It's common. Not guaranteed but achievable by most who are reasonably competent and prioritize compensation. Keep in mind however that people spending their s

It's common. Not guaranteed but achievable by most who are reasonably competent and prioritize compensation. Keep in mind however that people spending their spare time on HN are probably not representative of software engineers in general. My first job out of college (BS CS) a few years ago paid $60k; I got lucky and transferred into ML in 2021 and now make around the median you found (which sounds pretty accurate from my experience). Software in the US does pay quite well, even accounting for the cost of living, which is high but not exceptionally so - comparable to places like Denmark or Australia. The lack of safety nets is a downside though; you can be fired without cause, warning, or severance, and then you're own your own for healthcare as well. (Oh and I should add that the tech job market here is currently atrocious. I know several people looking for work and not even getting interviews. Might get better, might not.)