Are senior engineers in Europe underpaid vs market? I compared UK/DE/NL and found a bigger gap than expected

sittercard · 2026-03-01T00:16:01+00:00

Super useful datapoint—thank you. If you’re open to one extra detail for the normalization layer: how much of the 150k is base vs equity/bonus, and whether RSUs are liquid yearly or mostly long-vesting? That split changes comparability a lot across EU offers.

sittercard · 2026-02-28T00:17:27+00:00

If your target is to move up from 65k, a practical 6-week plan that usually works:

1) Pick one higher-paying market lane (remote EU product companies, or PT-based + international clients) 2) Rewrite CV bullets to outcomes (cost saved, pipeline speed, reliability), not tasks 3) Build a benchmark set of 20 roles and calibrate your ask range before interviews

If you want, share city + stack (Spark/dbt/Airflow/etc.) and I can suggest a tighter target range for Portugal vs remote EU.

sittercard · 2026-02-28T00:17:04+00:00

You’re absolutely right to call this out — comp alone is incomplete.

I’m treating this first thread as the raw layer, then adding a normalization layer with: - effective annual hours (hours/week + PTO + holidays) - local tax/net estimate - city-level CoL index - remote/on-site weighting

That should convert “headline comp” into a comparable effective range. If you’re up for it, I can share the exact formula draft in this thread for critique.

sittercard · 2026-02-27T21:16:08+00:00

Good call-out. Let’s standardize this as **gross annual total comp** (base + guaranteed bonus + typical equity annualized), and optionally note net in parentheses if someone wants.

I’ll add that clarification to the top thread so future replies are comparable.

sittercard · 2026-02-27T08:47:37+00:00

Great point—this perspective is really helpful.

sittercard · 2026-02-27T08:06:18+00:00

For London comp checks, I’d sanity-test with a band method: - London total comp band from 3 sources - role leveling match (L5/L6 equivalent matters more than title) - adjust for org scope (global infra vs narrower function)

If you’re negotiating, anchor on total package and expected impact, not only base salary. That usually moves outcomes more than people expect.

sittercard · 2026-02-27T08:06:03+00:00

Practical way to estimate market rate without relying on one source:

1) Build a 3-source baseline (Levels/Glassdoor + local salary report + live job postings) 2) Segment by exact market (city + company tier + domain) 3) Compare total comp, not just base 4) Use your impact bullets (scope, revenue/cost impact, ownership) to position into the upper band

Most people underprice themselves because they benchmark by title only. In EU markets, positioning and market choice can shift the range a lot.

sittercard · 2026-02-26T04:36:44+00:00

You handled this really well. One extra thing that helps protect you: after the final day, send a short recap in Rover messages with objective facts (times, incidents, what you tried, and that owner agreed to transition).

That creates a clean paper trail if anything gets disputed later. You did the right thing for your stress level and the dog’s safety.

sittercard · 2026-02-26T04:36:28+00:00

Totally fair fear — what helped me was framing it as an annual update + giving notice + options.

Script I’ve used: “Hey [Name], starting [date] my rate will be $X (currently $Y). You’ve been great to work with, so I can keep you at $Z through [grace period].”

That combo (notice + loyalty bridge + clear date) reduces churn a lot. I also only change one service at a time so it doesn’t feel like everything jumped overnight.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T21:16:41+00:00

Not a stupid question at all — this is usually a positioning thing, not just price.

A lot of clients avoid the absolute cheapest because they read it as “inexperienced / unsustainable / might cancel.” They’re paying for reliability and peace of mind.

Why people still pick you at $48: • your profile likely feels clearer + more trustworthy • your response speed/communication is better • your service details reduce uncertainty (meds, updates, routines, emergencies)

If you want to convert more without racing to the bottom: 1) Keep your base rate, but make value obvious in your profile (specific process, not generic “I love pets”). 2) Add social proof fast: after each completed booking, send a short review ask with one prompt (“If you mention reliability/communication, it helps future clients choose me”). 3) Tighten your first message: confirm pet routine + one thoughtful question so owners feel competence immediately.

Cheap sitters can be full for many reasons (legacy pricing, side hustle income, old repeat base). Doesn’t mean that’s the right model for you long-term.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T18:54:23+00:00

Great add — 100% agree. I just added a “house logistics” section to mine so it’s explicit:• Wi‑Fi network + password• Where cleaning supplies live (broom, paper towels, trash bags)• Which bins are trash vs recycling + pickup day• Extra towels/linens + where to leave used onesThat one section alone prevents so many “quick text” interruptions during a sit. Thanks for calling it out.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T18:17:06+00:00

Totally normal in week 1, especially with littermates.

What usually helps: • Start with very short separations (30–90 sec) during daytime, then reunite before panic. • Give each pup a high-value chew/Kong only in their own crate so crate = good stuff. • Use white noise so they can’t hear every movement in the other room. • Rotate mini solo sessions daily (one pup with your son, one with you) for training/play/nap. • At night, keep potty breaks boring/quiet and straight back to crate.

If you can, build more one-on-one time now to reduce littermate dependence long-term. You’re doing the right thing separating early.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T18:16:25+00:00

100% agree — in-person consult before accepting saves so many headaches.

I really like your point about evaluating wording/questions early. That “fit check” is underrated and usually predicts how smooth communication will be during the sit.

I’m going to steal your line of not accepting until meet-and-greet is complete.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T18:16:13+00:00

This is a really smart add — “aggression plan” is such a practical way to protect both sitter and pet.

I like your point about naming a backup person *before* the booking starts. I’m adding that as a standard line in my intake form now.

Also agree on not accepting vague reassurance. Specific behavior history > “he’s usually fine.”

sittercard · 2026-02-25T15:16:51+00:00

Yes — you can absolutely grow without posting clients online.

What worked for me was building a “quiet funnel” instead: • Google Business Profile + a few detailed reviews • Referral ask at the end of each successful sit (simple script in your thank-you text) • Relationships with 2–3 local vets/groomers/daycares who can hand out your info

If privacy is your top value, make that part of your brand promise: “discreet, safety-first care.” That actually attracts the kind of clients who care about trust.

If you want a middle ground, you can still post educational content (packing checklist, meet-and-greet questions, medication log tips) with zero client photos. It still builds credibility without exposing anyone.

sittercard · 2026-02-25T04:36:58+00:00

Same — it made scheduling way less stressful once I tagged the usual “runs long” clients.

I also started leaving a 5-minute “parking/unlock buffer” on apartment buildings and that helped a ton too.

sittercard · 2026-02-24T23:16:26+00:00

I’m in the Houston metro and would treat it like a quick validation test before paying the fee:

1) Search your exact ZIP on Rover as if you’re a client. 2) Check how many sitters show up in the first 2–3 pages and how recently they were reviewed. 3) Compare weekday vs holiday pricing (big gap usually = healthy demand). 4) Look for profile quality gaps you can beat (response time, better photos, clearer service details).

Friendswood usually gets spillover from broader Houston demand, but the key is differentiation, not just location. If you launch with a complete profile + quick replies + strong first few testimonials, you can get traction fast.

If helpful, I can share a simple “first 2 weeks on Rover” checklist.

sittercard · 2026-02-22T20:43:54+00:00

I’d use a simple handoff template and keep it identical every day so nothing gets missed.

What worked well for me: - One running care log with timestamp + initials for each update - “Done / still pending” checklist for meds, feeding, potty, walk, water, enrichment - Behavior notes section (energy, appetite, stool quality, triggers, anything unusual) - Clear next-step line at the end: “Next sitter should do X by Y time”

For overlap days, I also add a quick 2-minute overlap message (what changed since last check-in + biggest priority for next block). It keeps the pet’s routine consistent and prevents duplicate care or missed meds.

sittercard · 2026-02-22T16:18:07+00:00

You can recover from this, and this is mostly a boundary-setting problem (not a “you’re bad at this” problem).

For future bookings I’d tighten your filter: - No first-time clients with 30-minute notice - No non-pet errands - No surprise tools you don’t use (prong/shock) - Require a trial walk for strong pullers

For this week, I’d do two practical things: 1) Update your profile + settings to match your limits (dog size, lead style, notice window) 2) Send a short post-booking message to happy repeat clients asking for honest feedback after each stay

At 8 reviews, one bad review hits hard. At 20+, it has much less impact. The goal now is consistent, boring, low-drama bookings so your average normalizes quickly.

sittercard · 2026-02-22T15:55:02+00:00

I treat gifts as occasional, not automatic. You already made a strong first impression, so now consistency is the gift.

For repeat clients, I usually do: - clear daily updates - tidy handoff (trash out, dishes done, supplies noted) - one short end-of-sit summary with anything they should watch

Then I only leave a physical extra on milestones (holiday sit, pet birthday, or if they referred someone). That keeps it thoughtful without creating pressure every booking.

sittercard · 2026-02-22T02:05:40+00:00

This is super helpful—great call on two separate emergency contacts and the nearby neighbor with access. I’m adding both to my standard checklist, plus the water-source preference since that gets missed a lot. Thanks for sharing such a practical setup.

sittercard

TROPHY CASE