>"Sure, that's average, but why stay at an average company?"
How many years are you talking about being employed? Because doubling your salary every 3-5 years is completely unsustainable. If this occupation is so leveraged that 10% annual salary gains are "average", and 20% are "expected", there is going to be some heartache at some point. That isn't happening anywhere else on the planet.
If this occupation is so leveraged that 10% annual salary gains are "average", and 20% are "expected", there is going to be some heartache at some point.
I don't think "leveraged" is the word you want.
Obviously, it stops at some point. I think most people get to a point where they care more about autonomy and control over their own time than they do about money. Once you can afford to buy a house, raise a family, and take vacations, how much more do you need? I think most people focus on doing more interesting and meaningful work at that point, not pushing up their salary.
But as long as I am going to be following orders and putting my time into others' ideas, I want either (a) a 20%-increase track or (b) enough autonomy to get the skills that will help me along that curve.
