Ask HN: Early employee salaries for startups in The Netherlands / Europe?

I can tell you how it is in Berlin, Germany. And this is the cheapest city in Europe. Juniors start at around 40k, seniors about 50k anual salary.

Thanks for the comments so far. I should have said (but can't edit that anymore) that I'm also interested in what would be a reasonable percentage of equity to suggest at a meeting.

To expand a little:

- I'm dutch

- I don't have to move

- I have got a wife, kids and a mortgage

- I've got about 15 - 20 years of experience depending on how you look at it. Starting with: 68000 assembler, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, web front-end and back-end, Lisp and now iOS although I'm just getting up to speed with the latter. I've got Open Source projects on GitHub, a blog I post technical things to a couple of times per year. I'm pretty up-to-date on technical things: call me an average HN reader.

I might be giving away too much for a throwaway account now.

Could you give a bit more information about your job title and experience? Also, what sector are you targeting? I've noticed there's lots of financial sector work in IT in the Randstad which can bump up your salary.

I've found two great rules for going into negotiations of any kind: 1. Know exactly what you want and state it. 2. Be prepared to walk away if you don't get it.

You could also try playing equity vs salary off each other. e.g. I usually work for $6000 a month, but if you want I could work for $2000 with 30% equity. Or if you want equity more than salary, I usually work for $10,000 a month but could do it for $1000 a month and 40% equity.

Numbers above are just random. But the idea is to make the option you really want seem MUCH more attractive.

As a 30 year old iOS developer working in Rotterdam I earn about 43000 annually with a 40 hour work week. I do believe a should be able to get a bit more, as iOS developers seem quite rare in the Netherlands and I believe lots of companies are looking for good iOS developers. I should explain I'm not working in a startup - I would guess in a startup people would generally be paid worse.

If you understand Dutch, perhaps a good forum to get a better idea what would be an appropriate salary, you should check out the "Werk & Inkomen" sub forum of the Dutch technology website Tweakers.net.

See: http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1446515/la...

I think geographical location makes no difference, because If it were me I would ask them for what I was currently on. Not take a pay cut, but not expect an increase either.

With the lack of security in a start up I might also ask for something in my contract which meant if the product/company were successful I would get recognition (financial or otherwise) in relation to my contribution.

It's rather hard to say and it really depends on the company and your expertise, but expect from €2500 and up (depending on other benefits) for a starter position fresh out of college/university. In the Randstad, I would try to get closer to €3000 out of it, as the cost of living is rather high. Good luck and veel plezier in Nederland ;)

Here are some really nice jobs; http://forum.nedlinux.nl/viewforum.php?id=14 When friends of mine are job hunting they usually do it here because you know you are going to get a solid tech job for a good ("markt conform" or above) salary.

Edit:

Interesting projects http://forum.nedlinux.nl/viewtopic.php?id=31844 (at least to me). And as far as I have seen, Dutch companies don't really care if you finished any education; usual text is 'HBO of WO denkniveau' (has to reason on college level, roughly translated).

Based on your very limited background information: 2500-5000 euro/month excl bonus and other benefits

Have you checked www.intermediair.nl/salariskompas?