[MEMORYC_RRUPTED]

Tangentially related: I've been struggling with the decision to go for the technical track or the management track in my current org. I'm lucky to work in a company that has a technical ladder (though one can certainly argue that everything above staff isn't really realistically achievable). Certainly has my preference.

But being in Western Europe, most companies don't have this, and with the current state of the industry, with somewhat regular lay-offs, if I have to change jobs and want to stay an IC, I'll basically have reached the plateau of where I can get career-wise. The only way to get past that barrier is becoming an EM.

I hate to even have the thought, because, purely on principle, it's the worst reason to become an EM. But career-planning wise, I'd be crazy not to.

Anyway, your post is another argument in the column to stay on the technical track a bit more, we'll see what life brings :).

[playing_colours]

As a Staff and higher engineer you may be paid on the level of EM or Director. So switching the career track as an engineer beyond senior in most cases will not lead to salary increase.

Second argument is the assumption that switching to management opens the doors to much higher salary ceiling. In theory, yes, but realistically there is a strong competition for high level positions, few of us reach those places, and there is a big chance that one will simply stuck at a Director level position till retirement. Think if you enjoy management so much that you are ready to replace ability and joy of building things with more meetings, budget discussions, and politics.

Particularly in Europe with our taxes the benefits of slightly higher income may not have a sensible impact on your life.