Of course it's relative, but your average Joe programmer is going to take the same strategy, so what, you're going to end up grouped into the pool of average sa

Of course it's relative, but your average Joe programmer is going to take the same strategy, so what, you're going to end up grouped into the pool of average salaries. Super. If you're not that great of a programmer, then stop there. But if you feel like you make a higher contribution, that the very code that you write is relied upon for generating millions of dollars, why would you frame the discussion around what Average Joe is making down the hallway? These numbers don't matter because you're not like them anyway, and it's up to you to frame your story differently. Show them the numbers. Get the outlier deal. Then take your family on vacation to a remote island. Save extra and not work for 6 months. Get a fucking better than average deal and don't worry about Sad Sally who can't figure out her own worth to get a descent deal.