[sidlls]

It happens all the time, especially outside of anomalies like the Bay Area. Even in the Bay Area it happens frequently enough. Pay is higher in the Bay Area and similar locations because of artificial constraints from the demand-side, not because of a lack of supply. Outside the Bay Area (and similar places) developers aren't paid that much better than any other college educated, skilled worker. I came from outside the Bay Area. This world is...very different from the software world in most other places.

[donovanm]

The median pay across the whole US for software engineers is quite a bit higher then the median income for all professions. Or are you referring to a different country?

[kobeya]

He may have meant “professional occupations” which means doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.

[holtalanm]

I know people working for the railroad as track workers that make more than the median salary for a software engineer in my area.

So, take 'professional occupations' with a grain of salt. There are high-paying occupations that don't require a 4-year college degree.

[TheCoelacanth]

Doctors have an extra 4 years of very expensive school plus an extra 3-7 years of training. Lawyers have an extra 3 years of very expensive school and only make about 15% more on average than software developers. Accountants make on average about 30% less than software developers.