Tech workers willing to accept lower pay, survey shows

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — A recent survey by the anonymous workplace network Blind reveals that 56% of tech workers would accept the same or lesser pay in a new role if the job offer meets their other needs.

Blind said that the current job market influences salary expectations significantly, with 45% of respondents citing it as the primary reason for their flexible salary considerations.

The survey indicates a shift in the priorities of tech professionals. Many are willing to trade monetary compensation for factors such as strong company culture (19%), work-life balance, remote or hybrid work (14%), and career growth opportunities (13%). 

Dave Carhart, VP of People Strategy Group at people success platform Lattice, said this shows that compensation is only one part of a larger value proposition for employees.

This shift also allows employers to meet the needs of highly qualified candidates beyond just compensation. Startups and smaller companies with budget constraints could greatly benefit from this trend.

The survey also found that salary expectations decreased the most among tech workers with two to five years of experience, followed by those with five to ten years of experience. This change in expectation is less pronounced for more experienced tech workers and least significant for those early in their careers.

Further, tech workers in major hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and New York have seen the most significant decrease in salary expectations. 

However, remote workers’ salary expectations have fallen less significantly than their in-person counterparts.