[23yo] 90k SWE at a Small Innovative Company vs 115k as a Contractor SWE at a Larger Company
I've been at a smaller company in a LCOL area making 75k for about a year now. It has been my first job since graduating college and I have really enjoyed it. I like the people I work with, I like the clients, and my work excites me. Additionally, I was on the path to getting promoted, which would bring me to 85k.
I got headhunted for a contract role originally at $48 an hour with no benefits other than health insurance (which I don't accept). Once I realized that I wouldn't get any PTO or military leave (I'm in the national guard), I was definitely leaning toward staying. I had a talk with my manager and my CEO, because I want to stay at the company, but they were offering a lot more money. They offered to fast track my promotion and give me a bump to $90k.
Now the contractor role has been escalating the pay every time they call me about it. First it was $48/hr, then it was $52, then $55, until finally I got a call from their "closer" trying to ask me what it will take, suggesting $62 an hour or $55 with some form of time off built in.
Option A - Stay at my small company ($90k)
I get 4 weeks of PTO, plus 3 weeks of military leave, plus major holidays (including the entire week of xmas). I get 4% to 401k and a few other benefits that amount to around 2k per year.
I would continue working at an innovative company where I continuously get to use new technologies and solve unique problems every day. I also work with a bunch of my friends.
Option B - Leave to be a contractor ($100-115k) *adjusted for taking time off
I don't know the final number that they will come to me with, but it seems to be a lot of money. They seem to want someone they can convert to full time after a year of contract, and they think I could do that. They do have 2 other contractors though. It would be a bit more corporate, working in cubicles. I would be working on migrating a legacy HR system, so not super exciting. Also, my coworkers would all be a good bit older than me.
If I were to get the full time role, the compensation would be in the $110k-115k range with full benefits and a pension plan, which is a lot of money.
Hoping to find some opinions on here of what I should do. I lean towards staying at my company, but it would be hard to say no to that amount of money, even as a contractor.
Posted May 1, 2026, 3:42 AM UTC