I'll play the 1% size violin
Besides, why the violin? He isn't bemoaning his decision. He seem happy about it. He may be speaking to all the young recent graduates that are gunning for a role like his. I enjoyed the post.
First, yes it is pretty uncommon in the software development world, because a small number of software engineers work for these companies in areas with pay like that.
Second, the software development world is pretty small in the overall employment picture, so the people who work for those companies at that salary are a small minority of a small minority.
You're right, it's only 1.5% pay. He'd have to make $350K to crack the 1%: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affluence_in_the_United_States#...
Of course, those income figures are household income levels, so if he lives with a spouse/partner/significant other who makes $100K or more, they're in.
Maybe 30th percentile, in 2004.
That salary is not quite top-1%, but it is at least top 3%.
In 2010, that salary would have put him somewhere between the top 5% - 1%: http://www.financialsamurai.com/how-much-money-do-the-top-in...