This would all be much more useful if the salaries were stated in some form that's normalized for COL. Maybe it could be factors, like earning "2" means you earn 2 times your COL. Or at least just earnings minus COL.
Say what? Not even Google starts people at a 235K salary. Total comp package sure (so starting bonus, bonus, RSU grants). In the last year or so, the new grads I'm friends with are averaging around ~150K a year starting base salary from the big companies in the bay.
Yes, that was my mistake. $235k is a total compensation.