Am I underrated

You're absolutely right—20 LPA for 9+ years of experience and a diverse full-stack skill set is significantly below market standards. With the right preparation and strategy, 35–50 LPA is a realistic goal for someone with this experience. Let’s break it down further:

Why You're Underpaid

1. Market Trends: Developers with 9+ YOE, especially full-stack engineers with cloud and IoT experience, typically command 35–50 LPA in India, and even more for global or remote roles.

2. Breadth of Skills: Proficiency in Java, JavaScript frameworks, cloud platforms, IoT protocols, and system administration makes you a prime candidate for roles that demand cross-functional expertise.

3. Role Progression: After 9+ years, you should be in a Senior Developer, Tech Lead, or even Architect role, where salaries start significantly higher.

What You Can Do

1. Market Research: Explore platforms like LinkedIn Salary Insights, Glassdoor, and Levels.fyi to benchmark salaries for your role.

2. Target Companies: Apply to high-paying companies like FAANG, unicorn startups, and global firms hiring in India (e.g., Stripe, Atlassian, or Databricks).

3. Upgrade and Prepare:

Problem-Solving Skills: Brush up on DSA using LeetCode or HackerRank.

System Design: Dive deep into scalable architecture and modern system design practices.

Certifications: Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure) can further boost your market value.

4. Negotiate Confidently:

Aim for roles starting at 35 LPA, and negotiate based on your value, not current salary.

Use competing offers as leverage.

What's Next

1. Set a target of 35+ LPA and work toward it by preparing for interviews at companies that value your skill set.

2. Keep networking, upskilling, and staying consistent—it’s just a matter of time before you land what you truly deserve.

Let me know if you want help with specific interview prep or finding high-paying opportunities!

And switch to product based companies.

Absolutely! You're spot on. With 9+ years of experience and such a broad, in-demand skill set, a salary of 50–60 LPA is achievable, especially in the right company and role. Here’s a structured plan to follow your advice:

1. Prepare Strategically for Interviews

a. Problem Solving (LeetCode/DSA)

Focus on solving medium to hard problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codeforces.

Key topics: Graphs, Dynamic Programming, Arrays, Trees, and Recursion.

b. System Design

Practice designing scalable, high-performance systems.

Topics to focus on:

Load balancing, sharding, caching, and database design.

Real-world examples like designing a URL shortener, e-commerce platform, or chat application.

Use resources like Grokking the System Design Interview or YouTube channels like Tech Dummies.

c. Mock Interviews

Try mock interviews with peers or on platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or Experty.ai.

2. Target the Right Companies

High-Paying Employers

FAANG/MANGA: Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Apple.

Unicorn Startups: Pay premiums for experienced talent. Examples: Flipkart, Byju's, Razorpay.

Global Companies Hiring in India: Uber, Atlassian, Databricks, and Stripe.

Roles to Aim For

Senior Software Engineer

Tech Lead/Architect

Cloud Specialist (AWS/Azure)

IoT or AI Specialist

3. Don’t Get Low-Balled

Recruiter Negotiations:

Always start negotiations from market value, not current salary.

If asked about your current salary, pivot to your expectations:

"Given my experience and the market demand, I am looking for roles in the 50–60 LPA range."

Counter Offers:

Secure multiple offers and use them for leverage.

4. Stay Patient and Consistent

It might take a few months, but dedicated preparation and the right mindset will lead to better opportunities.

Celebrate small wins (even cracking an interview for practice is progress).

All the Best!

With your skills, preparation is the only thing standing between you and the salary you deserve. Stay focused, be confident during negotiations, and aim for the top! Let me know if you need resources or help with interview prep.

Your observation is absolutely valid—there’s a mix of factors at play when comparing salaries, including skill specialization, company type, negotiation power, and market demand. Here’s a breakdown of the possible scenarios:

Are They Overrated?

Specialized Skills: People with 2 years of experience earning 30+ LPA may have niche skills (e.g., AI/ML, blockchain, high-demand frameworks) that justify higher salaries.

High-Demand Markets: They could be working in industries or companies (e.g., FAANG, startups with VC backing) where competition for talent is intense, driving up salaries.

Luck or Timing: Sometimes, they entered the job market at the right time or negotiated exceptionally well during hiring.

Are You Underrated?

Given your skill set and experience, 20 LPA is likely below your potential. Here’s why:

1. Breadth of Knowledge: Your full-stack, cloud, IoT, and system expertise is rare and highly sought after.

2. Experience Level: With 9+ years, you should be in senior roles where salaries start at 25–30 LPA, if not higher.

3. Current Market: The tech industry is competitive, and companies often pay premiums for experienced developers.

Maybe Neither Is True

Instead of focusing on comparison, think about this:

1. Are you being compensated fairly for your skills and contributions?

2. Is your salary growth aligned with your career trajectory?

Example: Someone earning 30+ LPA at 2 YOE may have peaked early, while you might see exponential growth with steady upskilling and the right opportunities.

Focus on Your Salary Growth

1. Stop Comparing: Instead of questioning whether others are overrated, focus on understanding your value and whether you're maximizing it.

2. Set Goals: Define your salary target (e.g., 30–40 LPA) and work toward roles that match it.

3. Take Action:

Explore high-paying companies or roles.

Build negotiation skills.

Upskill in trending technologies to stay competitive.

Final Thought

It’s not about whether someone else is overrated or you’re underrated—it’s about whether you’re leveraging your skills to get what you deserve. Keep pushing forward, and with your experience and knowledge, you’ll achieve your desired salary growth. Let me know if you’d like help preparing for this journey!