I'm maybe a lifer like the OP. Similar age, some similar concerns. I haven't really decided yet, but my motivation to put myself back on the market has dramatic

I'm maybe a lifer like the OP. Similar age, some similar concerns. I haven't really decided yet, but my motivation to put myself back on the market has dramatically declined. I've been... OK to let my salary rot a little. I think it's an implicit part of the lifer "bargain." I've found, though, that you can sometimes get a correction by talking to management about market rates and where your salary stands (without making any implied threats or anything, just raising the concern). The HN mindset is that, if you want more money, you need to switch jobs. But you can't get what you don't ask for, and if you're a strong contributor, you might be surprised at how responsive your management can be. A long term employee brings their own form of value that management may well recognize. A disclaimer here is that I work in higher ed, where programmer salaries will never be competitive with for-profit tech companies. This is kind of a given. But I have observed that I can at least keep my salary commensurate with jobs at other institutions.