How frequently are developers being laid off? And why should companies just keep people around if they aren’t adding value? The lack of that “social contract” has resulted in much higher wages. Look at developer salaries in Paris compared to New York. Since there is more job security in France, the trade off is that “market rates” are dramatically lower.
I’m not saying that the lack of a social contract for developers is bad. I’m just saying it is a thing. But if you’re wondering why developers always want to do the new and shiny even if the underlying product is boring, they are probably doing resume driven development and looking at thier next opportunity.
My salary has gone up by $45K - $50K in the last 4 years by changing jobs three times. I’m not complaining.
But on the companys’ side, it was completely illogical not to pay me market rates. They still had to pay my replacement market rates and they loss institutional knowledge when I left.
Why is it that HR will approve a req for a new developer at market rates but have strict limits on what they can pay current employees.
There is different social contract there: in Paris the "fraternite, egalite" means you cannot pay developers more than the other people around and high taxes are a second way to ensure this will not happen. This makes Paris a prime choice not to do development and in the end gives dramatically lower "market" rates.
Don't forget that "the best of the best" more to places like Silicon Valley where they earn top dollar, the ones that chose to stay in Paris are what is left behind and a few exceptions.
At least this is what it looks from an European point of view.
