‘200%. Yep’: Amazon Employee Reveals Why She Would Choose US Over Rs 40 LPA Job In India

Choosing between a high-paying job in India and one in the US is no longer just about salary. For one Amazon engineer, the bigger question was where she could learn more, work on cutting-edge technology and build a career she genuinely enjoys.

While she admitted that Rs 40 LPA in India could offer a more comfortable lifestyle, she explained why she would still choose a $200,000 role in the US.

She Says Exposure Matters More

Harika Satti, an Indian-origin Machine Learning Engineer II at Amazon, recently shared her thoughts on working in the US during a conversation with content creator Umang Chaudhary. She spoke about salary, career growth and why she feels moving abroad was one of the best decisions she has made.

During the interaction, she was

asked a common question faced by many professionals: would she choose a $200,000 salary in the US or Rs 40 lakh per year in India? Satti said the answer depends on what a person values most. “I would say, just in terms of money if you talk, just in terms of finance, I would say 40 lakh in India because you can live your life way more, you know, I think it would be way more luxurious,” she said.

However, she explained that her decision changes when career opportunities are taken into account. “But if I compare overall things like exposure, being able to work on state-of-the-art techniques, so here, companies have a lot of money. That way I have a lot of compute resources, like good data, and also I think being able to work on these latest technologies and everything, I would choose US,” she added.

Satti also spoke about compensation in her current role. According to her, a Machine Learning Engineer II at Amazon usually earns a base salary between $150,000 and $200,000, along with bonuses and company stock.

She Says The Move Changed Her Outlook

When asked whether moving to the US had been worth it, Satti did not hesitate. “200%. Yep.” She said her priorities were very different while studying and beginning her career in India.

Back then, her main goal was simply to get a stable job with a good salary. “But here, I am really passionate about my work. I really look forward to every single day, not just weekends, because I really like doing what I’m doing. I’m more passionate, I’m more ambitious, and this whole mindset just really makes me happy and satisfied.”

According to Satti, working in the US helped her enjoy her profession rather than just treating it as a way to earn money.

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She Also Shared Her Expenses

Talking about life in Seattle, Satti said careful spending has helped her save a large part of her salary. She revealed that around 15 per cent of her post-tax income goes towards rent, while another 10 per cent covers food, travel and other day-to-day expenses.

She also spends nearly 5 per cent on a car, although she believes people moving to Seattle can easily manage without one because of the city’s public transport.

“Around 5% for car. But you don’t really need a car in Seattle, so if you’re moving to Seattle, just don’t get a car,” she said. Because her monthly expenses are relatively low, Satti said she is able to save a significant portion of her earnings.

“I’m able to save, I would say, around 60 to 65% of my income,” she concluded.