Really? The most I've ever had was $10k with a one year clawback clause, and the 45% bonus tax left me feeling like I had trapped myself in a job I didn't like for a measly $5k.
In my experience (which includes my circle of friends in the bay) FAANG companies routinely give sign-on bonuses in the $50k-$100k range for standard software engineers with a few years of experience.
The largest sign-on bonus I've personally seen was one that I myself received in an offer from an hedge fund in NYC: $150k (I didn't take the job anyway since I hate the cold weather, very stupid of me).
This seems like it would make the insane cost of living most of these companies are in much more manageable, no? I've never considered leaving my low cost of living area because I figured my standard of living would go down on the average software engineer salary.
Do these companies exist outside of major cities? I don't think there is a single company in Utah that does sign on bonuses. At least none that i've ever heard of.
