It was very humbling today when I had a startup reach out for a 2 YOE role and the recruiter quoted me a base pay range that was double my total comp at Cisco (no kidding). For any sane person and under G10 you are likely missing out big time on salary by staying here. Just saying
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"What’s g10 software engineer making at Cisco ?"
Whatever it is it's too much given the software quality.
Your salary is a scalar and not a range. How can a range be a double of your salary? Anyway, did you get an offer?
Easy. If his Cisco salary was $100K and the "base pay range" of the offer was $200-250K, that's double his salary. I'd even accept a range of $175-225K as "double" because the median of that range is double his salary.
Just saying. Not everyone is exact and precise in short posts. If you make them too long, people won't read them.
It was very humbling today when I had a startup reach out for a 2 YOE role and the recruiter quoted me a base pay range that was double my total comp at Cisco (no kidding).
Your salary is a scalar and not a range. How can a range be a double of your salary? Anyway, did you get an offer?
Overall, you are right. Cisco salaries are low. We are low-skilled workers after all: read our code, read our postings here on this site.
Before the layoffs in 2001 Cisco used to target the 70th percentile of the market. At one point they formally stated they were moving that to the 50th percentile. I wouldn't be surprised if it's drifted down from there.
I recall back in '08 when I converted from contractor to employee that they were still targeting the 70th percentile of the market. When I was laid off, it seemed that all the positions I interviewed for were at or higher than my Cisco rate. When I was contacted about returning to Cisco, the rates were the same as the market rate. About the only difference was that one of the companies I worked at paid me 10% more than Cisco did but didn't have a year-end bonus. Since my Cisco bonus was 11%, I was pretty much guaranteed a 10% bonus split out over 26 pay periods if I considered my salary as the same as Cisco's and not having to worry about IPF/CPF ratings.
About the only difference I've seen between the two companies I've worked at since Cisco is that they had worse benefits and had little-to-no severance packages. They didn't so mass LR's, but they certainly weren't hesitant to "fire" people if they didn't perform. One of the two companies also worked more on a "project" basis where they'd hire up for a project and then let everyone go once the project was complete. Then a few weeks later they'd kick off another "project" and re-hire most of the same people--developers and project managers--and start over. You never could gain extra PTO or whatever based on seniority because you were terminated about every 12-24 months. Only managers and higher stayed on between projects.
Before the layoffs in 2001 Cisco used to target the 70th percentile of the market. At one point they formally stated they were moving that to the 50th percentile. I wouldn't be surprised if it's drifted down from there.
I am surprised at a 2:1 difference for a startup as startups are rarely funded to make employees rich even if the company doesn't take off. Has labor gotten enough traction to say "with an extremely high failure rate I need more than the dream of a payday to work every waking hour?"
I left Cisco a few years ago as a G10, I moved to a compensation where the base was much more than my OTE at Cisco, I lost so many years being underpaid and that is my fault for not knowing my true worth. I would urge everyone to regularly take interviews even if you don't intend to leave and see what the market is offering even in their economy. You might be very surprised.
I had no idea the pay was low until I was impacted last year. My salary jumped 50%. You have to decide which is a better life for you. Make bank somewhere else and probably work harder, or work at Cisco making less but doing minimal work. I do sometimes miss Cisco, well that is until my Direct Deposit hits. Then all is well.
TAC is now paying $110k for new hires Grade 6 in RTP and RCDN. I know many many senior G8s who are still in low 100s. BIC pay is $500 for weekends and $800 for Holidays.
If you want more $$, go to Fintech. Pays better than just Tech. Interviews are way tougher, but the comp is also better. Just out of college is $300K-$400K, but you have to be real good at your craft. AI or Data Science also pays way higher in this sector.
back in 2000, could easily clear $140k in TAC between BIC, bonus, ESPP---and that did not include the old style (pre-RSU) options
Somewhere not much past 2000 it was reported that the average Cisco Engineer 4 was earning $130K in total compensation. Since salary has ZERO to do with contribution it's a matter of what title a company is offering, where you live and how much you were being paid before. It's highly unlikely TAC is unique where everyone is paid the same.
back in 2000, could easily clear $140k in TAC between BIC, bonus, ESPP---and that did not include the old style (pre-RSU) options
Early in your career, never stay at a company more than 5 yrs. No more than 3 yrs if a start up....if the company has not gone public within 3 yrs probably never will.
Get 15%+ increase in comp with each move. Within 10-15 yrs of your target retirement date find work in a large public company like CSCO. Ride that dinosaur until you are ready to exit on your own terms.
"85k in 2000 for a TAC Engineer?!? that's a big lie dude."
Sounds like a lot jealousy from an underperforming TAC engineer. I made more than that in 2000 as a TAC engineer. Not a whole lot more. So it not a lie and I was in RTP dude!
Salary is only one component of the comp. Your hours will be north of 60 / week, your benefits will decrease, and the chances of you getting a payout on stock is less than 2%. You should go for it. Everyone should experience working at a sweatshop once in their career.
the good thing about cisco as compared to startups is that the severance package is decent. i got impacted last month and cisco gave me a good one. i rejected an offer from a startup last dec. lucky me, they retrenched last month and gave almost zero severance.
Why would you think $85k for TAC in 2000 would be a lie? Very common. Especially if CCIE.
There was a day in 2000 where the company hired 100 people at RTP, in one day.
There are still three people at Cisco from that original team of twelve. Rest are gone.
"Cisco or a company like it isn’t one I would recommend starting one’s career with and staying very long if so."
You learn a lot about outsourcing, acquisitions, and exploiting contract workers. Although most of the people don't seem to be aware of the chaos around them.
Cisco targets men over 50 that are very talented unfortunately.
85k in 2000 for a TAC Engineer?!? that's a big lie dude.
er, hired, not hires @
hires @ cisco in 2000 for $85,500 plus bonus. TAC. left in 2017 and made $200k for the last four or five years. best year was $267k. That will NOT happen again. Glad they dumped me looking back. Took Early Retirement and now part-timer since leaving. Have three friends that did the same. Sounds like no way others getting those types of raises anymore. Sad.
Mate, we all know Cisco doesn’t pay at the top.
I don’t work at Cisco to max out TC lol. I work here because I can get away with 20-25 hours of work a week in a low stress environment. I reckon it’s the same for many, many people here
If you're not in your 50s or late 40s, as someone mentioned earlier, it's advisable not to stay here for more than a year, unless your IQ is questionable.
What’s g10 software engineer making at Cisco ?
Cisco or a company like it isn’t one I would recommend starting one’s career with and staying very long if so. I’m in my 50s and I just got to Cisco. There’s no way I would stay here if I was in my 20-40s. Explore, grow, make mistakes and take risks. You can’t really do those things here.