I see $100k USD being thrown around as a large salary in discussions, and compared to the median US household income it is. But people have been using this figu

I see $100k USD being thrown around as a large salary in discussions, and compared to the median US household income it is. But people have been using this figure as a convenient anchor point in arguments for decades now, and if you look at inflation, $100k should not be considered a high salary today, and if you are a programmer you should demand more: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=US$100000+2017+in+1980+USD http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=US$100000+2017+in+1980+... $100,000 today would have been $33,000 in 1980, $53,000 in 1990, $70,000 in 2000, and only $84,000 in 2007. You are totally right about the $200k mark feeling comfortable. $200k is the new $100k.