[rdouble]

In California the police can pre-retire and collect their retirement while they are still working at their same job. So you have the San Luis Obispo sheriff making upwards of $600,000.

If you're ever living in San Francisco making $130K as a programmer yet still wondering if you've made the right career choice, browse the public salary databases in the area to confirm the fact that you indeed did not.

[rayiner]

If you make $130k in California as a programmer, plus maybe $10k in employer health insurance contribution and another $10k in 401k matching ($150k total comp), you're in the same overall pay bracket as a "sewers supervisor" in San Rafael or a BART train operator: http://www.mercurynews.com/salaries/bay-area?appSession=8741....