[crasshopper]

You consider 55000 USD per year low? Geez, I've never made over 20000 USD.

40000 is the median in the U.S. and that includes people at the peak of their careers. Cops, teachers, and social workers don't necessarily make much above that after a lifetime of hard work. Anyone over 40000 should feel proud and/or fortunate.

[bad_user]

In the U.S. it is not uncommon for software developers working as employees to make between 90k and 120k per year. In fact, AFAIK that's THE salary for experienced devs in Silicon Valley; and independent contractors can make much more than that.

Indeed cops, teachers, and social workers make much less, but salary is usually a function of how much profit you can produce + a function of supply and demand.

The demand right now for capable software engineers is pretty high, even with this economic recession. And the supply is very low - so if you live in the U.S. and are making 20000 USD per year, you're doing something wrong ;-) Heck, that's not enough to pay the rent in San Francisco.

Even junior developers coming fresh out of college are making more than 20k.

In that light, yes 55k is much lower than I could earn if I were located at the heart of the software industry, but I'm pretty happy and feel fortunate about it anyway; although my target is 120k.

So again, if you live in the U.S. 20000 is way low without having extra benefits - like being a co-founder in a startup that will make you rich one day. Even if the projects you're working on are fun, don't sell yourself for pennies. In the long run you'll suffer; not to mention, have you noticed the ageism going on in this industry?

[crasshopper]

Yes, obviously I would like to be making more.

[endtime]

40k might be average for everyone, but for skilled and educated technical folk (which most of us on HN are), 55k is low (at least if you're living in the US).

[stcredzero]

If you are living in an industrialized country and have real technical skills, just do a good job, cover your bases, then ask for 12% more every year. As is often said around here, often your salary is just a line item in the books. You can actually do stuff like look for a new job and say, "You know, I've never made 6 figures. How about you pay me $100k?" and a lot of places will just do it, even if this means they're jumping your income by 25% I know this for a fact, because years ago, that's exactly what I did.

Hint: if you want to do this, try working for companies with money. Energy and energy related companies are like this. Also be prepared for lots of politics and soul-grinding nonsense.

[crasshopper]

That sounds extremely desirable. You and I live on different planets which are connected by the internet.