For one thing, the pay disparities are not nearly as dramatic as one might imagine. An experienced technologist working at the USDS or 18F could make $172,500 a year.7 That’s less than most developers would get at a company like Google, but it’s not that far off from what you might get in a mid-tier role at a tech startup. The big difference is that, at a startup, you are hoping for a life-changing windfall when your company is acquired or goes public. But three-quarters of venture-backed startups fail outright; only a tiny minority of startup workers benefit from an exit that leaves them with
...more
This is partially why i frequently toy with the idea of doing a tour in usds. Im past this salary but if one startup hits id probably seriously consider it
