How a Meta Engineer Skyrocketed His Salary from $200K to $500K in Just 18 Months

Based on a conversation with Krishna Ganeriwal, a senior software engineer at Meta. Interview has been edited for clarity. Business Insider verified his employment and compensation.

In 2023, Meta cut around 10,000 jobs during its “year of efficiency.” But Krishna Ganeriwal, who joined full-time that year, not only kept his job — he doubled his salary.

After earning a master’s at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and interning at Meta, he returned as a full-time engineer. In just 18 months, he grew his pay from $200,000 to $500,000. Here’s how he did it:

Align With Company Goals

“When leadership focuses on something, it’s a clear sign of where your priorities should be,” he said.

He embraced Meta’s shift to efficiency, learned cost-effective skills, and avoided expensive projects. “I always listen to what leaders say in meetings and align myself with those goals.”

Be Flexible

“Surviving a layoff doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change,” he said.

He was ready to drop projects and take on new ones fast. “I had to pivot quickly, even if it meant working with fewer resources or switching focus.”

Keep Growing

“I separated company performance from my career growth,” he said.

Even during layoffs, he kept setting personal goals. “I made sure to stay visible and communicate often — that really helps during reviews.”

Take on Unwanted Work

“Look for problems no one else wants,” he said.

He took solo assignments and joined other teams for tough tasks. “Those gave me rare skills that paid off.”

“When others focused on AI and efficiency, I tackled engineering issues that combined both.”