You sound like you have a solid background, I'm sure you could easily find a job that pays triple if not more than your current position (or do I just live in a bubble?)
Unfortunately, and you will hear this a lot if you ask, all of the really sweet jobs don't ever make it to job boards, and especially not race-to-the-bottom cesspools like eLance/oDesk/Upstart.
You have to network, and you have to network hard. Not to promote yourself (that's advertising), but to learn what challenges the tech teams at companies need help with today. And when you find a mutually beneficial opportunity, they will be EXTREMELY GRATEFUL if you were to mention your skills and leverage them to solve real business needs.
What those needs are, how your skills apply, and how you approach the situation are entirely up to you and the circumstances you encounter.
Upside: Choose Your Own Adventure
Downside: I can't give you any general advice that would help; it's a skill everyone has to cultivate in their own, I think.
Maybe I'm wrong about the downside. I'd love to find out if I am.