The core point of effective altruism is to maximize the positive impact you have on the world. That doesn't really have any correlation how much you're getting paid.

> There probably is a genuine shortage of programmers willing to work full time at a socially or environmentally oriented non-profit in the Bay Area.

Would that be more impactful than working at high paying job and then donation that money somewhere? I doubt these non-profits are constrained by their lack of programmers.