State of the Market

[achilles]

Assuming you are referring to a technology skills shortage...

There may be no shortage of mediocre Java/C# developers but there are plenty of firms willing to pay well over £100k for top developers.

Most developers are mediocre.

I do not see that. There are very few roles that would pay £100K for a developer in very niche areas. Salaries are capped well below that because hiring Managers are making less themselves and because they simply do not want to pay more or have not budgeted for it. They prefer to get mediocre developers than pay more and get brilliant ones.

[TheDude]

I do not see that. There are very few roles that would pay £100K for a developer in very niche areas. Salaries are capped well below that because hiring Managers are making less themselves and because they simply do not want to pay more or have not budgeted for it. They prefer to get mediocre developers than pay more and get brilliant ones.

My perspective may be skewed because I work in financial services but a VP level developer can easily make over £100k at most banks.

[hungry_hog]

There are easily 20 FS firms that will pay 100k+ for a good dev in London alone

top 10 banks and asset managers for sure

[Fraidycat]

I do not see that. There are very few roles that would pay £100K for a developer in very niche areas. Salaries are capped well below that because hiring Managers are making less themselves and because they simply do not want to pay more or have not budgeted for it. They prefer to get mediocre developers than pay more and get brilliant ones.

Typically a team will have a few 'rock stars', the rest will be lower paid mediocre devs.
The mediocre devs add very little extra value, they are there as insurance should the rock stars leave or demand more money.

The best devs are 5 or 10 times more productive than average devs. But the pay difference is only 50% more at best.

[northernladuk]

Typically a team will have a few 'rock stars', the rest will be lower paid mediocre devs.
The mediocre devs add very little extra value, they are there as insurance should the rock stars leave or demand more money.

The best devs are 5 or 10 times more productive than average devs. But the pay difference is only 50% more at best.

Wish I could believe a word you say... but I don't.

[TheDude]

Typically a team will have a few 'rock stars', the rest will be lower paid mediocre devs.
The mediocre devs add very little extra value, they are there as insurance should the rock stars leave or demand more money.

The best devs are 5 or 10 times more productive than average devs. But the pay difference is only 50% more at best.

I steer well clear of firms looking for Rock Star or Ninja developers.

I feel embarrassed for myself and the firm posting such tulip.

[Lance]

Typically a team will have a few 'rock stars', the rest will be lower paid mediocre devs.
The mediocre devs add very little extra value, they are there as insurance should the rock stars leave or demand more money.

The best devs are 5 or 10 times more productive than average devs. But the pay difference is only 50% more at best.

[rocktronAMP]

Typically a team will have a few 'rock stars', the rest will be lower paid mediocre devs.
The mediocre devs add very little extra value, they are there as insurance should the rock stars leave or demand more money.

The best devs are 5 or 10 times more productive than average devs. But the pay difference is only 50% more at best.

Ah. I see you fell victim to 10xDeveloper hypebole from the last decade.
The pay differential might be because the company falling year-on-year on it ar**. It's market share, it's culture and it influence might be heading south to the Dodo.

Have you ever read a book called The Phoenix Project? In particular, the role of the dude called Brett. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078Y98RG8/

[Fraidycat]

Ah. I see you fell victim to 10xDeveloper hypebole from the last decade.

I have worked with 10x developers.

I would not personally use the Rock Star metaphor to describe them.

They are more like these guys, coding machines that never get tired.

[TheDude]

I have worked with 10x developers.

I would not personally use the Rock Star metaphor to describe them.

They are more like these guys, coding machines that never get tired.

quantity != quality.