If you end up working in a non-FAANG industry, you’ll see fewer developers and less support from non-technical staff, but you’ll have plenty of opportunity to add massive value. 

Another distinct difference for software engineers is that you’re seen as a liability, whereas FAANG companies would view you as an asset. At a FAANG company, you’re valuable because you contribute to the bottom line. At a company in a tech industry, this isn’t always the case. The company will view you like every other business function. You’re an expense that has to prove itself every year, sometimes every quarter. 

Because of this, a company outside the software industry is likely to pay you less. The company will want to pay the direct contributors first. This group may be project managers, auditors, or even account executives. But if your software isn’t a key driver for revenue, don’t expect to earn a hefty salary. 

Based on my experience, outside of software-driven industries, you may be more likely to work with temporary employees. Companies often want to integrate software into their business but are not be willing to pay for a full-time developer. They will then hire temporary workers that work for six to twelve months at a time. There are many issues that may arise with temporary workers. Contractors may not understand your development infrastructure. You might spend unnecessary time making sure both of you are on the same page. When they leave, you may be the one who has to take extra time to understand the code they left behind. Any knowledge they have often leaves the company when they do.