Comment by torginus
2 days ago
I can raise two points to disprove this - I'm East Euro, but have worked with people from all over the globe in all kinds of companies.
First, my experience with devs at mid level companies is that the average dev ranges from competent (as in, can work within an existing framework to accomplish tasks), to incompetent (cannot do the same consistently), with there being a top 10-20% who are truly good (able to deliver complex high quality software from a blank sheet, capable of working on complex existing systems meaningfully etc.). This applies to all companies (including ones in the US).
Second, at high level companies, there's lots of European talent (usually in West Europe) - these people are as good as their US peers (by definition, and usually has been my experience), but make less than what you would take home in a mid level US company.
Mid level companies have wide ranging talent since they almost by definition pay below market for talent, and don't even enjoy the brand value draw of the top companies. These companies benefit from the fact that there is some lag in labor discovering their true market value.
>Second, at high level companies, there's lots of European talent
Lots is subjective. The problem is the scale. You can easily hire 100 great devs in London over some period of time. 10000? Maybe not. It would take you too long to pick them up.