> There is absolutely no way to get 500k/year from being just an engineer in Europe.
Proprietary trading shops in London at the top end or L6+ at Google Zurich can pay that in total comp.
> I recall the React creator's base salary is 100k/year in London, and he works at Facebook.
And what about stocks? There should be at least another 100k in them. Facebook is a publicly tradable company, its RSUs are as good as cash, unlike startup paper money.
Why the focus on base salary alone? Total (liquid) compensation is what matters, as the high paying places tend to be either equity (FAANGs) or bonus (finance) heavy. And 200k+ GBP TC is very good pay for UK market, probably 99th percentile
Proprietary trading shops in London at the top end or L6+ at Google Zurich can pay that in total comp.
> I recall the React creator's base salary is 100k/year in London, and he works at Facebook.
And what about stocks? There should be at least another 100k in them. Facebook is a publicly tradable company, its RSUs are as good as cash, unlike startup paper money.