People working at Google etc think they're paid handsomely, but in reality in London they are paid a fraction compared to what you can get in the financial sector.
This article and the comments here talk about software developers and graphic designers, and the reality is there's a whole community above you earning much more. That's who's able to buy the houses.
I guess that's the point of the campaign in the linked article, but I can't see how that will change, unless the financial bubble bursts.
http://oxfordknight.co.uk/jobs/all-jobs/core-risk-and-pricin...
Many people live comfortably in London for far less than 90k gbp, it all depends on your expectations and requirements.
It's interesting that growing up in London my single-parent mother on an income between 40-50k managed to buy a house and raise two kids. We lived comfortably.
That house is now worth 6x more than the price she payed. Her salary today (she's retired) would be almost the same. That's why I can't imagine doing the same thing she did, even on a 2x salary.
I'm not complaining, just thinking out loud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_in_the_United_Kingdom#In...
It's 2007 and income distribution is probably per capita rather than average salary. In that case it's not as extreme as I've implied.
EDIT: A newspaper article from last year claims the UK average is 26k, so London is probably significantly higher. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-average-salary-26500...
Unfortunately, even with the handsome salaries senior devs earn I cannot see how I could possibly pay rent and support children.
So I often wonder where all this money is coming from? If a salary many multiples the average would not cover living costs, who is pushing up prices? Who is buying these houses?