[mschild]

What does the alternative look like though? Sure tech companies pay engineers well, but there's plenty of other jobs requiring a college degree that don't reach that salary level.

[kubb]

I didn’t say that there was an alternative. Just that 100k doesn’t make them rich.

[globular-toast]

Apple, Tesla et al tell you you're not rich, but you can be if you want to be. Learned helplessness.

[hellisothers]

… but not in most cities in CA is the OP’s point, actually not even is most large cities on either coast. Which isn’t to say it’s not possible, you could definitely live well elsewhere on that salary but there is an obsession with coastal cities.