> If you look at median income levels, they have grown substantially over the last 30 years.
You have mean and median reversed. Mean inflation adjusted income has increased substantially, median inflation-adjusted income has declined. That's because the distribution of income has become more concentrated.
Stock options are not part of the median income. Tuition reimbursement is far less than govt subsidized education and even regular private education cost in the past. Higher benefitd mean nothing if they are directly routed to massively inflated prices that offset the benefits for the same value delivered.
> I'm arguing those aren't looking at the complete picture.
Right; I'm arguing that non-monetary compensation in no way has contributed in an amount adequate enough to compensate for the stagnation/backslide of wages. Wages have stagnated, full stop.
You have mean and median reversed. Mean inflation adjusted income has increased substantially, median inflation-adjusted income has declined. That's because the distribution of income has become more concentrated.