[ericmcer]

The expected output of a software engineer will always be based on the ability of the average engineer. As technologies make some areas easier the bar will just be raised in other areas. It isn't like employers will just pay the same amount for someone with less skill doing less work.

So NodeJS is easier than previous server technologies, well the role of a pure back-end developer has evolved to include dev-ops, db administration, security, Q.A., automated deploy/testing. Front-end development is also more complex than ever before, if you only have an "html programming" background, you are going to have a pretty difficult time setting up a modern transpiled web app using on of the JS frameworks.