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Do the author really believe programmers earn only 12-16k USD yearly in Poland?

Good point. In Eastern Europe a decent programmer earns 35-45K after tax. I know it because I work with developers from Eastern Europe. 12-16K is more a fresh grad level, really junior.

Just for clarity, US salaries are usually discussed before tax. If you're taking home 35-45k, you're basically at US salary levels. Remember than even here, Silicon Valley salaries are way above salaries elsewhere in the US. Increased competition for the best / closest programmers increases wages.

The Silicon Valley premium is not that large. Every programmer I know in North Carolina earns six figures. I earned 95 as a programmer with moderate experience in South Carolina a decade ago before I changed career paths.

There's a big difference between making 95k and making 350k total comp as a senior dev at FAANG.

>If you're taking home 35-45k, you're basically at US salary levels.

That's exactly the point. Also keep in mind that it's not uncommon for developers in Eastern Europe to pay only 5-10% income tax when they register as private entrepreneurs (and benefit from small business tax reliefs), far lower than the tax rate in the US.

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