I went from making $15K to nearly $700K over my career at Oracle, Apple, and Meta. Here's how I increased my total compensation.

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 05:14

Sandeep Rao, a software engineer photo in front of the Oracle building, with logos of Apple and Meta in the background — Sandeep Rao says he took a low-paying job to get his foot in the door.
Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images; Sean Gallup/Getty Images; Meta; Alyssa Powell/BI

Sandeep Rao is a software engineer who has worked at Meta, Apple, and Oracle.
When he first started his career as a new graduate, his compensation was only $15,000.
He explains how, thanks to high performance and negotiation skills, he now makes nearly $700,000.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandeep Rao, a 32-year-old software engineer based in San Jose, California. Business Insider has verified his income with documentation. This essay has been edited for length and clarity.