'You're probably getting paid less than the people hired after you': Experienced programmer getting paid less than fresh new hire sparks online discussion over pay

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Apr 14, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

We might expect that experience, performance, and time in a role would lead us to an increased take-home pay… and that we might be earning more than the college graduate the company just hired—who has no experience and is still wet behind the ears. But, changes in company hiring policy resulting from fluctuations in the demands of the job market could very well mean that new hires are earning far more than you. Companies are often reluctant to increase the cost of existing labor—even in times of strong trade—but when it comes to attracting fresh talent to realize new projects, they splash out.

This was the topic of conversation that was sparked when an experienced software engineer shared an experience they had at their workplace on Reddit's r/antiwork subreddit. The engineer, Redditor u/darkpyro2, reported learning that their new coworker, who had no work experience and needed constant help and supervision, was earning substantially (almost %15) more than them. This is despite u/darkpyro2 being the top performer in their department. They shared how they have become frustrated and disillusioned, prompting others to share their own experiences in the comments.

Read on for selected responses from the ensuing thread, and visit the original Reddit thread via the attribution links. For more like this, check out this interviewer who awkwardly asked the person they were interviewing for a job.

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