Fellow here, I wanted to +1 job hopping. I went from $75k in 2020 to $200k in 2026 doing this. If I stayed at a company I'd need 2 promotions and with COLA 3% adjustment I'd still be short of my current wage by quite a bit. Loyalty pays with underpaying, but gives you a sense of job security.

Having multiple offers creates a bid war, much like the COVID house prices that's how you can inflate your salary. Also, salary > RSU + bonus + salary

Edit: and so it's clear - my improvement is an outlier, usually it's 20-30% when you job hop, I just ended up picking up a very niche role no one does and jumped to that payband

Yep, plan on changing jobs every two and a half to three and a half years.

Be willing to lie on your resume to improve your chances of getting the specific job you're applying for, but only lie enough that you could watch a YouTube video and fill in the gap between the absolute truth and the expectation.

Don't say that you understand Azure if you've never used a Windows computer before, but if you have run a home lab with proxmox, and they're looking for a VMware administrator, you're probably okay.

Job hopping is the best way to get better money and job title. It's worth staying for a few years ever once in a while if you prefer the stability over the income bump. I am in my stable phase while my children are young before jumping again. I am thinking maybe 5 years or so. Unless the great job comes

It also helps to be a soulless husk with no regard for human decency.

That will get you nothing, but maybe an STD.