> "After a year in software engineering in one of the hot areas like coastal cities or Austin, ..." Honestly, that would make a lot more sense. If you even qu

> "After a year in software engineering in one of the hot areas like coastal cities or Austin, ..." Honestly, that would make a lot more sense. If you even qualified it and said "After a year at today's salaries, as a single adult with no dependents" it would make so much more sense. > In 2014 I started my first non-startup job and would have been happy with $80k but instead I got $110k I'm 10 years into the tech field (3 years software automation engineer, 7 years dev) and still haven't even touched your _starting_ salary of 110k. Currently a Lead Software Engineer making just under 100. Living expenses have gone up significantly with children, though, and with the housing market being what it is.