[23yo] 90k SWE at a Small Innovative Company vs 115k as a Contractor SWE at a Larger Company I've been at a smaller company in a LCOL area making 75k for about a year now. It has been my first job since graduating college and I have really enjoyed it. I like the people I work with, I like the clients, and my work excites me. Additionally, I was on the path to getting promoted, which would bring me to 85k. I got headhunted for a contract role originally at $48 an hour with no benefits other than health insurance (which I don't accept). Once I realized that I wouldn't get any PTO or military leave (I'm in the national guard), I was definitely leaning toward staying. I had a talk with my manager and my CEO, because I want to stay at the company, but they were offering a lot more money. They offered to fast track my promotion and give me a bump to $90k. Now the contractor role has been escalating the pay every time they call me about it.…