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Comment by dmd149 | Hacker News Reader

Funny that you posted this today: I just wrote a blog post titled "Entry Level Start-Up Job or Entry level Big Company Job + Side Project."

http://dalethoughts.com/2012/03/entry-level-start-up-job-or-...

The combination of working at a big company while having a side project may outweigh the benefits of working at a start-up (at an entry-level gig).

At the entry level, the pay-cut you're taking by working at a start-up can be significant on a personal level. For someone who recently graduated college choosing between a 40k gig at a big company and a 35k gig at a start-up, that 5k will be much more significant than an engineer taking a pay cut from 85k - 65k.

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I've never been able to find the time or motivation to do side projects, probably because I'm more of an all-in kinda guy. But I agree that side projects could be a good way to scratch the startup itch and have a great time, too.

Do you think you'd have the time and motivation to do a side project if you worked at a big company?

I'm also curious to see how stressed you were working at a start-up. If you're getting as much stress as the founders without the potential upside, it seems like in many cases it may not be worth it.

I've worked at big companies before and I could never go back. I'm not a 9-5 kinda guy, which is what I meant by "all in."

Stress is something that comes with doing exciting, scary things. Sure, having a comfortable day job and working on a side project on the side might be fun, but it's probably not scary and big, unless of course the side project becomes something big. At which point you'll be stressed again.

The entry level for a new-grad software engineer is 75-100+k in US. If you are working for 35-40k you are doing it wrong unless you chose to live in middle of nowhere where 40k is actually a nice salary.

Can you provide sources for that and locations?

I wasn't referring to an entry level engineer. I was referring to non-tech entry level position (marketing, sales, whatever).

At 75-100k you're not losing that much happiness and stress wise if you take a pay cut at a start-up.

If you have an offer of 40k at an established company and are taking a lower salary (30-35k) to work at a start-up, that will hurt significantly in terms of your happiness, stress, and your ability to pay your bills.

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