>I don't know any developer who is excited to work for less than $40k/yr on the absolute lowest

In my country, $40k/year is a super high salary, even the average senior developer wouldn't make that much.

This can be a problem with remote working. It's fine if you live where accommodation is cheap but if you're earning the same money living in a metropolis it doesn't add up.

But the companies in the metropolis either have to pay good wages relative to the metropolis or hire remote. This won't really be a problem until/unless we hit a tipping point in the number of companies hiring remote and I predict that will take decades (unless something drastic happens).

At 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year, hourly times 2 is yearly in kilobucks. Eg: $10/hr is 20k/year.

For anybody else:

$10/hr = $20k/yr

$20/hr = $40k/yr

$30/hr = $60k/yr

$40/hr = $80k/yr

$50/hr = $100k/yr

$60/hr = $120k/yr

$70/hr = $140k/yr

$80/hr = $160k/yr

$90/hr = $180k/yr

$100/hr = $200k/yr

$110/hr = $220k/yr

$120/hr = $240k/yr

$130/hr = $260k/yr

$140/hr = $280k/yr

$150/hr = $300k/yr

$160/hr = $320k/yr

$170/hr = $340k/yr

$180/hr = $360k/yr

$190/hr = $390k/yr

$200/hr = $400k/yr

>I don't know any developer who is excited to work for less than $40k/yr on the absolute lowest,

And let me tell you there are developers barely making one fifth of it.

It really depends which country you're from, it doesn't make much sense to throw around numbers.

Market structure also plays a big part in the final number, e.g. Switzerland or the US have much higher 'net' salaries (after taxes) but conversely must spend ~2x what more socialist markets like France or Germany have already included in taxes for various insurances (health, retirement, savings, etc) and rents (housing, commodities, subs...)

Some examples (loose statistics from memory but the gist is good)

In Zurich, Switzerland you can expect a net salary almost as high as the US or Asia (top 10 cities; I'd say it's 80% to all the way there, just less exponential because top paying jobs are not in Switzerland vs SF or HK).

In France, accross the border, you can expect between 25-60K€ (junior-senior) if not in Paris, bump to 35-80K€ there. It goes higher, but you're much better off starting a small contractor/consulting business (being 'sponsored' by ex-company is a thing in France for top dogs) if you want mid-six figures.