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I am curious if you are based in the US? I have heard more than a few times about EU companies paying significantly less that the US for the same positions.

Were any of them willing to negotiate?

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You have to take into consideration that living in a European country is a lot different -- you're not going to get the same salary you would in San Francisco, for example. The quality of life is different, expenses are different, probably you don't need a car, apartments are cheaper, etc etc. Each country is unique. In Spain I don't have a really high salary (though it's above the average salary in Spain), but, compared to what? I live comfortably, all my personal needs are met -- so who cares?

The margins are much smaller than in the US.

Can you quantify "much smaller?" 30%? 50%?

Also do you have any insights into why this is?

Never seen any margin higher than 20% of the base value.

As to why, I can only give the vacuous "cultural differences". No idea, really.

20% of what base? Are you referring to a figure in the article?

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