I would not be so sure. I looked at the IT salaries there (both as a permanent and as a contractor) and it just doesn’t make sense to stay there when you could earn way more money elsewhere in Europe.
In the post-covid world of increased remote working, the brain drain will likely increase tenfold since developers won't even have to leave the country anymore.
If remote works, it won't really be a brain drain anymore, because they'll be paying taxes and spending their money in France :)
Other cities in the US are much more in line with the big EU cities in that regard.
If 10 years ago there were predominantly outfits servicing larger US/UK/Scandinavia companies, now it's shifting towards building their own products/services. Basically the guys learned how to do it and not they start spreading the wings. The only thing missing in Europe is active and mature VC sector that could match that in the US.
What surprises me is that these companies seem to either hide their French roots, and are often ignored by the academic world. When I was student in engineering school, the only companies we would hear from where the big French corps like Orange, Cap Gemini, Thales and co.
I'm sad to see that these French companies don't get the support and publicity they deserve. I hoped that the French tech thing would help these companies, but I only ever hear about startup with vague pitches founded by business school graduates which don't know a thing nor care about any "tech".
Personally I am of the philosophy that if they have to appeal to nationalism they suck as they lack any other qualifications or other features to cite first.
If I, a french worker, stay working in France, I pay French taxes and my lineage and social impact remain in France. I can't imagine how that is not a plus pour mon cher pays.
Anyway the US is really at the bottom of the list. Most people would prefer anywhere in Europe or at worse Canada and Australia.
Too bad none of the immigration numbers bear this out.
Friendly reminder that what you prefer does not necessarily generalize.
They do. The only country in Europe I can think of where the US is the favored destination is Germany.
Note that by « most people » I was implicitly referring to my people, and in a larger sense Europeans. Not humanity at large.
What are your monthly expenses?
One reason EU salaries are so low is that everyone is afraid of discussing their salaries.
In the USA there is levels.fyi with widely validated salaries.