Rs 2 crore salary rejected without a second thought: Techie chooses lower income job and the internet agrees with his logic

For years, high-paying jobs have been seen as the biggest measure of career success, especially in the tech industry. But conversations around work-life balance are increasingly changing how professionals evaluate opportunities. A recent LinkedIn post has added to that discussion after a software developer shared why his friend rejected a Rs 2 crore annual salary in India and instead chose a lower-paying job in the US, saying predictable personal time mattered more than a bigger paycheck.

The discussion began with a LinkedIn post by Dubai-based developer C J Teja Sai, who shared a conversation with a friend working in the US. According to Teja Sai, the friend had recently rejected a Rs 2 crore job offer in India and instead accepted a role in the US paying around $160,000 a year.

Teja Sai admitted that his first reaction was to compare the cost of living in both countries. However, his friend explained that salary was not the deciding factor. "In the US, I log off at 5 PM. In India, I'd be expected to be available 24/7," he said, adding that he was willing to live with visa uncertainty if it meant having predictable personal time outside work.


The conversation, according to Teja Sai, made him rethink how people compare job offers across countries.

A late-night meeting became the tipping point

Teja Sai also shared another incident narrated by his friend's uncle, who works in the US. The uncle recalled speaking to an engineering manager in India who had unexpectedly resigned despite working closely with US teams.

Explaining what pushed him to quit, the manager said, "A US sync meeting was scheduled for 3 AM India time. It was introduced as a 15-minute call. It finally ended around 6 AM." According to the post, it was not a one-off incident but part of a larger expectation of always being available for work, regardless of the hour.

Reflecting on the two experiences, Teja Sai wrote, "When we compare offers across countries, we usually compare salaries and taxes. Maybe we should also compare time, boundaries, and the ability to disconnect." He further added, "Compensation isn't just what gets credited to your bank account. It's also the life you get to live outside of work."

Professionals share mixed views on work-life balance

The post attracted several responses from professionals, many of whom agreed that the discussion highlighted a real workplace issue. One commenter wrote, "Many managers in India do not push back on bad requirements. They will simply say yes to any requests. I have seen managers saying yes if the client says to work faster. Made their team work on weekends and have high attrition. Also seen managers who refused to work during leaves and weekends. They established boundaries. Once the client gets to know that they cannot be forced, they are respected."


Another professional shared a different perspective, saying, "Not once have I or any of my team been forced to work extra or on weekends even though we all cater to the US healthcare industry. It depends on the person's mindset."

Not everyone agreed that the US offers better work-life balance. One user commented, "Many times I had to extend my day. So work-life balance in the USA is similar to India."

Some users also questioned the financial comparison itself. One commenter argued, "160$ in in us you can save only a maximum of 30 lakhs INR per month. California maybe 10-15 lakhs. That too with only entertainment of going to Costco on weekends! 2 crore in India you can save 1 crore with a luxury life."