> I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent... > the average pay at IBM was $46,000 I think I can solve your talent

> I'm at the biggest "software" company in the city, and we can't find quality talent... > the average pay at IBM was $46,000 I think I can solve your talent problem, and I won't even charge you for the insight: Pay more. Presumably you're in a high-margin (software!) industry. If revenues are reasonable, then you can afford to pay higher salaries. Given the untethered lifestyle of younger generations, you're effectively competing with the entire nation. Even SFBA, with its absurd cost of living, offers a better pay-to-living situation than $46k in Iowa. But there's good news! With housing in Mountain View at all time highs (yes, a 2 bdrm home runs ~$800k)... there's lots of good software engineers who spend a few years here and then look to the MidWest. The classic relocations are to Austin TX and Boulder CO. Pay up, and you might have an easier time recruiting people heading back to the MidWest. (BTW: I'm from Nebraska.)