Salary growth as a Software Engineer

I want to understand how much the salary Software Engineer can go up to? Bit background about me: - I have been coding since school time, (we had Java in the ICSE board), and have built multiple websites, apps, games, so had good experience before my first job. - 2021 graduate and worked remotely for an early stage startup, started with 20 lpa, and got excellent experience and learning. - This year, I switched to another remote company, with the role of SWE-2 and 42 lpa. I have heard that salaries as Software Engineers start to plateau after a while. So by the time I have 10 YOE, and a Staff Software Engineer, maybe I can expect to reach ~1 Cr. But at 20 YOE i.e double experience of 10 YOE, my salary would only grow about 50% like to ~1.5 Cr? Am I understanding this correctly? I have heard people say that one only gets better increment rates as once moves into management. I want to understand how much is that? And at what age am I too old to be hired as a Software Engineer?? Need more insights to understand this better.

lions

Startup

2 months ago

FYI: My intention here is to find a career trajectory for me and know how much the salary can go up to at that point in time. I want to know how to think about my career goals whether to switch to management or not. If I were to remain as an Engineer, I need to focus and prepare myself accordingly starting right now, so need some clarity

Dekisugi

Salesforce

2 months ago

I don't have relatively high experience, but in product based. After staff, you get principal, distinguished engineeer and then technical fellow. Though the cash component may not be high, stocks will outweigh it significantly

lions

Startup

2 months ago

Oh I didn't really know about these roles. I had the impression Principal/Staff are interchangeable. Still, how much can the salary go up to at that point in time? 2 Cr at max? I want to know how to think about my career goals whether to switch to management or not

Dekisugi

Salesforce

2 months ago

India mostly dont have technical fellow roles. But US location have them. Refer below Microsoft: https://www.levels.fyi/companies/microsoft/salaries/software-engineer?country=254 https://www.levels.fyi/companies/apple/salaries/software-engineer?country=254 I would say 2 cr is pretty less. 6-7 cr is my expectation.

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