Remote working saw a tremendous spike as a band-aid solution for companies to handle the Covid-19 crisis. Having moved the entire workforce online, companies worldwide were able to keep their businesses going during periods of lockdown. In fact, some of them found that they were actually thriving as a remote workforce.
Remote working is here to stay for the long haul. Companies are looking to implement hybrid models of work that deeply integrate remote working into their office ecosystem. This means that you can now sit in a country in one corner of the world and work for a company located in another corner of the world. This is perhaps the best news for software developers, as they can massively hike up their salaries through remote working.
Wondering how? Here are some of the best ways in which you can double your salary working remotely for US-based companies as a software developer:
Keep Yourself Up-To-Date
This advice holds good no matter where you are working. However, if you wish to earn well working remotely as a software developer, then you must keep yourself up-to-date with the best industry practices.
This also means that you need to familiarize yourself with the way things are in the US. Remember, just because you are working remotely does not mean that you will not be affected by changes in the office or the company's infrastructure. Be on top of everything that goes on and be ready to adapt quickly and efficiently.
Upskill Yourself
As a software developer looking to climb the ladder, it would be highly detrimental to your career if all you did during the day was your 9 to 5 remote job and nothing else. You must continue working on yourself – attend courses, seminars or use the internet’s vast resources to learn new things.
Don’t say no to open-source projects that come your way. These projects are your ticket to expanding not only your knowledge base but also your credibility. You can even think about taking part in some hackathons or freelancing on the side to upskill yourself, expand your client base and improve your portfolio.
Switch To A Different Team
It is very difficult for you to climb the ladder when you are working in the same position within the same team for several months (or maybe even years) at a time. Try to switch things up and get yourself added onto a project with a new team. Not only will this help you build your network, but it will also show that you are capable of doing more than just one thing at your company.
And if switching teams is not possible, then you might want to switch companies altogether. Anything that will help you get out of the rut of stagnancy will help. Working on different things will give you better recognition, better positions and of course, a better salary.
Sell Yourself
If you are looking to double your salary as a remote worker, then you have your work cut out for you. You are not present at the office, so most people are not aware of who you are, let alone the kind of work that you are doing. You are working in a bubble that does not bode well for your growth. This is why it is important for you to present yourself.
Have you accomplished some cool stuff at work? Showcase it! Take part in all the virtual meetups and present your accomplishments. This is the only way everyone in the company will ever know what you are doing.
Venture Into Up-And Coming Areas
It is important for you to keep an eye out for what is going to be the next big thing in software development. For instance, mobile designers are all the hype right now, and becoming a remote mobile designer for a US company might just be the push you need for your salary to grow. You can also try to find some gaps in the development industry that you might be able to fill.
Take, for instance, blockchain development. This is an area that is hugely uncharted but currently has an immense demand because of the boom in blockchain technology in recent years. This means that companies are looking desperately for good blockchain developers, and who knows? You might just be able to fill the shoes here. Of course, since blockchain developers earn significantly more than software developers, your salary is going to increase as well.
Speak Out
Promotions and raises these days don’t work like the good old days of our parent’s generations anymore. Before, once you have worked a certain number of days, you would have been entitled to a raise. Now, however, many companies do not have clear-cut policies on promotions and raises.
In fact, there are several software developers who keep working at the same company without having received a raise or a promotion for years. And as a remote worker, it is essential that you are vocal about what you want and what you deserve. Speak out and ask for a raise. Better yet, ask for a promotion. Remember, without a drastic change in your position, you might not be able to get a better salary any time soon. So, go on and ask for what you’re worth!
To calculate how much compensation to ask for, understand benchmark salaries for engineers in LATAM. Our latest Tech Salaries & Benefits Trends Report can help guide you on current and expected average salaries for your remote developer role.
Conclusion
Remote working is perhaps the best thing that has happened to the tech industry. This is especially true if you reside in an economically poor area because you are given opportunities that were previously quite unthinkable with remote working.
In this day and age, you can sit in a low to middle-income country in Latin America and earn the salary of a high-income country such as the United States. Not only does this offer you huge economic benefits, but it also opens up a whole world of opportunities and challenges for you to explore and grow as a software developer.
