[nsl73]

> Americans will get priced out of the market and they should be concerned about that.

It’s just good planning to have multiple potential forms of income. Programming might be the thing I do that can pay the highest, but I have plan B, plan C, and plan D ready to be put into action if I suddenly don’t have a career in software engineering, or I don’t want a career in software engineering.

Interestingly enough, having options also puts you in a stronger position when discussing salaries and benefits with your employer or perspective employer.

[BiggsHoson]

>... I have plan B, plan C, and plan D ready to be put into action if I suddenly don’t have a career in software engineering, or I don’t want a career in software engineering.

I would like to read more about that if you would care to share more details. I cannot imagine a career in anything but software, but this year has me very low on contract work and some backup plans are something I am trying to devise.

[P_I_Staker]

Very skeptical of this. The reality is that most professions shut people out unless they have very specific backgrounds, otherwise you'd see service workers routinely jump to something higher paying. A degree may be enough to get more of a foot in door somewhere, but it's very tough. Chances are you wind up doing something highly undesirable, unless you manage to go the self-employed "entrepreneur" route.

[P_I_Staker]

WTF are you talking about? That's not how careers work. If this whole profession of mine doesn't work out, it's not like I can just pivot to something else. There is no plan B, C, or D other than start begging for any job I can get.

[partyboat1586]

What's your plan B?