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rnelsonee t1_iy91xk1 wrote

I'm an engineer who spent 18 years at my last company and will be at my second/current one until I retire, so let me offer my thoughts since we seem similar.

There's nothing wrong with staying with a company, provided you're paid what your worth (and like the job of course). If you have a good manager and/or stick up for yourself, that shouldn't be an issue. If someone gets paid more going to a new job, either they weren't getting paid enough before, or they're agreeing to more accountability and responsibility at their new job. The job offers I got when I switched were right around my then-current salary, and that was expected, because I had a good manager. I've never asked for a raise but have gotten one every year (two this year, thanks to inflation!)^1. I've never asked for a promotion either, but have gotten those as well.

And I can play the "what if" game all I want, but I know this: my current salary is consummate with my experience and skill. If I scored 10%-25% increases by job-hopping, there's no way I could be doing what I'm doing now (real engineering, minor project management), because my $250k salary (or whatever) would mean I'd be spending all day going over budgets, leading multiple team meetings, dealing with customers at a high level, and trying to turn little KPI icons green. No thanks.

^1 If you care, median is 4.0%, mean is 5.86%. These were 4.9% and 7.0% for my first job; my new job offers lower raises which I knew about going in, but they make it up in great retirement benefits.

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blacksteveman t1_iy98nvt wrote

I am in a similar boat as you. 8 years as an engineer at my current company. I make almost 3x what I originally made when I first got here. I found a niche that allows me to do the work I enjoy and I make sure that I am good at what I do. I would tell my boss to set goals for me, both professionally and personally so I have something to work for. It also allows me to have ammo when raises come around.

Another thing I made sure to do is promote and keep up the work culture that my company likes to tout publicly. Ive been told that I set the attitude for the part of the company I am a part of (in charge of, sorta) and that they are happy that the most senior department is the engineering one. My managers enjoy that they can throw me the keys to a project and it just gets done, I like the role I am in and they do what they can to make me happy. Ive been offered to go higher in the org but I just dont want the added responsibilities.

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