[Xelynega]

Isn't the average for software developers in the US ~100k(before taxes)?

Assuming that high earners are offsetting that to the higher end, most people aren't making 6 figures, and the bar isn't which language they're programming in.

[alexawarrior4]

One of the few areas of reliable statistics about US software developer pay come from the US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median wage as of May 2023:

$132,270

This means half of all full time employed devs are higher, and half are lower. The mean is more skewed by higher earners but is similar:

$138,110

It also varies quite widely by geographic location, from a mean high of $173,780 in California to only $125,890 in Texas, from $199,800 in San Jose to $132,500 in Austin to $98,960 in rural Kansas (where I have actually developed software before!)

The short of it is, the vast majority of software developers do not make the top salaries. Even L6 is rare within the top tier of tech. There is a lot of delusion in this field around pay, so it's important to be well informed. As a field we are still very well paid compared to most other jobs especially considering our safe working conditions and lack of needed credentials and education. Compared to most of the work on this planet, it's still a goldmine.

Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes151252.htm

[duped]

100k is on the lower end of junior salary

[Jtsummers]

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/...

Junior salaries go down much lower than $100k.

[duped]

That doesn't match my experience on both ends of the hiring table. And forgive me if forwarding the BLS statistics to candidates doesn't get them to accept offers, because I know it wouldn't help me when I can get paid a lot more elsewhere.

[Jtsummers]

> That doesn't match my experience on both ends of the hiring table.

Congratulations, your experience is limited. The BLS stats represent the actual US salary data, not just your limited experience. If you want to make a claim about salaries in the US then look at data across the US and not just whatever is true within your limited bubble.

> And forgive me if forwarding the BLS statistics to candidates doesn't get them to accept offers

Did I ever even suggest such a thing?

[duped]

I take the BLS numbers with a huge grain of salt, they are useful for identifying trends and not absolute facts on the ground.

> Did I ever even suggest such a thing?

My point is that the BLS doesn't set market rates or report on them.

[botanical76]

Is this some coveted attempt to push tech salaries higher?

[kstrauser]

...in tech hubs. That's a pretty great living in most other places.

[duped]

Most places don't have qualified tech workers in spades.