Great insights, but let's not forget, at most companies being a programmer is no picknick. Some places like amazon, things are so bad employees cry (that amazo

Great insights, but let's not forget, at most companies being a programmer is no picknick. Some places like amazon, things are so bad employees cry (that amazon article). Also, don't forget, FAANG employees are the exception not the rule. Those are probably the top 5% in terms of engineering compensation, so it shouldn't be used as an average case for software engineers. You have to be a top 5% engineer or at least top 5% lucky to be in one of those companies. And, let's not forget 400K isn't so much when your employer chooses to be in a location where housing costs an average of 3M to 4M and day care costs 30K per year (if you're lucky enough to get it).