Startup vs. Big Tech: Navigating Career Paths for Engineers in Europe

Deciding between Big Tech and startups? Here's what you need to know right now:

Factor	Big Tech	Startups
Pay	€120-180K base + stock	25-30% lower base + equity
Job Security	Stable, structured	High risk (90% fail)
Learning	Formal training, specialization	Hands-on, learn everything
Career Growth	Clear promotion path (2-3 years)	Fast jumps possible (6-12 months)
Work Style	Single role, defined scope	Multiple hats, high impact

Big Tech is your best bet if you want:

• Higher guaranteed salary (€164K avg in Germany)
• Structured training programs
• Job security
• Clear career progression

Choose startups if you prefer:

• Fast-paced learning
• Direct company impact
• Equity potential
• Quick promotions

The money breakdown:

• Entry-level at Meta: €128,740
• Entry-level at startups: 25-30% less
• Startup equity: 0.1-0.5% (could be worth millions if successful)

Pro tip: Most successful engineers start in Big Tech for 2-3 years, then jump to startups. This gives you both the brand name and foundational skills.

Want numbers? Here's what entry-level engineers make at top companies in Germany:

Company	Starting Salary
Meta	€128,740
Google	€137,170
Amazon	€125,690
Apple	€117,720
Netflix	€194,520

Related video from YouTube

European Tech Market Overview

Let's break down what's happening in Europe's tech job scene for 2024, comparing Big Tech and startups.

Pay and Benefits

Big Tech companies pay WAY more than others. Check out these numbers from Germany:

Company	Total Pay Package
Meta	€266,700
Apple	€144,690
Amazon	€95,620
Google	€152,370
Netflix	€160,000

Startups? They pay less upfront - about 25-30% lower base salary. But here's the thing: they throw in equity packages. Plus, most now offer private health insurance to compete for talent.

Job Security and Growth

The market's changed. It's not about crazy growth anymore:

Company Type	Hiring Status	Pay Increases
Big Tech	Steady hiring	4.8% average raise
Startups	30-50% cut in hiring	Variable, equity-focused

Want to know where the jobs are? Engineering leads at 23% of openings, with finance trailing at 8%.

Jobs by Region

Here's what software developers make across Europe:

Country	Average Yearly Pay
Switzerland	€89,998
Denmark	€78,516
Iceland	€62,536
Estonia	€56,451
France	€43,849
Poland	€22,740

And here's what the main tech hubs offer:

City	Companies	Average Pay
Berlin	Google, Stripe, Hubspot	€86,380
Paris	Meta AI, Google AI	€61,000
Dublin	AWS, Microsoft, Meta	€57,000
London	Various Tech Companies	£58,000

Here's something interesting: 77% of startup employees work hybrid - usually 3 days at home each week. Big Tech? They're more into office time.

Working at Big Tech Companies

Here's what it's ACTUALLY looks like to work at companies like Microsoft, Google, and other tech giants:

Daily Work Life

Microsoft's massive campus shows you what Big Tech is all about: 50,000 people spread across almost 100 buildings. That's not your typical office setup.

Here's how Microsoft structures their engineering ladder:

Level	Individual Contributor	Management Track
59-62	Software Engineer	-
63-64	Senior Software Engineer	Senior Engineering Manager
65-67	Principal Software Engineer	Principal Engineering Manager
68-69	Partner Software Engineer	Partner Engineering Manager
70+	Distinguished Engineer	VP and above

Want to work from home? No problem. Most Big Tech companies, including Microsoft, let engineers work 100% remote or mix it up with office time.

"You can build your life around work here. It's super flexible - you can switch between work and personal stuff throughout the day." - Utsav, Software Engineer at Microsoft

Main Advantages

Here's what makes Big Tech jobs different:

Perk	What You Get
Learning	Top-tier training, classes, and mentors
Job Safety	Strong companies = stable jobs
Resume Boost	FAANG experience opens doors
Perks	Free food, gyms, events
Money	Big salary + stocks + benefits

You'll work with some of the best engineers out there. And when you ship code? It hits MILLIONS of users. That's pretty cool.

Common Challenges

But it's not all sunshine and free snacks:

Challenge	What It Means
Project Hunt	Most big problems are solved
Slow Moves	Lots of red tape
Small Scope	Often tiny pieces of big projects
Moving Up	Set paths = slower climbing
Big Teams	Less individual impact

Want to launch something at Google? Get ready for LOTS of approvals. It's nothing like startups where you can ship code fast.

"I got to speak at conferences as a Microsoft Software Engineer. Usually that's for Program Managers, but I grabbed the chance when it came up." - Microsoft Software Engineer

Working at Startups

Startup life is different from Big Tech. You'll work longer hours (50-60 per week) and juggle multiple tasks. But there's a good reason many engineers love it.

Work Aspect	What to Expect
Schedule	50-60 hours/week
Team Size	Small teams (5-15 people)
Role Scope	Multiple responsibilities
Decision Making	Quick, minimal approvals
Project Ownership	End-to-end involvement
Work Location	Often flexible/remote

"At startups, you're part of a small dev team with no infrastructure, security, data science, or observability teams - unlike Big Tech. It's a crash course in everything." - Willem Spruijt, Software Engineer and Co-founder of Rise Calendar

The Good Stuff

Want to know what makes startup work worth it? Here's what you get:

Perk	What You Get
Equity	0.1% - 0.5% ownership
Learning	Hands-on with multiple tech stacks
Impact	Direct product/company influence
Growth	Fast promotions as company grows
Freedom	Pick your projects
Speed	Less red tape, faster execution

Here's a real example: Coinbase gave EVERY employee (all 1,700) 100 shares before going public. Each package was worth $25,000 on day one.

The Hard Parts

Let's be honest about the downsides:

Challenge	What It Means
Job Security	Most startups fail
Work Hours	Long days, high pressure
Base Pay	Less than Big Tech offers
Resources	Basic tools, limited infrastructure
Mentorship	Few senior engineers
Stress	Constant task-switching

"At most startups, you'll wear many hats. Your work changes daily." - Ryan Peterman, Author

Want to see startup speed in action? At Rise Calendar, an engineer built and shipped a Calendly-like feature in ONE MONTH during Christmas. That's the startup life - fast, free, and intense.

Here's something interesting: Engineers at startups say they're 30% happier than their FAANG counterparts. The trade? You get less structure but more control and bigger potential rewards.

Pay Breakdown

Here's what you'll get paid at Big Tech vs startups in Europe:

Base Pay

Level	Big Tech	Startups
Entry	€70k-90k	€40k-70k
Mid	€90k-120k	€60k-90k
Senior	€120k-180k	€90k-150k

Want the BIG numbers? At Facebook, entry-level engineers make €194,086. Senior engineers? They can pull in up to €765,314.

Stock and Options

Here's how equity works at each:

Company Type	Equity Type	Value	Vesting
Big Tech	RSUs	Known (public stock)	4 years
Startups	Stock Options	0.1% - 0.5%	3-4 years

Sometimes startup equity pays off BIG TIME. Take Zoom's IPO at $9.2 billion - employees with 0.1% equity got €920,000. Those with 0.5%? €4.6 million in their pockets.

"At startups, you'll wear many hats. Your work changes daily." - Ryan Peterman, Author

Extra Benefits

Benefit Type	Big Tech	Startups
Health Insurance	Full coverage	Basic plan
Remote Work	Limited flexibility	Often fully remote
Learning Budget	Large ($5k+/year)	Small or none
Commuting	Covered	Sometimes covered
Food	Free meals	Limited perks

European startup pay bumps dropped from 8% to 4.8% last year. But check this out: 76% of people say they'd take less base pay for equity. They're betting on hitting it big later.

Bottom line? Big Tech = fat paychecks now. Startups = smaller checks but maybe a HUGE payday later. Your pick comes down to what you want: steady cash or a shot at the jackpot.

Career Growth

Here's how career paths differ between Big Tech and startups:

Learning & Growth

At Big Tech companies like Google, you'll get structured learning. You pick a focus area and master it. Plus, you get a fat training budget ($5,000+ per year) and senior mentors to guide you.

Startups? It's learn-or-sink. You'll touch everything from backend code to security - just ask the Rise Calendar team. No fancy training programs, but you'll learn FAST.

"In startups, you're the infrastructure team, security team, and data science team all rolled into one. That's what makes them amazing learning spots." - Willem Spruijt, Software Engineer

What You Get	Big Tech	Startups
Skills Focus	Deep, specialized	Wide, generalist
Learning Style	Structured programs	Hands-on, DIY
Skill Building	Team rotations	Multiple roles by default
Learning Pace	Step-by-step	Rapid, intense

Building Your Network

Big Tech puts a big network at your fingertips. You'll meet tons of people, join company events, and build industry connections. A Staff title at Meta? That's your ticket to Staff interviews anywhere.

Startups keep it small but mighty. You work directly with founders and investors - connections you can't easily make in Big Tech.

Connections	Big Tech	Startups
Inside Company	Huge network	Small, close team
Outside Reach	Industry-wide	Startup community
Leadership Access	Through layers	Direct to founders

Moving Up

I spent 8 years at Google building Chrome Data Saver (700M+ users). The path up? Clear but slow. At XNOR.ai, engineers jumped levels way faster.

"Landing that big company name early? It's like a career cheat code." - Ryan Peterman, Author

Career Level	Big Tech	Startups
Starting Out	Clear steps up	Fuzzy titles
Mid-Career	2-3 years/level	Quick jumps possible
Senior Roles	5+ year climb	2-3 year sprint

Bottom line: Big Tech means steady climbing with safety nets. Startups offer faster rises but bigger risks. Pick what matches your style.

sbb-itb-1fbb62f

Making Your Choice

Here's what you need to know about Big Tech and startups - broken down by what matters most.

Your Career Goals

Let's look at how each path matches different goals:

Goal	Big Tech	Startup
Learning	Deep focus on specific areas	Broad exposure across many areas
Impact	You'll shape products/features	You'll shape the whole company
Pay	Higher base salary	Lower base + possible equity boom
Work	Clear role boundaries	You'll wear many hats
Security	More stable	More uncertain

Money & Risk

The numbers tell an interesting story:

What You Get	Big Tech	Startup
Base Salary	$123,262+	30-40% less
Stock	RSUs (guaranteed value)	Options (most fail)
Job Security	2-3 years typical	3-12 months typical
Promotions	Every 2-3 years	Every 6-12 months

"Here's the reality: You probably won't become a billionaire at a startup. But you WILL learn tons and have fun doing it." - Tech Industry Professional

When to Choose What

Your career stage matters:

Stage	Best Pick	Why It Works
Just Starting	Big Tech	Learn the basics right
2-5 Years In	Either Works	You can handle both
5+ Years	Pick Your Path	You know what you want

"Know when to stay for growth and when to jump for passion. Keep your eyes on who you want to work with next." - Ray Carnes

Bottom Line:

Pick Big Tech if you want:

• Clear career steps
• Better base pay
• Structured training

Pick Startups if you want:

• Fast career jumps
• Direct company impact
• Possible equity payoff

"If you're young and curious about startups - just go for it." - Tech Industry Professional

Before picking a startup, check:

• Is the product solid?
• How good is the team?
• Who's backing them?

For Big Tech, look at:

• Team fit
• Growth options
• Tech you'll use

Remember: You can switch between both. Most engineers do exactly that throughout their careers.

What You Need to Succeed

Here's what it takes to make it in different tech environments:

Skills Needed

Skill Type	Big Tech Requirements	Startup Requirements
Technical	Deep expertise in specific areas, DSA mastery	Full-stack capabilities, quick learning
Programming	Strong CS fundamentals, system design	Practical coding, shipping fast
Tools	Enterprise-scale tech stack	Modern tech stack (MERN, etc.)
Soft Skills	Team collaboration, documentation	Direct communication, self-management

The skills gap between big tech and startups is HUGE. Big tech wants specialists. Startups need generalists who can wear multiple hats.

"At Amazon, engineers are expected to meet a 'bar'—a prescribed skill level at each engineering level. An effective way to keep stagnation at bay, this compels engineers to constantly develop and grow, not just to move up levels but to survive within the organization." - Amazon Engineering Team

Company Culture Fit

Aspect	Big Tech	Startup
Work Style	Process-driven, structured	Fast-paced, flexible
Decision Making	Multiple stakeholders	Quick, direct
Impact Focus	Team/product metrics	Company-wide goals
Time Management	Regular hours, planned sprints	Variable schedule, tight deadlines

Big tech and startups are like different planets. In big tech, you follow the process. In startups, you ARE the process.

"Once I got Staff (IC6) at Meta, I was able to get Staff-level interviews even though I only had a few years of experience." - Ryan Peterman

Moving Up

Career Factor	Big Tech	Startup
Promotion Timeline	2-3 years per level	Based on company growth
Growth Path	Clear levels (L3 → L8)	Role expansion
Skills Focus	Deep specialization	Broad experience
Success Metrics	Performance reviews	Direct business impact

Want to succeed? Here's what to focus on:

Big Tech:

• Master CS fundamentals and system design
• Join mentorship programs
• Network across teams
• Build your GitHub portfolio

Startups:

• Learn multiple tech stacks
• Own your projects
• Ship fast
• Show direct business impact

Here's the thing: 89% of new hires fail because they don't fit the company culture - NOT because they lack technical skills.

Pick the environment that matches YOUR style. That's how you'll do your best work.

Getting the Job

Finding Jobs

Company Type	Best Job Sources	Tips
Big Tech	LinkedIn, Glassdoor	Set job alerts, follow company pages
Startups	AngelList, F6S, EU Start-ups	Direct outreach to founders
Both	Next Level Jobs EU (€100k+ roles)	Filter by tech stack and location

For startups? Skip the application forms. Email founders directly - they don't have big HR teams waiting for your resume.

Want to land a big tech role? Here's what works: Pick 25-50 companies and blast your applications in ONE week. Why? Your interviews will line up, giving you more power when negotiating.

Interview Types

Stage	Big Tech	Startups
Initial	HR screen (30 min)	Founder/CTO chat (45-60 min)
Technical	4-6 rounds, DSA focus	1-2 rounds, practical coding
System Design	Required for mid/senior	Optional, product-focused
Culture	Team matching	All-hands meeting
Timeline	4-8 weeks	1-2 weeks

"Getting into FAANGs is TOUGH. Their hiring bar? Sky-high." - Vishal Chaudhary, Former Product Manager and Software Development Engineer

Salary Talks

Negotiation Point	What to Do	What to Avoid
First Call	Let them give first number	Sharing salary expectations
Counter Offer	Ask for 20% above base	Accepting first offer
Timeline	Request 1-2 weeks to decide	Rushing decisions
Research	Check levels.fyi data	Relying on outdated info

Here's a shocking number: 66% of people DON'T negotiate their job offers.

Don't make that mistake. Companies EXPECT you to negotiate. It's part of the game.

"Got a job offer? You should ABSOLUTELY negotiate." - Robert Half

The numbers are on your side:

• 51% of companies are bumping up starting salaries
• 55% can't find enough skilled tech workers

Before talking money, do your homework. Check Pave, Glassdoor, or Salary.com for the latest rates. Knowledge = power in these discussions.

What's Next in Tech

Here's what's happening in tech right now (and what's coming next):

Change	Impact on Big Tech	Impact on Startups
AI Integration	Heavy investment in AI talent acquisition	New opportunities in AI tools/services
Job Automation	42% of business tasks automated by 2027	Focus on high-value tech solutions
Talent Wars	"Pseudo-acquisitions" of AI startups	More partnership opportunities
Skills Shift	Need for AI/ML specialists	Niche market opportunities

The data is clear: Up to 30% of jobs in some EU countries will look different by the mid-2030s because of automation. But this isn't a doom-and-gloom story. Here's what's actually happening:

Big Tech's Moving Fast:

• Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are snatching up AI talent
• They're partnering with startups instead of buying them
• AI jobs make up 6% of software positions (as of May 2024)

What This Means for Engineers: GitHub's data shows AI tools boost coding speed by 55%. In the next 2-4 years, we'll see productivity jump 20-40%. But here's the thing: Engineers won't just write code line-by-line anymore. They'll focus on bigger-picture system design.

Role	What You'll Need	Job Market
Prompt Engineer	AI system optimization	High & growing
AI/ML Engineer	Machine learning, data science	Very high
Tech Maintainer	Automated system management	Rising
System Architect	High-level design, AI integration	Strong

The job market's shifting FAST. Here's the breakdown:

Big Tech:

• Building huge AI teams
• Sharing more tech openly
• Setting up tech incubators

Startups:

• Leading blockchain innovation
• Building AI-powered tools
• Creating niche solutions

"In my area, quality, it's been a massive shock... things have been turned on their head." - Nicola Martin, head of quality engineering at Adarga

What Engineers Need to Know:

• Less time spent on basic coding
• More complex problem-solving
• AI integration is KEY
• New AI development roles popping up

The World Economic Forum's latest report puts it in perspective: By 2025, tech will add 97 million new jobs and shift 85 million others. For engineers, it's not about losing jobs - it's about adapting to new ones.

Summary

Here's what you need to know about choosing between startups and Big Tech:

Factor	Big Tech	Startups
Job Security	High, <5% layoff risk	Depends on funding/growth
Pay	$150K base + RSUs	$150-250K + equity
Work	Clear tasks, one role	Multiple hats, fast pace
Skills	Deep technical focus	Business + technical mix
Growth	Set promotion path	Fast but unpredictable

The Employee Happiness Score:

Netflix tops the charts at 89%. Other big players? Not so much:

• Google: 55%
• Facebook: 52%
• Apple: 50%
• Amazon: 42%

The Money Side:

Take Coinbase's IPO: Each employee's 100 shares jumped to $250 each on day one. That's $25,000 per person. But here's the thing: Most startups DON'T become Coinbase.

If You Want	Go With
Safe career	Big Tech
Fast learning	Startup
Big base pay	Big Tech
Equity shot	Startup
9-to-5 life	Big Tech
Quick leadership	Startup

"Big Tech = career growth and steady money. Startups = learning and cool projects." - Anonymous

Pick Your Path:

Just graduated? Big Tech gives you a solid start. Mid-career? Look at your bank account and goals. Senior level? Think about what you want to build.

Let's talk money: A Series A startup might give you 1% equity. If they hit $1B? That's $2M. But 10 years at FAANG could net you $3M - with way less stress.

"Want to build something later? Start with big tech anyway." - Ryan Peterman

Bottom line: Both paths can work. Pick what fits YOUR goals, not what others pick.

FAQs

Do startups pay as much as FAANG?

Yes - many startups match or beat FAANG pay. Here's what you'll typically see:

Company Type	Base Pay	Extra Compensation
FAANG	$150K/year	50-200 RSUs ($20K-400K/yr)
Startup	$150K-250K/year	0.1%-1% equity

Let's look at a real example:

When Coinbase went public, they gave ALL 1,700 employees 100 shares each. Those shares? Worth $25,000 each on day one.

But here's the thing: Coinbase is the exception, not the rule. Most startups don't hit it that big.

What are the advantages of working in FAANG companies?

Here's what FAANG companies offer:

Advantage	Details
Resume Value	FAANG name opens doors everywhere
Pay	Big base salary + RSUs
Job Security	Only 5% chance of layoffs
Learning	Perfect for early-career growth
Career Path	Step-by-step promotion system

"Working at FAANG shows you how the big players handle everything - from production to deployments, documentation, and making changes in huge systems." - Oracle, Software Engineer

But here's what the happiness scores tell us:

• Netflix: 89% happy
• Google: 55% happy
• Facebook: 52% happy
• Apple: 50% happy
• Amazon: 42% happy

"Get that big name on your resume early - it sets up your whole career." - Ryan Peterman