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TL;DR: Working in tech offers fast-paced innovation, strong compensation, and bright colleagues, alongside a high cost of living, long workweeks, tightening in-office requirements, and competitive hiring. Understanding both sides helps you make an informed decision.
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Inside the Tech Org - HTC Workshop.pdf
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Fast-Paced Environment
People often choose tech for its fast pace of product development and innovation. You'll be at the forefront of change, working on cutting-edge products that impact millions of users.
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Day-to-Day Flexibility, But Check the Office Policy
Hours within a day are still generally flexible compared with banking or consulting, and it is common to shift your schedule around and log back on in the evening. Where the picture has changed is location. As of 2026, 89% of employers require at least three days a week in the office, up from 78% in 2025 (CBRE). Amazon has been at five days since January 2025 and Meta moved to five days in February 2026, while Apple, Google, Adobe, Salesforce, and most of Microsoft sit at three. Treat in-office expectations as a specific question to ask your recruiter rather than something to assume.
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Bright Talent
Tech is one of the most in-demand industries today, which attracts many intelligent people from top schools. People are highly motivated to succeed, creating a stimulating work environment.
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Strive for Innovation
There is a high degree of optimism, as people believe that they can have an impact and hope to leave their mark on the way people live their lives. The culture celebrates bold thinking and experimentation.
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Compensation
For the Haas Full-time MBA Class of 2025, the median base salary for graduates entering technology was $159,000, against a class-wide median of $167,250. Roughly 75% of the class received a signing bonus averaging $35,829, and 45% received stock grants or options with an average value of $100,000, so equity is a meaningful part of the total in tech specifically. On the internship side, technology took 32.1% of Haas interns at a median monthly base of $9,533. Figures are from the Haas FTMBA Class of 2025 Employment Report.
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Cost of Living
San Francisco is frequently cited as one of the top 5 most expensive cities to live in the U.S. Even with decent salaries, many people live with roommates to be in a nice house. Housing costs can consume a significant portion of your income.
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Homogenous Culture
The lack of workforce diversity has been recognized as a systemic problem in Silicon Valley for several years. Tech companies have been grappling with ways to consistently add greater diversity (of thought, background, race, sexual orientation, and more), but it remains a problem-to-be-solved.
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Workweeks Can Be Long
It's not uncommon to be working past dinner, especially in big tech. Plenty of people leave the office in the late afternoon to avoid Bay Area traffic and then log back on at home, which means the working day often stretches later than the calendar suggests. The "always on" culture can be challenging.
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Hard to Get In
With so many people vying for tech jobs, it can be tough to get in. Competition is fierce, and the interview process can be lengthy and demanding.
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