I don't know about elsewhere in the US but here in [edit: south-eastern] EU programmers basically formed their own social class, one considered even higher than executives, top tier managers etc.
The EU is a big place and everyone's experience is different, but I think you're overstating matters hugely.
Makes sense though - as all of you and not just programmers are rather well paid compared to people in continental EU, the difference is not that huge. Where I am the average programmer has 5-10x more than any other person, and 2x more than directors - and the outlier programmers can make even 20x more than other people, and that's still ignoring the millionaires (and few $ billionaires) that sold their startup stakes.
In the past decade, only programmers became rich from 0 here - all other people inherited their wealth.
Shoot me an email at emteycz@gmail.com, I might be able to help you.