Why a Bengaluru techie doesn’t mind half the salary in Canada as compared to the US
An Indian tech professional in Canada earning $140,000 annually explains his contentment despite lower pay compared to US counterparts. He prioritizes work-life balance and a supportive team while acknowledging higher US salaries. Limited by a c...
By ET Online |
A recent interview by Instagrammer Aditya Dhingra featured an Indian techie in Canada working as a principal product designer with around nine years of experience. With an annual salary about $140,000 in Toronto, the techie shared his perspective on why he doesn’t feel underpaid, even though his earnings are significantly lower than what he could command in the United States.
The professional, a computer science engineer from Visvesvaraya Technological University Bengaluru, moved to Canada via an inter-company transfer after starting his career in India. Currently on a closed work permit, he doesn’t yet have permanent residency (PR), which limits his ability to explore higher-paying opportunities. However, he expressed optimism that once he secures PR status, his earning potential will increase significantly, as he’ll be able to consider offers from other companies.
In terms of his role, he specializes in product design, utilizing tools like Figma and GitHub to enhance his workflow. While he acknowledges that salaries for tech professionals with his type of skills in the United States are substantially higher—often double or more than what he earns in Canada—he prioritizes factors like work-life balance, job satisfaction, and a supportive team over the pay disparity.
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Does he feel being underpaid in Canada? "No, no. I am ok with that. I have a good work-life balance and good work and a good team," the techie said.
The professional, a computer science engineer from Visvesvaraya Technological University Bengaluru, moved to Canada via an inter-company transfer after starting his career in India. Currently on a closed work permit, he doesn’t yet have permanent residency (PR), which limits his ability to explore higher-paying opportunities. However, he expressed optimism that once he secures PR status, his earning potential will increase significantly, as he’ll be able to consider offers from other companies.
In terms of his role, he specializes in product design, utilizing tools like Figma and GitHub to enhance his workflow. While he acknowledges that salaries for tech professionals with his type of skills in the United States are substantially higher—often double or more than what he earns in Canada—he prioritizes factors like work-life balance, job satisfaction, and a supportive team over the pay disparity.
Does he feel being underpaid in Canada? "No, no. I am ok with that. I have a good work-life balance and good work and a good team," the techie said.
Canada vs US salary
For context, salaries for similar roles in the U.S. can range from $200,000 to over $250,000 annually, which is almost double than what his Canada job offers. Netizens attributed this difference to the more competitive tech landscape in the US and stronger compensation policies in the US Despite this, some netizens said that the techie's current earnings are more than sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, placing him among the top 7% of earners in the country.ADVERTISEMENT
Netizens shared mixed reactions to his stance. Some pointed out that Canada offers less competitive pay for software professionals due to weaker market competition. Certifications he would suggest
For aspiring tech professionals, he recommended focusing on tools like GitHub and Figma, especially for those interested in engineering or product design. He highlighted the importance of honing skills relevant to the field, which helped him build a successful career abroad.Download
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