Same boat — mid 50's. (Crazy how I didn't see that happening.)

For me it's a combination of 1) I see the writing on the wall: they don't really want me in this profession any longer and 2) I'm getting tired of it anyway — increasingly less willing to (laterally?) "move my skills".

Begrudgingly learned Swift (I like it tho). Begrudgingly learned every new code management system that has come down the pike....

I'll switch careers and move on, go back to "service sector" pay scale.

Maybe I worry more for the current crop of programmers. Those of my generation did all right — had fun. The industry is changing and not necessarily in a direction that looks enjoyable.

Early 50's here. I am switching jobs now, I'm at the top of my game, and getting the biggest money I've ever made. There are several factors, I believe. First, keep up to date. Certain things are really popular right now and therefore attract the best pay, and more jobs are available. Second, be in the right place. For example, SF Bay Area only has so much housing but has a lot of companies who are hiring, so they are competing for the people who are here. Third, project confidence because you are in fact awesome because of all the cool shit you've built. If you walk in to interviews resigned to making less money or a taking a step down, I bet you'll find that actually turns out to be true. Fourth, on a regular basis (once a month or so) you should be having conversations with your manager about your career and next steps, and taking time to work on getting there.

One more protip. At a higher level, moving up further does not mean being a better coder. It means talking to people (often on different teams), thinking and generating ideas (and applying for patents), sometimes taking risks to prove those ideas, figuring out how to improve process, and generally communicating. If you believe you're not good at any of these, you can actually study and practice them and get better at them. I did, and it's working out for me.

How about moving into consulting? That's pretty much my plan. Older developers have both the experience and the expertise that companies are looking for in a consultant, and it pays pretty well.

Yeah, I'm worried too, here in my mid-40's. I just hope I can hang on to my current salary long enough to get my kids through college. My son is talking about majoring in CS, though - I'm wondering if I should be talking him out of it.