My Salary and Expenses as a Software Engineer in 2024

The culture around hiding your salary only benefits employers, because it allows them to get away with pay some people more than others. So in the name in salary transparency, I've decided to reveal my salary and offer details as a software engineer living in NYC. I also decided to through in my monthly expenses so you can get an idea on what living on this salary is like!

0:00 - Intro
0:46 - My Salary
1:36 - My Initial Offer
1:56 - The Competing Offer
2:14 - The Final Offer
2:32 - Monthly Income
2:48 - Rent and Utilities
3:31 - The Tesla
4:24 - Cellphone Bill
6:20 - Streaming Services
6:41 - Food
7:21 - Boxing
8:11 - Total Breakdown
8:40 - Spontaneous Anarchy

[Uplicous]

Sending your mom money every months is absolute great!

[tofahub]

I make 295K with 5 years of experience as a software engineer in Seattle. My new grad offer was 72K in Ohio in 2018. I grew to 150K in the same company but what made the biggest difference was job hopping. I grinded leetcode so hard and doubled my income by switching my job

[yashs]

$4520/month for Rent especially with Room Sharing is Unbelievably expensive🙄🙄😤😤😤😤🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[tonithetigrrr]

love how real and transparent you are. thank you for this! I'm currently studying to become a software engineer and videos like this help those days where it feels impossible, feel like it can and will happen as long as I keep my grind and focus centered. you gained a new subscriber and I'm so excited to see more content you put out!

[aviatortrevor]

I was a software engineer in San Diego for 11 years. Topped out at $150k including 401k match and bonus.

I'm an airline pilot now making $200k. Next year, $250k. The year after that, $300k. Once I become a year 12 captain: $400-500k. Senior captains who work a few extra premium paid trips: $700k. Way easier job. Way more fun. Way less stressful (except when shit hits the fan, which it basically doesn't, but we train and prepare for that)

[boldlyoutspoken]

Absolutely fantastic video; I'm so glad I stayed lol. I forget how just heart-stoppingly expensive NYC/Brooklyn/etc is, and I do really feel bad for you guys. As someone who is much older and has been through the money struggles, I hope you always have the means to do what you want. I'd love to be able to send my parents money each month. That's why I found your video in the first place.

[snowman]

"Look at this, look at this. Buddy has TWO SINKS. WHY DO YOU NEED TWO SINKS?!" Was all I needed to immediately like and subscribe. Great video man, I'm an SE right now and love watching videos like these and chatting with other SEs about where we're at financially because I believe the transparency is HUGE in terms of cultural progress. Keep up the good work bro!

[nikostephen]

spontaneous anarchy is much needed tbh

earned a sub for your delivery + content + candidness!

[spacewalker]

The spirit of transparency, I too shall share my pay. I am not a software engineer, but I do bring in 108K per year. I live in a lower cost of living city compared to the expensive east and west coast. But breaking down to monthly numbers we have somewhat similar numbers. Per month I bring home about 7.4K (after tax etc.) and spend about 4.4K which means I save about 3.8K per month

[MDHorror]

Very respectable person and video! I am a Electrical Engineer in the DC / NOVA area and seeing someone at my age making the same money and not making the astronomical "300k+" engineer salary that job jumps every year or two for more pay is great to see. I enjoy your videos and stay loyal to that company!

[sachintharanatunga]

Respect was earned when he mentioned he was supporting his mom, keep killing it!

[nothing-ojsz]

Sending money to your mom! God Bless you brother!

[amburfork]

Im 46 and going to school for software engineering... and I'm in a hands on C# course.

You are giving me some much inspiration even as a young person. My son's are 19 and they work in tech. I hope they will see your same success ❤❤

[Ivcota]

I just got a bump to 160k this next cycle but I take lots of unpaid time off so I’m going to assume 145-150k. If you expense things through an LLC you can get in a lower tax bracket while also expensing a side hustle. Keep up the grind!

[PolyN-]

This gives me motivation to pursue cyber security. Taking the free ISC2 course now and getting certified; then going for my Sec+. I'm taking EC Council courses, and a IT course; I hope to live as comfortably as you, but I'll stick to my 2006 Toyota Corolla CE lol. Thank you for the video, new subscriber.

[Vincent]

Love the video, and mad props for helping your mom out. But for every 10$ spent on fast food in your 20s instead of going into investments (assuming 10%, S&P500) is about 400$ lost in retirement. If you cut out uber eats completely, just in your 20s and put that 200$ into an index fund, you can have well over $500K by the time you retire.

[grunt]

What cracks me up is 140k in New York (Brooklyn) is the equivalent to 65k in Tennessee. So be advised that location has just as much to do with salary as experience.

[gFamWeb]

This was me (sort of) for the past 6 months. Just got hit with layoffs (small company couldn't afford to pay me anymore). 3+ years of experience and now everyone wants 5+. Glad you're doing well and hope you keep safe!

[sydk]

you're so real for being transparent w/ your salary + expenses! i rarely ever do that bc in this field it can feel like a big "measuring" contest but it's great education for those who want to either get in the field or elevate in it. awesome quality vids and it's fire seeing another Black person thriving in SWE tech!

[lilalj]

I respect your transparancy. Fellow New Yorker here. You've just gained a sub.