It seems to make some peoplemad, but I think most tech workers in the US are significantlyoverpaid. I think that we all have to get used to the fact that techsalaries in the US are due for some serious downward correction.

I've been working as a programmer for about 8 years now. Mystarting salary 8 years ago is significantly more than mostnon-techies i know make even today. Yet over the last 8 years, I'veseen an average 10% increase in salary. (that's more than a 150%eincrease)

Certainly my ego wants to believe that my l33t skillz are worthsuch a premium, but I see an end coming. This year was the first yearthat I didn't see a large year over year salary increase. I changedjobs last August with only a token increase in pay. (actually, withthe decrease in benefits, it probably comes out to a net loss)All this makes me wonder if perhaps, at 30, if my salary has peakedas a programmer with no management responsibilities.

In real terms, I think tech salaries have nowhere to go but down.As much as I'd like it to be otherwise, I don't see any businessjustification for programmers to demand such high salaries across theboard. It's only a matter of time before free market forces pullthings down.

Note: The title for this entry comes from Dave Thomas' Howto keep your job talk. (slide 25 if you are keeping score) I wasfortunate to hear him give the talk in person at AustinJUG, but the online slidesare still quite informative. The second half is really good and worthchecking out if you haven't seen it yet.