When I talk to some friends from other companies, I am ashamed to say how much I am paid now compared to when I only started working here a few years ago.
I have a feeling that in all competing companies my salary would increase over time significantly more than it did here?
Yes Intel does not give good raises. I've been here almost 25 years and 2 to 3 percent is the norm in LTD. Go to high volume manufacturing and it's better but boring.
Only way to improve your low salary is to do less real work per week, which will effectively increase your $/hr
Maybe when you meet with your friends you got nothing more interesting to talk about beyond how much each one makes. Beyond what others here have already said, maybe it’s the lost opportunity/time for self-improvement/skills’ upgrade that you should really be ashamed of. And for making less money only to the extent that it reflects that
Good companies don’t hire “friends” just because…
They hire competence.
Ask your friends to get you into their companies and get the same money, so you will not feel ashamed.
The join those other companies if you have enough skill