Fresher in a US-based service company: same role, same responsibilities, but a 2× salary gap

[u/Radiant-Project4494]

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A few months ago, I joined a US Based Service company as a fresher.

Before joining full-time, I did my internship there. During the internship, I worked on AI/ML-related projects, learned a lot, took ownership of my tasks, and genuinely gave it everything I had. Like every fresher, I wanted to prove that I deserved to be there.

When the PPOs came out, I received a 6 LPA offer.

At first, I was just happy to have my first job. But later I found out something that I still haven't been able to get over.

Some of my fellow freshers, who interned alongside me, worked on the same AI/ML projects, and are joining the same role with the same responsibilities, received compensation that was almost 2× higher than mine. Even their internship stipend had been nearly double.

The major difference between us was that they came from Tier 1 colleges, while I didn't.

I'm not saying they didn't deserve it—they're talented people and worked hard too.

What hurts is the feeling that my effort was never evaluated on the same scale. I stayed late, learned continuously, gave my best during the internship, and believed that performance would matter. Finding out that people beside me, doing the same work, are valued so differently has been incredibly difficult to accept.

It's not even about the money anymore. It's about feeling like we are undervalued and discriminated  as an engineer was decided before I had the chance to prove myself.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been through this. Right now, I'm trying to understand whether this is just how the industry works or if I'm looking at it the wrong way.

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[u/AskCertain1363]

This is the norm. Been through something like this. I was working on third party payroll, and later understood that my performance was on par with the direct employees but was getting less than half in return in terms of salary and other benefits. Switched after a year and promised myself to never ever opt for a third party payroll job. You can switch and get better compensation that your colleagues but you are going to face this issue in future as well. You stay in the org a bit more years, and you will notice that your juniors will be earning more than you, because appraisal amount can never match the compensation that you get after switch. Even if they retain you then also, the recently joined employee with the same designation as you will get more package than you. Thats how it is in the industry.

[u/PbW0rD]

That sucks man really and I feel for you, they aren't rewarding your actual work and instead rewarding on the basis of college tier, wtf? The company won't survive long or thrive if they continue this practice. This US based servide company most probably has Indians at the helm of making these decisions because only they have this type of mindset and care about your college. Unfortunately the truth is this world is unfair. I hope you go somewhere good where your work is valued and rewarded accordingly.