[YeGoblynQueenne]

I worked in one of those roles for a year or so, though in the UK. From the salaries you quote, I assume you mean the US? In the UK that sort of money is quite good.

The salary you quote, converted to UK money, is about right for entry-level roles. I was hired in that company at a graduate level and I had no experience of mainframes whatsoever when I got the job (which I hunted down out of the same morbid fascination you mention).

My older colleagues though, the ones with 30+ years experience, they would be getting much better money than that. It would depend on the position also, but I heard of at least one graybeard who was asked back from retirement, because the company couldn't afford to lose his expertise.

Now, I don't know what they paid him, but I'm pretty sure it's what I call a really, really good salary.