It wasn't that much back then, especially when the industry was feast or famine (and it did implode in 1986 or so). But really, my only point was "a guy who had an associates degree from a CC could earn that much."

My buying power is essentially worse than my dad's, although I put in a lot more time in school for it, and supposedly made the right career choice, things just suck these days and techies are keeping their heads above water but not much more.

It’s the land price. Gets baked into every single good and service and goes up in lockstep with productivity gains.