Market demand is the correct answer. None of us would be making six figures if not for the other nearby employers who would like to hire us. Before the web happ

Market demand is the correct answer. None of us would be making six figures if not for the other nearby employers who would like to hire us. Before the web happened, we were paid like accountants. > If you hire engineers when the market for engineers is tight, you might overpay compared to your existing employees. A Junior developer might end up with a higher salary than your senior guys. It's on you to know how much your competitors might offer to lure away your senior devs, and deter it. If you wait for them to negotiate, you might lose some of them.