I quadrupled my Big Tech salary by changing jobs 8 times. I learned how to negotiate pay and when to walk away.

• Jean Kang transitioned from Big Tech to solopreneurship after roles at Meta, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
• She grew her income from $35,000 to over $300,000 through strategic job changes and negotiations.
• Kang emphasizes preparation, research, and assertiveness in salary negotiations to maximize earnings.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jean Kang, a 31-year-old former senior program manager from San Francisco who's held roles at Meta, Pinterest, Intuit, and LinkedIn. It's been edited for length and clarity.