Why Millennials Are Leaving Six-Figure Tech Jobs

Tech jobs are known to have some of the most lavish benefits and perks, not to mention some of the highest salaries in the country. Still, that is not enough to keep some millennials from quitting. CNBC Make It spoke to several people who left their lucrative tech jobs to find out why they did it and what they are doing now.

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Why Millennials Are Leaving Six-Figure Tech Jobs

[jeremyc]

In my experience, burnout comes from realizing that improved performance doesn't produce improved rewards, it produces more work. The response to a job well done is never a couple days off or a timely bonus, instead good work is "rewarded" with the demand for twice as much work in the same amount of time. Firms see young workers as a productivity sponge to be squeezed for all it's worth, young people are almost never treated as the company's future.

[rogerm]

I am 50 years old working in the high tech industry, mentally tired and sick of the weekly 8 to 5 routine. Never got a proper day off even through the pandemic. Hats off to the millenials and GenZ that think differently and put more weight on LIVING rather than just WORKING.

[JoshuaFluke]

We don't want perks. We want more money and we want autonomy. It's simple.

[tweedle]

Got into the tech industry 1.6 years ago, have been promoted 3 times and offered multiple positions on multiple different teams. Making great money but realizing MY LIFE IS NOW WORK. I am the person in the friends group who has nothing else to talk about but work, my gf is fed up hearing me talk about work, i am fed up with talking about work. The company squeezes me for every ounce of life and i deal with getting told i have “unlimited vacation” but guilted when i try to take 2 days off. sick and tired of feeling obligated to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines with no OT… if you are a hard worker in any industry you become a victim of your own success. Sadly prices on everything are increasing at such an astronomical rate we are forced to continue working in these positions and waste our lives away as modern day slaves. I grew up poor and always envied those in these positions with wealth, now i’m realizing they may have been just as dead as me on the inside the only difference is they drove to work in a BMW while i rode the bus.

[AntonSlizzardhands]

I heard tech companies want the office to feel like home b/c they never want you to leave work.

[aliali-ceyf]

seems like these tech companies are counting on burnout and turnover, and they have a never ending supply of fresh graduates who will leap at the chance to take the job and they'll have the latest knowledge/skills - burn out after 4-5 yrs, rinse/repeat

[jtipale]

Leaving a well paying job like that is still a privilege for many...

[melforddavidson]

I quit my job as an Engineer last Two years ago after almost 12 years in the field. It was not an easy decision, but life is too short to dread going to work everyday. No amount of money can buy real happiness Lol 😁 but friends I'm not asking you to resign from your job or Abandon your business but be wise!

[virginandho]

I think the pandemic has taught people the importance of multiple streams of income unfortunately having a job doesn’t mean security

[ThaiIsland]

Job burnout with high pay vs job burnout with low pay. The former has the luxury to quit whereas the latter fear losing their job. So for the elite group it’s a norm and not a shocker that they’re leaving 6 figure pay.

[marieovergaard]

As someone who used to work 80 hours a week, quitting my job to become a freelancer was the best thing I have ever done. Sure I still work a lot of hours and often close to 70-80 hrs a week, I feel like I am doing this for myself and not some corporation.

[yutuberculosis]

I'm definitely seeing a lot more of this now that I'm a senior engineer compared to when I was a junior. They say, "take your vacation! come to this gaming hour! have fun!" but at the end of the day the project is still gonna be due friday.

[wowdoge]

“If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” - Warren Buffett

[luker]

You make a ton of money with no time to spend it. You look forward to the end of a project to have some room to breathe only to have a new project waiting at your desk. The perfect recipe for burnout.

[Morrocanprincess]

People are realizing they shouldn't sell their souls to soulless corporations and time is FINITE

[edithg]

You either work to live or live to work. This heavily resonated with me and it forces myself to not overwork myself or fall for the emotional traps that companies might portray to staff.

[jestahjava]

I have a high paying tech job that I’m about to leave. I feel incredibly blessed and privileged to have had it, even though I worked hard to get to where I am. I was promoted very fast after 5 years. I know it’s something many people would love to have and honestly I’m happy that someone else who has worked hard will get my spot. Ultimately I became burnt out and just need some time to reset my life. I have lived humbly, saved every thing I could, paid off debts as quickly as possible, and have enough to live for 8 months to a year. I’m hoping to come back into the industry as a healthier employee or have found something else fulfilling.

For anyone wishing they had one of these jobs or feel frustrated by people that appear to be complaining, I hope you achieve your dream and get one. You can do it, keep at it! Taking one of these jobs to be financially secure is a blessing. I am taking a break because my mental health and stress hospitalized me (don’t let that scare you, I just have my own personal stuff too 😄).

[CoderToHomesteader]

I'm in this industry +10 years as a developer and this interview is shady at best. Every single one of these people left to build out their own branding and their own venture with the safety of the high paying salary and a fall back plan of being able to instantly get hired at another company if it didn't work out.

[Ch-arizard-f]

Lol - “Why Millenials are leaving six-figure tech jobs”
Videos Answer: “To start companies and hopefully make 7 figures”

[arminzamankhan]

That’s literally every single corporate job. Not sure why CNBC would single out the “tech” industry and feature a group of people who have already achieved what thousands of young people can only dream about.