It seems like software salaries really cap out at like ~150. I don't see how jumping around jobs is going to push you past that, unless the new skill you learned was a PHD.
As a W2 contractor (meaning you work for the contracting company that pays the employeers share of employment taxes), I'm seeing rates up to $90 an hour.
If you assume 2080 hours a year - 80 hours holidays - 120 hours PTO - 120 hours between gigs, you are at $158,000 a year.
But the few times I have contracted, I have always gotten more than 40 hours a week. I'm just now at the point in my career that I could get top dollar contractor rates when I start back looking.
Let me clarify that those numbers are for W2 contractors. You're basically still working for another company. I'm not referring to 1099 contracting where you have to pay an additional 6.2% in SS up to $127K and 2.8% in Medicare.
The other path to higher salaries is specializing in a particular technology that enterprise companies pay handsomely for. Salesforce is one of those, as is Sharepoint.
I highly doubt you or your friend make that salary without some special niche knowledge. Even a PHD, perhaps.
I know people in tech who have been making that for years with just a bachelors... and not even in CS. My stepdad, my girlfriend’s father...