Ask HN: How to handle a 'Junior' title when Im doing Mid-level work? Time to go?

1 points by sieep 96 days ago | 6 comments

Hey all,

Don't have many tech people to talk to so thought I would ask here.

So to summarize, I was in BI from 2022 until 2025 when i transitioned to a junior software dev job. I wasn't in a great position when I got the offer, so I had to accept a lowball offer (~75k). A year and a month pass, I ask for $100k and a title change from junior and am told no title change and 10% raise. 100k is the average in my area for software developers.

I don't think this is fair since I do full stack work, SQL, code reviews, manage stakeholders internally and externally, and complete tickets/features on my own. I'm very much a team player, well-liked by people in different areas. My direct manager is supportive and agrees I'm performing above my title but his hands are tied by leadership. He actually suggested I drop 'Junior' from my resume if/when applying elsewhere

I feel my output significantly exceeds the "Junior" label and the new salary floor.

Is a 10% raise standard in this economy when responsibilities have scaled this much?

How much does the "Junior" title on my resume hurt my prospects if I decide to jump ship now?

Should I push harder for the title even without the money?

Midwest, .NET stack, C#/JS

Thanks in advance.

PaulHoule 96 days ago |

In this climate make sure you have a new job lined up before you quit your current one. Don't let on the slightest that you care what title you have because personally I would blackball anybody who talks like that.

sieep 96 days ago | |

Thats sound advice. But why that on the title? Just curious if youd elaborate. I feel like if they are asking of me to do code review, SQL, etc. then my title should align with the rest of the market, especially after a year + multiple years BI experience. Feels like its easy for you to say that about my title when you're not in my shoes (and presumably haven't been called a junior dev for awhile now). Seems completely reasonable to expect a title change at this point, in my opinion.

PaulHoule 96 days ago | | |

I'm not saying you're wrong.

But personally I don't like people who are concerned about status (as opposed to getting the job done) and any participation I have in the hiring process is what I can do to have some influence over who is sitting in the seat next to me.

burnerToBetOut 96 days ago |

There's been a couple other threads here recently about the apparent "existential crisis" some people are having these days.

A lot of commenters tell those people that the reason they're struggling is because they made the mistake of having their identity be defined by their job.

Your post made me wonder if stories like yours is how that whole I-am-my-job-and-my-job-is-me entanglement starts.

ycombinatrix 96 days ago |

Your manager is right. Drop the word "junior" from your resume and start interviewing.

JojoFatsani 96 days ago |

Title doesn’t matter, compensation matters.