Good point. In Eastern Europe a decent programmer earns 35-45K after tax. I know it because I work with developers from Eastern Europe. 12-16K is more a fresh grad level, really junior.

Just for clarity, US salaries are usually discussed before tax. If you're taking home 35-45k, you're basically at US salary levels. Remember than even here, Silicon Valley salaries are way above salaries elsewhere in the US. Increased competition for the best / closest programmers increases wages.

>If you're taking home 35-45k, you're basically at US salary levels.

That's exactly the point. Also keep in mind that it's not uncommon for developers in Eastern Europe to pay only 5-10% income tax when they register as private entrepreneurs (and benefit from small business tax reliefs), far lower than the tax rate in the US.

The Silicon Valley premium is not that large. Every programmer I know in North Carolina earns six figures. I earned 95 as a programmer with moderate experience in South Carolina a decade ago before I changed career paths.

There's a big difference between making 95k and making 350k total comp as a senior dev at FAANG.