[Tycho]

The key thing for me was that he was able to clinch such big pay-rises. Not complaining or anything, but I wonder how universifiable the abilities/opportunities are which made that possible. He just mentions them almost in passing.

[ilkandi]

I started as a Powerbuilder programmer at 30K/yr and since then I have gotten Java and Sybase and Six Sigma certification, Toastmasters for public speaking, and almost finished my CFA exams. It's been 15 years and I'm still not at his Year 3 salary. FML.(in Canada BTW)