but we all know cost of living is rising way more quickly than that, especially in SD. With that small of COLA raise our salaries are going down in real terms big time.

I’ve never heard of MERN, will have to look that up.

[Anonymous]

[quote=sdrealtor]

Because your track record of anticipating the markets moves is stellar. And thank you for finally admitting I was correct all along. Things are going up here more. A lot more[/quote]

We’ll see what the future holds. But if you are so certain of that, I assume you have invested 100% of your money into SD RE. Buy now or be priced out forever. Opportunity of a Lifetime.

[an]

[quote=deadzone]Do you use Indeed and Linkedin to find candidates?[/quote]Yes when I was Head of Engineering at an early stage startup. But now, the recruiting team is responsible for that. But I do mobilize my LinkedIn network to point them to the job postings.

[quote=deadzone]Looking back at last year, my company provided less than 2% for COLA. I guess they got that number from some questionable government figures but we all know cost of living is rising way more quickly than that, especially in SD. With that small of COLA raise our salaries are going down in real terms big time.[/quote]
COLA is pointless in engineering IMHO. At least in my entire career experience. If you’re only giving COLA, the good one will leave.

[Anonymous]

Yes I agree with you about the COLA being worthless. That’s why I want to arm myself with as much salary data as possible. Mainly for taking care of my own people, I may need to get into it with the company execs if they are not willing to give more realistic raises this year.

[sdrealtor]

[quote=deadzone][quote=sdrealtor]

Because your track record of anticipating the markets moves is stellar. And thank you for finally admitting I was correct all along. Things are going up here more. A lot more[/quote]

We’ll see what the future holds. But if you are so certain of that, I assume you have invested 100% of your money into SD RE. Buy now or be priced out forever. Opportunity of a Lifetime.[/quote]

More nonsense. Put down the punch cards, I’m well diversified as well as well invested in secure prime SD real estate

[Coronita]

.

[Coronita]

[quote=deadzone]Yes I agree with you about the COLA being worthless. That’s why I want to arm myself with as much salary data as possible. Mainly for taking care of my own people, I may need to get into it with the company execs if they are not willing to give more realistic raises this year.[/quote]

Why do you feel you need to arm yourself with salary data in order to negotiate your compensation in CA?

If you aren’t already aware, state law prohibits potential employers from asking you salary/compensation history from your current or previous employer in determining compensation for your next opportunity.

https://www.hrdive.com/news/salary-history-ban-states-list/516662

Now, if you voluntarily give your information about your compensation, they obviously can use it to determine your future compensation, but you are not obligated to answer what your salary history or required to provide proof of what your previous compensation history was…

So you can play it two ways. If you had a great compensation package, that otherwise would be unbelievable, I think it would be helpful to volunteer that information with proof so it it removes any doubt you made that.

If on the other hand your compensation was shitty, you aren’t obligated to say anything. At most the only thing they will ask you is “what are compensation requirements” or “this is what we are willing to pay you”… And you can negotiate from there, assuming there is mutual interest up to that point.

Most of the people that I know that jumped ship wasn’t really looking to move in the beginning. They got hit up by a recruiter on linkedin, who asked them if they were willing to consider a new opportunity, they casually said “I’m always open to opportunity but not really actively looking”, did a few rounds of informal meet and greet, and then if the company actually was interested, threw out a comp number that was big enough for them to motivate to move, thinking well if the new company gave what they wanted, they would seriously consider it, not thinking that it would happen…And then the new company gave the comp package that they threw out there. Usually, when a recruiters contacts me about a opportunity, I usually go through the motion of talking the recruiter and then the hiring director/VP, because you never know what you might find…and even if it’s not something that I’m interested in or I’m not a good fit, I always leave a note with that person “well, it’s nice to meet you. I know you’re looking for people and if there’s anyone on my network you think that might fit what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to me and I can put you in contact with anyone you might think is interesting”… It’s goodwill to do this. Because while, you might not have landed a fitting job with that person, maybe you can help him find someone that is. And then maybe that person remembers you, and he/she runs into someone looking for someone with your background, maybe he’ll put you in contact with that person…if you do that enough, it increases you’re chances of finding a better gig. Might not be today, tomorrow, or the next month…There’s certain point that finding a next job is more about who you know and your reputation than going through the bottom up approach of applying for job through HR…

The other thing I’ve learned is if you have to pick and choose between pissing off your engineers or pissing off your VP.. Piss of the VP. Why? Because especially for a lot of those younger hot shot engineers. Those engineers give or take a few years will end up being directors and VP’s, and chances are, how well you treated them (or not) will have a direct impact on what sort of opportunity you might have in the future, when you might end up working for them because they got on a luckier path than you did… Just recently, I had a former employee asking me if I wanted to fill an open manager position because his boss moved up. I wasn’t interested in the position, because generally I don’t like moving backwards to a lower position, unless there’s a good reason to, but the boss seemed like a good guy.

[Anonymous]

I’m not really worried about my people leaving. I just want to protect them from getting screwed by an eroding salary due to my company being out of touch with inflation in San Diego.

[an]

[quote=deadzone]I’m not really worried about my people leaving. I just want to protect them from getting screwed by an eroding salary due to my company being out of touch with inflation in San Diego.[/quote]
If they’ve been getting COLA of 2% for many years, then they’re well below market. If they haven’t left yet, then why even try now?

[Anonymous]

Yes but inflation is way higher now than it has been so it is more of an issue now. And I actually care that they don’t get screwed. I already pointed out that my motivation is not that I am worried they will leave at this point.

[utcsox]

..

[an]

[quote=deadzone]Yes but inflation is way higher now than it has been so it is more of an issue now. And I actually care that they don’t get screwed. I already pointed out that my motivation is not that I am worried they will leave at this point.[/quote]
Engineer salary has been outpacing inflation for many years. If you haven’t been keeping them current with market all of this time, I’m confused why start now? It also much harder to bring them current with one big jump.

[Author]

Posts