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Heres how much one person made at their first job at Microsoft and what they make now.
Plus, in the Seattle area, that salary stretched further than a yoga instructor at a tech campus.
I remember thinking, Wow, I can actually afford name-brand cereal now,' Thomas shared.
It might seem silly but I didnt have that growing up.
My manager pretty much left me alone outside of work hours, Thomas said.
I kinda thought every future job would be like this not so.
This culture of balance meant Thomas could pursue his hobbies, and he got intosourdough starters and cycling.
Microsofts approach to compensation was like its approach to software updates: reliable, but not huge.
Every year, Id get a decent raise andsome stock options, Thomas said.
It wasnt life-changing but felt OK, especially in the beginning of my career.
I started to wonder if I was missing out, Thomas said.
Was I leaving money on the table because I was comfortable?
Of course, the head hunters who reach out almost constantly are reminding you of that, too.
The Big Leap: Hello, Meta!
In 2020, after 15 years at Microsoft, Thomas decided to take the plunge.
I actually asked them to repeat it, likesome sitcom character.
Suddenly, I was the guy buying the fancy guacamole for the whole office, Thomas said.
The Culture Shock
But as Thomas quickly learned, thatmassive salary bumpcame with some…adjustments.
At Microsoft, crunch time meant we might order in dinner once a week, Thomas shared.
At Meta, crunch time seems to be all the time.
Im pretty suremy desk chairhas a permanent imprint of my butt.
The work-life balance Thomas had grown accustomed to at Microsoft was suddenly as elusive as a bug-free code launch.
Late nights, weekend work and a constant sense of urgency became the new normal.
I used to train for marathons, Thomas said.
Now I just sprint from meeting to meeting.
Does that count as cardio?
At Microsoft, I felt like I was part of abig, slightly dysfunctional family, he said.
At Meta, it sometimes feels like were all contestants on some high-stakes reality show.
The rewards are bigger, but so is the pressure.
Its always so hard to tell if you made the right choice!
Thomas has had to say goodbye to his sourdough starters and his cycling is less frequent these days.
But, on the flip side, hes gained a new appreciation for meditation apps and ergonomic desk setups.
Im learning to find balance in a much more intense environment, Thomas said.
And lets be honest, the paycheck does help ease the stress.
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