[axaxs]

Do more research. There are software engineers everywhere. Tulsa, Omaha, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Atlanta, Miami... I'm just naming a few. If you think the bay area has more engineers than those cities combined, you're sorely mistaken. Northern VA has about as many engineers by itself to counterbalance the bay area...

[pmiller2]

Certainly not more engineers than all those places combined, but almost certainly the Bay Area has more engineers than any one of those places individually, and probably a higher concentration of them as well.

[PeterisP]

The whole state of California has about 14% of USA developers. So whatever the Bay Area is earning does not have that much of an impact on the nationwide average.

[pmiller2]

Not directly, but more in an “I can work in BFE nowhere for $X or the Bay Area for $2X” sort of thing for those capable of putting up with the bullshit interview processed. Even with cost of living, it often works out better in the Bay Area.

[axaxs]

Financially, absolutely. Much better in the valley, in fact. But there are a lot of intangibles. For example, I appreciate being able to go to the beach every day, swim, collect sea shells with my daughter, and spending more time with her and my wife in general. That is uniquely afforded to me by working remote for a salary substantially less than if I were in the bay. If I were 20 again and single, I'd probably really consider it. But any older than that and I see it as a net negative, despite the salary. No amount of money buys you back time in the prime of your life. It may buy you time later, though. Things to consider...