I disagree; the nationwide median salary was $100,080; the bottom 10% earned less than $58,300. [1]

The unemployment rate for Computer and Mathematical Occupations was about 2.0%. [2]

Anecdotally, since a large part of someone's world view is by bad things that have happened to them, none of my friends from college are working outside of software. Some earn at the 10% spot in low cost-of-living areas, but they all are employed with enough money to get by.

1. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/...

2. https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea30.htm

Edit: this only holds true for the U.S.; unemployment for coders is probably far different in other countries.

>since a large part of someone's world view is by bad things that have happened to them

I've never thought of it this way, but it seems so obvious in retrospect.

If you’re a basic dev (uneconomical to hire and train), the market works against you. If you’re halfway decent and hungry, companies are scrambling to get you on your team. I’ve been recruited just from random conversations at bars or on Muni. The “real world” is not a winner take all place, there is enough room for everyone and everyone can up their game/differentiate. Nothing is stopping people from going up or down the ladder but themselves.