Sure, salaries are much higher in US, even more so in California. :-) But, by european standards, it's pretty good. London and Paris are more expensive cities

Sure, salaries are much higher in US, even more so in California. :-) But, by european standards, it's pretty good. London and Paris are more expensive cities and salaries are lower (except maybe in finance). I went from 31K in Toulouse (France) to 45K in Amsterdam 3 months later :-) Not really rags to riches but still a very nice increase, even adjusting to the higher cost of living.