[rovek]

> The UK is infamously known for not appreciating programming skills.

Not sure what the basis is for this. I'm a SWE with 10 years experience and I've been shopping around for countries to escape to for more than a year, I didn't really want to consider the US but currently my options based on salary expectations are only the major US cities.

Nowhere in the world that I've seen offers comparable rates to London/NYC/Bay area. You could include the rest of the UK in the statement I quoted, but then you'd have to also include the rest of every other country. I doubt you'll find a competitive tech salary for a non-remote job in Arkansas or Düsseldorf.

edit: Someone else mentioned finance salaries in this thread, I haven't worked for a company anyone here would likely know and this was all true before I moved to a finance-adjacent business

[varispeed]

If you account for the cost of living, it suddenly doesn't look that great. Then in the UK chances are that you'll work for an agency - they'll charge the client £1500 per day for your service and you'll get fraction of that and there is a system around that there is always some intermediary that pockets money for nothing.

[allendoerfer]

Start freelancing right now and increase your pay by one third.