In 2014 I was making 141 NZD writing C++ at Weta Digital (I had colleagues breaking 150). They were mostly contract jobs renewed annually, but I didn't know of any tech people there who were not renewed.
Interesting. Is this C++ anyone could do, or were they wanting maths and physics qualifications?
That salary doesn't sound far fetched for a contract though.
It was a mix. There were definitely MS/PhD level maths people, but also a lot of people writing more systems oriented code to deal with the metric tones of data that they generate, people writing code to specific APIs for software packages that they use, etc.
That's likely an exception being paid for out of deep Hollywood pockets