Does it make sense to stay at my job where I am learning well or should I try to switch to a larger tech company since it has a material impact on my financial well being ? I want to raise a family and hope own a home (or rent one near good schools) and I don't see that as being possible in the Bay Area without a Google salary. If I was living in a market like Texas I would stay at my current job because market salaries allow you easily have a middle class family lifestyle (my parents live there and you can easily raise a family on 90k). The Bay Area however is another beast and that 50-60K Google salary difference compounded over many years seems substantial (esp for that mortgage down payment). I don't want to move out of the Bay (my wife is tied here too). What do you guys think - are the financial reasons enough to consider switching jobs for the Bay Area ?