> For that matter, most places in the world outside the US (and Silicon Valley) tend not to pay software engineers very competitively. In the US, my experience

> For that matter, most places in the world outside the US (and Silicon Valley) tend not to pay software engineers very competitively. In the US, my experience is that software developers generally are paid competitively. CS and chemical engineering graduates routinely get the highest starting salaries all around the country when it comes to four year degrees. That starting salary may be $100k in Silicon Valley, $80k in Chicago, and $60k in Nashville, but all three numbers are competitive relative to the local market. In fact, you will find that in comparison to the cost of housing $100k in Silicon Valley is not quite as well paid as you think.