[patd]

Don't forget that your cost of living (rent, food, ...) is probably lower in the Netherlands than in SF. And you get all the social benefit from a European country (cheaper healthcare, cheaper education, ...).

It's hard to compare US and European salaries.

[Zklozenblarg]

I can tell you from experience: the cost of living in Amsterdam is quite significantly higher than in SF, and that's not even taking the far higher income tax into consideration.

It's not surprising that you all are so worried about H1-B immigrants and outsourcing to India, as your wage fresh out of college is about twice as high as an equivalently skilled engineer can expect to make at the height of his or her career here.

edit: it seems google thinks the cost of living in AMS and SF are about the same: http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index