How Much Do Tech Bosses Really Earn? (dice.com)

Nerval's Lobster writes: Everybody knows that tech's top figures, such as Google CEO Larry Page or Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, are worth billions of dollars thanks to stock options. But how much do everyday tech executives -- the CIOs, Chief Data Officers, and so on -- earn? Generally between $150,000 and $175,000 per year, not [including] possible perks such as stock options, according to a new analysis. That's based on national data, although anyone who works in tech knows that in high-demand areas such as Silicon Valley, salaries can skyrocket far higher for those with highly specialized skill sets and the right mix of experience. It's a good time to be a Pointy-Haired Boss, but then again, when isn't it?

Comments

Re:It's what you don't see that counts

[crunchygranola]

You are leaving out the most prominent bit of "non-salary" compensation: bonuses.

Bonuses aren't salary, but a top level exec will always, always get them because if he does not qualify, he wouldn't be kept in the position anyway. What is a typical bonus for a top exec? 100% is usual. So, in fact even without factoring in options (which can easily outstrip all other forms of compensation), or severance packages, their real take-home pay is double what is quoted.

In publicly traded companies this stuff is in the annual SEC filings so you can look it up yourself, its all on-line these days. The last company I worked for HR gave me static about getting a salary increase commensurate with my experience, position and contribution claiming that what I wanted was 90% of what the CIO made. Can't have that! But I pointed out to him that the SEC filings showed that the CIO got a 100% bonus each year, so really what I was asking for was only 45%. We settled for 42.5%.

that's not a lot

[superwiz]

actually, that's very little. if any PM-level manager is making less than $150k, they should be looking for a new job. The only realistic way to measure a salary is in the multiples of minimal wage (because that's what really determines price levels of everything else in this service economy). If you are making only 15x what the people who are flipping burgers are making and you don't have all the top-level perks that come with being a public servant (pension, best medical insurance in the state, etc.), then you are getting taken for a ride. Your take-home pay may seem high, but you have to put a lot of it away to pay for your retirement (something that people who make half your salary don't have to do). And you will pay close to full-price for you children's college (vs someone making 1/3 of your salary who'll pay nothing for it). And god-forbid you get sick or your kid breaks a hand, you'll get laugh at why you have that medical insurance at all. It'll delay your care and all the money will be paid by you out of pocket to cover deductible. After you've deducted all of these, if you think that $150k will buy you a comfortable life, you are kidding yourself. You are not gonna be taking any luxury vacations anytime soon. If you are lucky, you'll be able to afford one life-long hobby to sink $100 a month into.