My Real Salary Growth Journey: 16x Increase from €1 to €16 as a Software Engineer (2016-2023)

Started out in 2016 in Italy as a Software Engineer Intern in a small software house.

I'm not gonna share the exact numbers, at least for now, but let's say, in the scale of this analysis, 1 is equal to my salary in that first intern job in 2016: which was enough for me to cover most of my expenses living in Milan with a student lifestyle (shared flat, no luxuries, etc).

The other salary numbers are to be considered as multiples of this first salary: if it's 2, it means it is twice as big as that first job, if it's 16, it means it is 16 times the salary of that first intern job.

I'm considering gross yearly compensations. If in a job I've stayed less than a year, I took the gross monthly salary and multiplied it by 12 to get an annualized version of it.

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My Salary Progression: 2016-2023

Year	Location	Company	Multiplier	YoY Growth
2016	Italy, Milan	Small software house (Intern)	1x	Baseline
2018	Italy	Samsung	2x	+100%
2018/19	Switzerland	First Swiss Job (FIS)	6.5x	+225%
2020/21	Spain	Internship	1.5x	-77% (Master's)
2021	Spain	Amazon	2.5x	+67%
2021/22	Switzerland	Mid-level role (Netlight)	9x	+260%
2022	Switzerland	Senior role (Netlight)	10x	+11%
2023	Switzerland	Big Tech (Oracle)	16x	+60%

Total growth: From €1 to €16 (1,500% increase) over 7 years

Key insight: The biggest jumps came from strategic relocations (Italy → Switzerland: 3.25x, Spain → Switzerland: 3.6x) rather than promotions within the same location.

Why Share This?

I like when other people share their salary numbers over time, contextualized with their career history.

I find it insightful and 'juicy' to read. There's always some nice insight I get from it.

That's why I'm sharing my salary history too. Maybe some of you will find it insightful.

I have nothing against flexing per se, but I'm not doing this to flex.

If anything, it even feels a little bit uncomfortable to share this data with the world as it still is kind of a private matter. But since I think it's valuable content and it fits the type of things we discuss, I share it.

Explore high-paying opportunities →

Did the Salary Bumps Make Me Happier?

A question worth asking, IMO.

The answer is yes, in all cases.

First Bump - Intern Job (1x → 2x)

When I got my first intern job, it was a big relief that I could finally support myself. At the time I was 22. Since then, I never got a penny from my parents again.

This was a big deal because, before that, I would kind of feel guilty if I were to go out to a bar and spend 10 euros for a couple of beers, or eat out in general, etc. I would always think that every single euro was a sacrifice that my mom was making for me, and I shouldn't allow myself to use it for non-essential stuff.

In fact, even before that first job, I always had some side hustles of some kind to pay for this type of things.

With this first salary, I felt a bit more confident as well as more relaxed. It was a dignifying experience.

Second Bump - First Swiss Job (2x → 6.5x)

When I got my first Swiss job, even if it wasn't really on the high scale of what's possible to earn in Switzerland, I legit felt rich.

Not only I was able to afford rent, food and to go out, but I could even buy stuff like:

• A new phone
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Clothes
• Some nice parties
• Frequent travel
• Even an intercontinental trip to Boston, NYC and Cuba with some friends

Consider that at this time I was just 24 and before that I had been on a shoestring budget for all my life, so the relative lifestyle upgrade was quite significant.

I was able to do something for my family as well, like buying some gifts to my younger sister (I remember buying her her first pair of Jordans 😄) or making some biggish purchases at my mom's boutique.

Here I also learned that money could be traded with freedom and time, when after a few months of spending around, I started being more frugal and saving up enough money to leave the job and spend 2 years doing a master's degree.

Learn how to reach Swiss-level salaries →

Third Bump - Amazon's Job (1.5x → 2.5x)

This wasn't the highest salary I received (it was lower than my Swiss job), but I was coming from a pretty messed up period where due to Covid I had a few part-time job offers rescinded and had been able to make less money than I thought during my master's.

I even had to take almost 5k euros in debt from friends and family.

So with this job I was able to breathe a bit, pay back some of the debt, and allow myself to have a good time in Barcelona :)

Fourth Bump - 6 Figures Swiss Job (2.5x → 9x)

Here I was finally in a position to fully recover financially and to, at 27, get a lifestyle that was that of a young adult and not of a teenager. And to start saving as well.

This is when I could finally start thinking about financial independence strategies.

Last Bump - Swiss Big Tech Job (10x → 16x)

Getting the Oracle job was kind of a dream come true, and the financial part was very important.

The bigger compensation allowed me to increase my saving rate, which ultimately allowed me to:

• Purchase a rental property
• Have enough security to take some risks doing some of the things I'm doing right now
• Like creating this sort of content :)

Calculate your savings potential →

Career Progression Strategy Breakdown

What Worked

Strategy	Impact	Years Applied
Relocating to Switzerland	+325% average per move	2018, 2021
Big Tech transition	+60%	2023
Strategic job switches	+50-260% per switch	Every 1-2 years
Investing in education (Master's)	Enabled higher roles	2019-2021

What Didn't Work

• Staying in Italy: Limited salary growth ceiling (€30k-€50k for seniors)
• Taking lower salary for Master's: Short-term sacrifice, but necessary for long-term gains
• Spain market: Good lifestyle, but 50-70% lower compensation than Switzerland

The Geographic Arbitrage Effect

Salary multipliers by location (same experience level):

Location	Multiplier vs Italy	Cost of Living vs Italy
Italy	1.0x	1.0x
Spain	1.2-1.5x	1.1x
Switzerland	3.0-4.0x	1.8-2.2x

Key insight: Switzerland offers 3-4x Italian salaries while only costing 2x as much to live. The net savings potential is 5-6x higher.

Explore top European cities for engineers →

The Money and Happiness Relationship

Money Matters

The only people who say money doesn't matter are those with rich parents or without an understanding of how much better their life would be if they had more money.

At the same time, it's not everything. If you need to sacrifice too many things just to get more money, it might not be worth it.

The Diminishing Returns

In the end even when I had little money, I can't say I was all that unhappy.

And even now that I have more money, it's not like everyday I wake up with a big smile.

Also, chasing more money can get stressful, so there's also that…

The Sweet Spot

Income Level	Happiness Impact	Stress Level
€20k-€40k (Multiplier 1-2x)	High anxiety, financial insecurity	Very High
€40k-€80k (Multiplier 2-6x)	Significant relief, dignity	Medium
€80k-€150k (Multiplier 6-10x)	Lifestyle upgrade, savings begin	Medium-Low
€150k+ (Multiplier 10-16x)	Financial security, options	Low

Observation: The biggest happiness gains came between multipliers 1-6x. Beyond 10x, gains are more about security and options than day-to-day happiness.

Lessons from My 7-Year Journey

1. Location Is the Biggest Lever Early Career

Changing location gave me 3-4x salary increases, while promotions within the same location gave me 10-60% increases.

Strategic relocations beat local promotions for maximum compensation growth.

2. Taking Risks Paid Off

Each major jump required:

• Relocating to new countries (Italy → Switzerland → Spain → Switzerland)
• Leaving comfortable positions
• Betting on myself

Every risk paid off eventually, even when it involved short-term salary decreases (Master's degree period).

3. Swiss Market Is Unmatched in Europe

For pure compensation optimization, Switzerland remains the best:

• Highest absolute salaries (€120k-€250k+ range)
• Low taxes (~20% effective rate)
• High savings potential (€50k-€150k+/year)

4. Experience Compounds

Years Experience	Average Multiplier	Key Unlocks
0-2 years	1-2x	Junior roles, internships
2-4 years	2-6x	Mid-level roles, first Swiss jobs
4-6 years	6-10x	Senior roles, six-figures
6-8 years	10-16x	Big Tech, staff+ potential

Each job built on previous experience, making the next jump possible.

5. Short-Term Sacrifices Enable Long-Term Gains

Taking a 77% pay cut to do my Master's (1.5x multiplier) was uncomfortable, but it enabled:

• Access to better roles post-graduation
• Network in international environment
• Skills for senior+ positions
• Ultimate 6x increase within 2 years of graduating

Learn early career strategies →

How to Replicate This Growth

For Juniors (0-2 Years)

Target: 1x → 4x within 2-3 years

1. Start anywhere to get experience (local companies are fine)
2. Build interview skills (LeetCode, system design)
3. Target Switzerland or London for first "real" job
4. Switch jobs every 18-24 months early on

Expected outcome: €30k → €80k-€120k

For Mid-Level (2-5 Years)

Target: 4x → 8x within 2-3 years

1. Relocate to high-paying market if not already there
2. Target big tech or well-funded scale-ups
3. Negotiate aggressively using competing offers
4. Consider specialist paths (ML, distributed systems)

Expected outcome: €60k → €120k-€180k

For Senior+ (5+ Years)

Target: 8x → 16x+ within 2-4 years

1. Join big tech (FAANG, trading firms, top scale-ups)
2. Optimize location (Zurich, London, Dublin for Europe)
3. Focus on high-impact projects for visibility
4. Build negotiation leverage with multiple offers

Expected outcome: €100k → €200k-€300k+

Find opportunities at all levels →

Money Shouldn't Be Taboo

I think there's value in talking openly about it.

Sharing real salary progressions helps:

• Set realistic expectations for career growth
• Identify strategic moves that maximize compensation
• Understand market rates across locations and companies
• Plan financial independence timelines

The more transparent we are, the better informed everyone becomes.

Conclusion

Money matters, but it's not everything.

My 7-year journey from 1x to 16x taught me that:

✅ Strategic relocations beat local promotions for salary growth
✅ Taking calculated risks pays off in the long run
✅ Switzerland is unmatched for European tech compensation
✅ Happiness gains diminish after reaching financial security
✅ Experience compounds - each job enables better next opportunities
✅ Transparency helps everyone make better career decisions

If you're early in your career, focus on getting to financial security (6x-8x multiplier, €100k-€120k range). Beyond that, optimize for what makes you happy, not just what pays more.

Start your salary growth journey →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How realistic is a 16x salary increase over 7 years for most engineers?

Realistic for strategic engineers, rare for passive ones. My journey involved:

• 2 international relocations to high-paying markets (Switzerland twice)
• 7 job changes in 7 years (switching every 12-18 months early career)
• 1 Master's degree for credential/network boost
• Consistent interview prep to access better opportunities

More typical progression: 1x → 6-8x over 7 years for engineers who stay in one location and switch jobs every 2-3 years. My growth was accelerated by aggressive geographic arbitrage.

Replicable if you: Relocate to Switzerland/London, switch jobs strategically, target big tech by year 5-6. See our €100k+ guide for strategies.

Why did you take a 77% pay cut to do a Master's degree?

Strategic short-term sacrifice for long-term gain:

Before Master's: Stuck at 6.5x multiplier in Switzerland with Bachelor's + 2 years experience. Limited big tech opportunities, plateauing salary trajectory.

After Master's:

• Access to top-tier companies (Amazon, big Swiss firms, consulting)
• International network from Master's program
• Credential boost for future applications
• Within 2 years post-Master's: 9x multiplier (6.5x → 9x = +38% above pre-Master's)

Total investment:

• 2 years at 1.5-2.5x salary (~€50k opportunity cost vs staying at 6.5x)
• Enabled €150k+ salaries by age 27
• ROI: ~6 months to recover opportunity cost

Would I do it again? Yes, but only because I could afford it with Swiss savings. Not worth going into debt for most European Master's programs.

Is relocating to Switzerland still the best move in 2024-2025?

Yes for pure compensation, but with caveats:

Switzerland advantages (still true):

• Highest salaries in Europe: €100k-€250k+ range
• Low taxes: ~20% effective vs 35-45% elsewhere
• High savings potential: €50k-€150k+/year
• Quality of life: Safe, clean, efficient

Emerging challenges:

• Offshoring increasing: Some roles moving to Poland/Eastern Europe
• Cost of living rising: Though salaries still compensate
• Work permit tightening: Quotas for non-EU citizens

Alternative strategies (2024-2025):

1. Remote for US companies from low-cost EU countries
2. Poland/Eastern Europe offices of top companies
3. London for big tech (easier immigration post-Brexit adjustments)

Bottom line: Switzerland remains #1 for W-2 employees. If you can get remote US salary (€120k-€200k+) while living in Poland/Portugal/Spain, that might beat Switzerland. See our city rankings for comparison.

How much did you actually save at each stage?

Rough savings by multiplier (after expenses):

Multiplier	Annual Savings	Time to €100k
1-2x (Italy)	€5k-€10k/year	10-20 years
6.5x (First Swiss)	€30k-€40k/year	2.5-3 years
9-10x (Mid Swiss)	€50k-€70k/year	1.5-2 years
16x (Swiss Big Tech)	€90k-€130k/year	<1 year

Key insight: Going from 6.5x to 16x (2.46x increase) resulted in 3-4x savings increase, not just 2.46x. Why? Fixed costs (rent, food) don't scale linearly with income in same location.

Total saved over 7 years: Enough to purchase rental property + build investment portfolio. See FIRE strategies for how to optimize savings.

Did you have to sacrifice work-life balance for 16x growth?

Less than you'd think, but it varied by stage:

Most intense periods:

• First Swiss job search (2018): 3 months of intensive interviewing while working
• Master's + COVID job search (2020-2021): Stressful due to rescinded offers
• Amazon (2021): Standard big tech hours (45-50 hours/week)

Balanced periods:

• Switzerland consulting (2021-2022): 40-45 hours/week, flexible
• Oracle (2023): Comfortable 40 hours/week once established

Sacrifices I made:

• Relocated countries 4 times (leaving social circles)
• Lived frugally during accumulation phases
• Continuous interview prep (nights/weekends)

Sacrifices I didn't make:

• Never worked 60-80 hour weeks consistently
• Always took vacations (Europe has good standards)
• Maintained hobbies and social life

Reality: Biggest sacrifice was geographic instability and continuous learning/interviewing, not daily work hours. European work culture generally protects work-life balance even at high-paying jobs.

Should I switch jobs every 1-2 years like you did?

Early career (years 0-5): Yes, frequently switching is optimal.

Benefits of frequent switching:

• 20-60% raises per switch (vs 3-10% staying)
• Broader experience across companies/tech stacks
• Faster learning curve with new challenges
• Network expansion across organizations

When I switched:

• 2016 → 2018: Italy intern → Samsung (18 months)
• 2018 → 2019: Samsung → Swiss job (12 months)
• 2019 → 2021: Master's degree (24 months)
• 2021: Spain → Amazon (6 months)
• 2021 → 2023: Amazon → Netlight → Oracle (18 months avg)

Mid-career (years 5-8): Slow down to 2-3 years per company.

Reasons:

• Senior roles require time to demonstrate impact
• Equity vesting (RSUs vest over 4 years)
• Reputation management (too much switching looks bad)
• Diminishing returns on job hopping

Current advice (2024-2025 market):

• Years 0-3: Switch every 12-24 months for maximum growth
• Years 3-6: Switch every 24-36 months for senior roles
• Years 6+: Switch every 3-4 years unless exceptional opportunity

See our early career tips for detailed strategies.

What's next after reaching 16x multiplier?

Several paths from here:

Path 1: Optimize for Savings (my current path)

• Stay at high-paying Swiss role (16x+)
• Maximize savings rate (€100k+/year)
• Build investment portfolio + real estate
• Target: Financial independence in 5-7 years
• Then: Career flexibility, entrepreneurship, or semi-retirement

Path 2: Climb Corporate Ladder

• Target Staff/Principal Engineer (20-25x multiplier, €300k-€400k+)
• Or Engineering Manager → Director (25-35x+, €400k-€600k+)
• Stay in big tech, aim for leadership
• Timeline: 5-10 years to executive levels

Path 3: Relocate to US

• Big tech in Seattle/SF (€250k-€500k)
• Trading firms (€300k-€700k+)
• Higher absolute savings than Switzerland
• But visa complexity, see US vs Europe analysis

Path 4: Geographic Arbitrage

• Keep high salary (remote US company: €150k-€250k)
• Move to low-cost location (Portugal, Spain, Poland)
• Reduce work intensity, better lifestyle
• Similar or better savings rate due to lower costs

My choice: Pursuing Path 1 (FIRE-focused) with elements of Path 4 (considering future geo-arbitrage). The 16x multiplier gives me options, which is the ultimate form of wealth.