HACKER Q&A
📣 throw5pounds

SWE in Europe, why not move to North America?


Since recently I started contemplating moving from Europe to North America for a Software Engineering job. Main reasons being paying high taxes on a rather low income compared to NA. I know we have universal healthcare, more vacation days on average etc, but with an SWE salary in Europe you could just do without it. I also know that in the US you have less job security and health care is expensive, but wouldn't a high salary offset that anyway?

Did anyone go through the same thought process? What do you think?

  👤 samwestdev Accepted Answer ✓
Because US work ethics are insane. I want to work to live not the other way around.
👤 quantumofalpha
US work visas are too difficult to get. Hopefully with H1B switching next year to wage levels from pure lottery it'll get better.

> health care is expensive, but wouldn't a high salary offset that anyway?

It is expensive if you're not working. So long as you stay employed in tech, you should have a good healthcare cover through your employer with little out of pocket expenses.