[bearmf]

> It's really not hard to make $300k/yr

Disagree. If you have an easy recipe feel free to share :). You have to be a front office VP to be guaranteed this kind of money. Aleynikov made 400k as a senior VP working on HFT infrastructure at Goldman.

[kabdib]

You can do that at a place like Microsoft:

1) Get hired in at a 62 or 63

2) Steady promotions (you are good technically, work well with people, and pick good projects, and -- hardest of all -- your management chain doesn't suck) for a few years, until you hit L65 (Principal level)

3) Stock awards over the next 5 years take care of the rest

[yekko]

Microsoft? Sure you can make that, but you have to get to a good group, or you have to have psychopathic personality. Have fun competing with your peers for "visibility"

[wglb]

Er, what is a 62 or 63. Pay grade?

[bearmf]

Sounds hard :)