Not everyone is optimizing for total comp. Some are optimizing for better lives. It's not a wild concept considering how many people get pulled into startups, 90% of which fail, under the guide of "mission" and lower market comp. Do you pick a mostly assured better quality of life? Or an equity payout lottery ticket/fairy tale? Certainly, there is a minority of folks making wild comp at FAANG, but that is a privileged minority of total tech and IT workers.

▲

tick_tock_tick 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I think you're not quite understanding just how bad EU pay is for software. Frankly with the $$ you basically always going to come out ahead with the more comp especially since USA software companies normally offer great healthcare and comparable vacation.

▲

baal80spam 15 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Some are optimizing for better lives

Of course. I just hope these people know that for example healthcare in Europe is by no means free.

▲

ceejayoz 15 hours ago | parent | next [-]

It's not free, but it's much cheaper. (And yes, that includes taxation.)

https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/health-spending.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OECD_health_expendit...

As a bonus, all that spend doesn't make us better in outcomes.

https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low#life-expec...

▲

toomuchtodo 15 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

My health insurance for a family of four in Spain is $2k/year. In the US, it was exceeding $25k/year with premiums, copays, deductibles, etc. While not free, it is accessible.

There was a time in my life we had to decide in the middle of the night if we could afford to take one of our children to the ER in the US when they were a newborn. I will never have that feeling in Europe, and that is priceless. Tax me more, I will happily contribute to a functioning governance system. I like taxes, with them I contribute to civilization. As an American, I am all in on Europe. It's not perfect, but the bar is in hell.

We Asked 300 People About Health Care Costs. The Numbers Are Shocking. - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/opinion/health-insurance-... | https://archive.today/MnYz9 - January 22nd, 2026

▲

znkynz 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

That article is just mindblowing. My countries Health Service is far from perfect, but that is insanity.

	▲	toomuchtodo 13 hours ago \| parent [-]
		This is a component of what those who can qualify for some sort of visa are fleeing. The economics are undeniable.

▲

tick_tock_tick 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I mean the issue here is your arguing on hackernews. The vast majority of people on this site in the USA just don't have these issues. Health care is taken care by the employeer and they are paid more.