The Impact of Low Salaries At Apple

orenh writes "Recent data indicate that Apple engineers have significantly lower salaries than their Silicon Valley peers: $89,000 at Apple, versus $105,000 at Yahoo and $112,000 at Google. Paying lower salaries had a major impact on Apple's bottom line when it was struggling in the market up until 2004. But now that Apple is highly profitable, these lower salaries are no longer a factor in Apple's success. Will Apple have to raise salaries to match the market rate, or face defections?"

Comments

Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[yoder]

"Will Apple have to raise salaries to match the market rate, or face defections?"

Yes!

Re:Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[infosinger]

Jobs keeps them there because he ends every employee meeting with "And one more thing...." and makes them wait for the next meeting. ;-)

Re:Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[profplump]

if ($desired->$feature) {
    if (! $existing_device_features->$feature) {
        $whining_on_slashdot = kINSIGHTFUL;
    } else {
        $whining_on_slashdot = kREDUNDANT;
    }
}

Seriously, we get that one of the two things he complained about is a problem. But it's valid to point out that ONLY one of the two things is a problem, and the other is either a troll, or honest misunderstanding, and there's some value in calling out either one (entertainment or learning respectively).

Re:Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[gregbot9000]

Actually it's presidential Riddick, and by raise taxes he means murder.

Re:Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[rachit]

No, it's *redneck*. Makes a lot more sense.

Re:Will Apple have to raise salaries?

[lordSaurontheGreat]

You might want to translate that into a more readable language, like C or C++.

Free iPhones!

[mactard]

But the Lord Jobs gave them all free iPhones! That surely has to make up for having to work for the biggest asshole in California.

Re:Free iPhones!

[maxume]

Deep breaths there skippy, deep breaths.

Careful how you say that

[Zerth]

You're implying that Apple engineers are equally skilled as Google engineers!

On the other hand, why are Yahoo engineers so overpaid... :)

Apples and Oranges

[telchine]

Comparing Apple with Google is like comparing apples with oranges, or, like comparing Apple with Orange!

Re:What?

[Anonymous Coward]

You're looking at just the salary? Don't be stupid. Benefits. I make less than I could, but the benefits of where I work more than make up for it. So, what are their benefits? I hope the benefits include remedial education.

Re:But !? Apple is 'cool' ?!?

[geekoid]

Considering they aren't the military, it's actually called 'quitting'.

Re:But !? Apple is 'cool' ?!?

[sien]

Considering it's Apple it's called "committing an act of heresy" or "being excommunicated".

OBjoke

[fred fleenblat]

No the engineers are paid just fine, it's just that Steve Jobs' $1 salary is dragging down the average...

Re:I know you're sarcastic, but...

[prockcore]

everything happened because of the Great Man Steve Jobs, and (thinly veiled) in spite of those lazy incompetent engineers

Hehe, I got modded flamebait for pointing that out recently.

Re:I know you're sarcastic, but...

[Maxo-Texas]

You should feel proud that you were modded by the Great Man!

Pedestal

[nick_davison]

I would higher a Apple Engineer...

Now you're just putting them on a pedestal!

Re:It's not always salaries...

[Mr2001]

Maybe there are benefits packages apple is offering which even google does not (though it's highly unlikely). Like discounts on Apple hardware. Those could easily add up to tens of thousands a year, if you like Apple products enough.

Re:Uh, Google has fairly low pay, too.

[Basehart]

"...If you're comparing, say, the guy who designs the box that the iPod comes in..."

The interior of my iPod box was completely dry.

Only 89,000?

[mkcmkc]

I don't know where that $89,000 number came from. Everyone in my group at Apple makes at least $225,000. Well, except for one guy who just spell-checks the docs--he makes $189,000. Man, if you're making under two hundred you're really getting reamed. I mean, damn. You are at least getting the yearly $100K bonus, aren't you? I'd really be pissed if I was missing out on that. That and the key to the Happy Endings room at the gym...

Re:Puget Sound

[slugstone]

He living on the wrong side of the mountains to observe you being arrested for getting to close to J, K and L pods.

Re:why don't you find out for yourself?

[Hal_Porter]

I work at Apple to and I must disagree with the parent.

They keep me chained to a radiator making iPods in return for a bowl of rice a day. If I forget to check post anonymously the Apple police will hunt me down and kill me for Thinking Different.

Logical Development (and a question)

[cp.tar]

Mod Child Down.

...

Just wondering... If we had a -1 Down mod, wouldn't it be a bit retarded?

Re:Google's "talent" is vastly over-rated.

[Alioth]

The military still have vets? How much horse cavalry is there?

(Seriously, over here a 'vet' is a vetinary surgeon. I did a bit of a double take when I was living in Houston and I saw a bumper sticker saying 'If you value your freedom, thank a vet' - and I thought, well, it's all very nice having someone to give my cat his annual FIV vaccination, but I didn't realise vetinary surgeons were the vanguard of freedom fighters too!).