Earlier quoted context omitted.
200k is too small, strong sde1s at Amazon get paid that much in hcol areas. Closer to 500k.
As a side, I am a bit shocked by these numbers. Is this an American thing? I understand myself to be good software engineer with good well rounded experience of 14+ years. Yet my income, in Europe, is really above 100k. What I am wondering, for those earning 500k, how big is your work load/stress. Would this be a 9-5 job you leave at the office when going home. Or does a job that earns so much consume your life?
I am seriously considering a move if my husband can find an academic job over there. The retirement won't be a great lure (fewer years in the system) but we almost have enough to coast from here, so it's about the rest.