[flyval]

This is trivially untrue:

- median hr salary: $61k

- median software developer salary: $111k

Maybe what you’re trying to say is that the average junior dev doesn’t spend enough effort on people. But that’s a very different statement than saying that understanding people is more valuable.

[jrm4]

This comparison is exceedingly bad. In one, you deal with people in a specific context, in the other you ALSO deal with people, just in a different context.

[croes]

He doesn't say valuable, he says it matters more.

Didn't the pandemic show that those jobs that matter aren't well paid?

BTW The median salary in the NBA in 2021/22 is $4,347,600, so NBA > Tech

[flyval]

> He doesn't say valuable, he says it matters more.

What does that mean? How are these words different in this context?

> Didn't the pandemic show that those jobs that matter aren't well paid?

What the… how in the world did you derive this from the pandemic? Seems like the phrase “essential worker” confused you. The people who were allowed to keep working in person were those that were essential in the short term to provide everyday services, that’s it. This says nothing about whether software developers matter more or less, since 99% of software developers kept working anyway.

But anyway, this argument is moving the goal posts — the original article was saying that you’ll get paid more for them.

> BTW The median salary in the NBA in 2021/22 is $4,347,600, so NBA > Tech

I think this is basically true when comparing individuals. Any one of the 450 players in the nba bring more enjoyment and meaning to the average persons life than the median software developer does. (Though obviously if you compare the entire tech industry to the nba, then tech will win out.)

[croes]

Like I said, in the pandemic the work of hospital and grocery staff mattered but these jobs aren't valuable because they are heavily underpaid. If they would have stopped working matters would have got way worse. This isn't true for 99% of software developers and 100% of athletes.

Some athletes on the other are overpaid and their sport doesn't really matter.

And by matter I mean are necessary for survival.

[commandlinefan]

If it were true, software would be replete with "people people" and not us introverted nerds who understand the technology but shy away from people. Understanding people is a useful nice-to-have, understanding technology is an essential requirement. That doesn't fit the definition of "matters more".