I work in software development in the UK. Even good, highly experienced developers working for top employers over here rarely make what a total newbie in their

I work in software development in the UK. Even good, highly experienced developers working for top employers over here rarely make what a total newbie in their first job makes in a place like SV. In purely financial terms, almost every developer I know is in the position where much younger, much less capable people are earning a lot more than them somewhere else. The thing is, it doesn't matter. There are sports players in the world who make more money in a week than most of those SV developers make in a year, too. Maybe I could move to the US and make enough to pay off my entire mortgage in a year or two. But I don't want to live and work in the US, so for me personally, that opportunity isn't interesting or relevant. What matters to me in terms of my professional career is making the most of opportunities when I do want what they offer, and being content that my professional development is OK and I'm doing good work that I enjoy. Obviously better compensation is always welcome, but the reasons I'm glad I went freelance and ultimately started my own businesses are mostly about increased flexibility, diversity, and making my/our own decisions instead of being subordinate to The Boss. You can't put a price on the improvements in quality of life that come from a better work environment and better work/life balance.