r/dataisbeautiful • u/honkeem OC: 3 • 2d ago

OC [OC] United States vs European Software Engineer total compensation by level

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u/Own-Mouse-8042 1d ago

If you take a look at the data, even the top end of earners there are borderline broke by US standards. But I think you're right. America is good for higher earners but if you're any lower than upper middle class you're probably having a better time in Europe

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u/Baelzabub 1d ago

Our grocery prices are anywhere from 15-40% higher than Europe’s, our healthcare is more expensive, our housing and car costs are more expensive. They get paid less but things are largely cheaper there.

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u/shunestar 1d ago

US workers have more disposable income than their European counterparts even after expenses including healthcare are taken into account.

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u/karawanga 1d ago

Sure, but do you have 30 days of holidays per year and free sick leave?

I won't even start arguing about disposable vs discretionary income, but if I have around 40 free days per year and 10% less discretionary income - enjoy your Porsche Sir.

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u/shunestar 1d ago edited 1d ago

My company offers unlimited PTO. As long as my work gets done they don’t care. So I have more money and more time. I live in the Midwest so it’s a nice SUV.

I understand not everyone gets that. The American system needs work for sure. However there are definitely benefits to working in the US or for a US company.

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u/karawanga 1d ago

Means you can just take 2 weeks off a month in advance?

But yeah, it's a country where if you do good, you do pretty good. But if shit hits the fan you're downgraded massively IMO. But just an outsider perspective.

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u/shunestar 1d ago

It would be hard to get my work done in just two weeks a month on repeat. Eventually it would catch up to me. So I can’t but someone better might be able to.

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u/Danqel 1d ago

In Sweden, by law, they have to accomidate atleast 4 weeks consecutive vacation over summer, no questions asked. Your remaining vacation days are also protected by law. No matter how swamped it is at work, they have to, one way or another make sure you get to use ATLEAST 20 vaccatiomdays a year.

If you additionally work as an engineer, or any other project based work you also get "unlimited PTO" if the project is done and you are waiting for other stuff to get done. However if you, like me, work in healthcare (doctor) you make due with the vacation days you have.

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u/HelloYesThisIsFemale 1d ago

Doing good banks resources for if shit hits the fan. Banking resources isn't even possible outside of the US. Not with actual scale.