How Much I Make As A Principal Engineer At Amazon (EXACT Amount)

Sharing income details is taboo, but it shouldn't be. In this video I'll cover exactly how much money I make, but more importantly, how I think about income.

My content will always be free of charge but if you'd like to support the channel, I'd be honored if you supported me on Patreon.

BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

This book transformed my life when I read it for the first time nearly 10 years ago. It's still guides the way I think about self-development today.

The most important currency you have is your undivided attention. This book shows you exactly how to spend this currency in a manner that will lead to head-turning accomplishment.

SYSTEM DESIGN
Currently the best reference for contemporary for system design.

For interviews, the best references are System Design Interview and System Design Interview Volume 2 by Alex Xu.

I get a kick-back for the affiliate links above. The opinions expressed in this video are my own. I do not speak for Amazon.

00:00 Introduction
03:20 Non-wage Income
07:28 Wage Income
09:35 Story
12:26 Taxes
13:40 Conclusion

[jm-alan]

Standing ovation for actually answering the "How much do you make?" question in the first 60 seconds of the video rather than clickbaiting us into a 20-minute video where you dance around the subject before saying "you can probably figure it out"
Obviously, you're under no obligation to disclose this information at all, but the fact that you did, so plainly and matter-of-factly, is definitely appreciated.

[leetcoderafeeq]

This isn't upsetting, this is inspirational!

[MichaelRicksAherne]

This is a vulnerable video, despite the large income. It takes a great deal of courage to put all the details out there, knowing that you'll get some oddball reactions to it. I appreciate the honesty and find it both incredibly helpful and inspiring in its own right. Thank you so much.

[eddiejhong]

I am both sad that your content and guidance didn’t exist when I was starting out in tech and elated that an entire generation of engineers will benefit from your wisdom. A lot of the advice you share here were things I learned the long and hard way. This is the way.

[linonator]

It’s sad that you have to mention people having resentment toward you… You earned your pay. And im sure you’ve gone through a lot of stress to get to this point. Keep up the great posts! You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever realize

[Neonb]

I loved how you mentioned values. This is the top reason I love to watch you: the kindness, generosity, and politeness in addition to all your experiences and knowledge are the top reason I watch you over similar YouTubers

Stay awesome, Steve!

[JasonGoodison]

Love the transparency! Thanks for sharing, Steve!

[new_skyspirit]

Dude! Thanks for making this video. Started watching your channel this year and I'm very impressed with your steady progress. And I understand how this might be a sensitive topic for you, but just know that this gives new engineers like us a really good perspective on the career path.... ❤️ from Nigeria

[TheFangGirl]

I'm not an engineer, but it feels like i'm talking to my previous manager who was a great mentor and advocate for his team. Glad to have stumbled on this channel! this is inspirational

[cnid]

I love your content. I am just starting my Software Engineering journey and your videos have been invaluable in setting reasonable expectations for when I join the work force in a couple years. If the industry is filled with people like you, then I am excited for when I am part of it.

[tuams]

What a good video! Thank you for being so transparent. It shouldn't be a taboo to talk about money. You also show what a somewhat realistic view of "success" can mean and how wealth fluctuates. Look forward to the next years update! Keep sharing your knowledge, it is very helpful.

[Fastotec]

As someone who is just breaking into the engineering field, I’m going to remember your videos for the rest of my career. Much appreciated!

[BentleyPascoe]

I'm a QAE over at Big A who started 6 months ago, I hope I get to have a journey similar to yours - so far I love the people I work with and the culture and hope years from now to still be as content in my job as you seem to be - cheers!

[svasylenko]

That's quite a bold move to disclose your earnings, and I appreciate that! Thank you for a well-explained example of the income of the software engineer in the US!

[rhuynh]

This is refreshingly transparent and real and really well laid out. You cover all the bases including the soft and hard considerations. I really appreciate you making this video and wish continued success on YouTube as it seems a passion project for you.

[attemptingbkind]

You rock ! Thank you for this. I'm a bit worried because I have seen YouTubers at big tech companies either lose their job because of vlogging, or say that their vlogging was a liability at work. So, take care please, okay? This is really interesting and informative. Your content is very much appreciated. Wishing you the best.

[TheCreatorsAttorney]

First!!! Congratulations on this amazing video and thank you for your transparency and helping those younger in your industry. May this help push you to 100K!

[marietweedy]

Steve, it is great to see you on YouTube. We were CFWS peeps. Your video came up in the algorithm and it’s awesome! Really great content and video. I am in the wrong sector, government work doesn’t pay as well but it’s enough to be able to do most of what you suggest. Congratulations! You got a new subscriber.

[christopherbui]

My favorite part of the video is seeing how YouTube actually costs you immense time and money. Thus proving you're doing it for the community and for younger devs looking to learn and grow. Thank you !

[nerd_alert]

I am an Accountant (love doing Taxes, glad I understood your finance terms) and am studying cs now. I find coding super fascinating and hope to become a Financial Software Engineer in the next few years.